[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 154 (Friday, August 9, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39366-39367]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-16912]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLNMA02000.L51010000.ER0000.17X LVRWG17G1360; NMNM 136976]


Notice of Availability for the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement and Land Use Plan Amendment for Borderlands Wind Project in 
Catron County, New Mexico

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has 
prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed 
Borderlands Wind Project (Project) and Proposed Socorro Field Office 
Resource Management Plan Amendment (RMPA) for the BLM Socorro Field 
Office, and by this notice is announcing its availability.

DATES: This notice initiates a 90-day public review period of the Draft 
EIS and RMPA. Comments on the document may be submitted in writing 
until November 7, 2019. To provide an opportunity to review the Draft 
EIS and RMPA, the BLM expects to hold one public meeting during the 
comment period. The BLM will announce the exact date, time, and 
location for the meetings at least 15 days prior to the event. 
Announcements will be made by news release to the media and posting on 
BLM's website listed below.
    In order to be included in the Draft EIS and RMPA, comments must be 
received prior to the close of the 90-day public comment period. The 
BLM will provide additional opportunities for public participation upon 
publication of the Final EIS and RMPA.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments or resource information related to 
the project by either of the following methods:
     Electronically: https://www.blm.gov/programs/planning-and-nepa/plans-in-development/new-mexico/proposed-borderlands-wind-project.
     By mail: Jim Stobaugh, National Project Manager, Bureau of 
Land Management Nevada State Office, Borderlands Wind Project, 1340 
Financial Blvd., Reno, NV 89502.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have 
your name added to our mailing list, contact Virginia Alguire, BLM 
Socorro Field Office, 901 South Highway 85, Socorro, New Mexico 87801; 
phone 575-838-1290; or email [email protected]. Any persons wishing to 
be added to a mailing list of interested parties can call or write to 
the BLM. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) 
may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact 
Ms. Alguire during normal business hours. The FRS is available 24 hours 
a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the above 
individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Borderlands Wind, LLC submitted an 
application to the BLM requesting authorization to construct, operate, 
maintain, and terminate an up-to 100 megawatt commercial wind energy 
generation facility --Borderlands Wind

[[Page 39367]]

Project (NMNM136976), in Catron County, New Mexico, within a boundary 
that encompasses land managed by the BLM, the New Mexico State Land 
Office (SLO), and private landowners. The project would be located 
south of U.S. Route 60 in Catron County near Quemado, New Mexico, and 
the Arizona-New Mexico border. Authorization of this proposal requires 
an amendment to the 2010 Socorro Field Office RMP to modify the visual 
resource management class in the project area and to modify a right-of-
way avoidance area.
    The Draft EIS addresses the direct, indirect, and cumulative 
environmental impacts of the Proposed Action, Alternative 1 (optimize 
the proposed wind facility components in order to minimize potential 
environmental impacts), Alternative 2 (change in the turbine generation 
types), and the No Action Alternative. Alternatives 1 and 2 would be 
constructed, operated, and maintained within the same project area. The 
Proposed Action and Alternative 1 would construct 40 turbines. However, 
because of the difference in type of turbine, Alternative 2 would only 
construct 34 turbines. The No Action Alternative would be a 
continuation of existing conditions.
    A Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS for the proposed Borderlands 
Wind Project was published in the Federal Register on November 9, 2018 
(83 FR 56097). The public scoping period closed on December 10, 2018. 
The BLM held one public scoping meeting on November 14, 2018. The BLM 
received 51 public scoping comment submissions during the 45-day 
scoping period. The scoping comments focused on wildlife, visual and 
cultural resources, light pollution, human health, local economic 
benefits, and property values.
    The BLM continues to consult with Indian tribes on a government-to-
government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175 and other 
policies. Tribal concerns, including potential impacts to cultural 
resources, will be given due consideration.
    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

Timothy R. Spisak,
BLM New Mexico State Director.
[FR Doc. 2019-16912 Filed 8-8-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-FB-P