[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 154 (Friday, August 9, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39363-39364]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-17109]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

[AAK6006201 190A2100DD AOR3030.999900]


Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Eagle 
Shadow Mountain Solar Project, Clark County, Nevada

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian 
Affairs (BIA), as the lead Federal agency, with the Bureau of Land 
Management (BLM), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Nellis Air Force Base (Nellis AFB) and 
the Moapa Band of Paiute Indians (Band) as Cooperating Agencies, 
intends to file a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) with the 
EPA for the proposed Eagle Shadow Mountain Solar Project (ESM Solar 
Project) on the Moapa River Indian Reservation (Reservation) in Clark 
County, Nevada. This notice also announces that the DEIS is now 
available for public review and that public meetings will be held to 
solicit comments on the DEIS.

[[Page 39364]]


DATES: The date and locations of the public meetings will be announced 
at least 15 days in advance through notices in the following local 
newspapers: Las Vegas Sun, Las Vegas Review Journal and the Moapa 
Valley Progress and on the following website: www.esmsolareis.com. In 
order to be fully considered, written comments on the DEIS must arrive 
no later than 45 days after EPA publishes its Notice of Availability in 
the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: You may mail, email, hand carry or telefax written comments 
to Mr. Chip Lewis, Regional Environmental Protection Officer, BIA 
Western Regional Office, Branch of Environmental Quality Services, 2600 
North Central Avenue, 4th Floor Mail Room, Phoenix, Arizona 85004-3008; 
fax (602) 379-3833; email: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Chip Lewis, BIA Western Regional 
Office, Branch of Environmental Quality Services, 2600 North Central 
Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85004-3008, telephone (602) 379-6750; or Mr. 
Garry Cantley at (602) 379-6750.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed Federal action, taken under 25 
U.S.C. 415, is BIA's approval of a 2,200 acre solar energy ground lease 
and associated agreements entered into by the Band with 326MK 8me LLC 
(ESM Solar or Applicant), a wholly owned subsidiary of 8Minute Energy, 
to provide for construction, operation, maintenance, and eventual 
decommissioning of an up-to 300 megawatt (MW) alternating current solar 
photovoltaic (PV) electricity generation facility located entirely on 
the Reservation and specifically on lands held in trust by BIA for the 
Band. The proposed 230 kilovolt (kV) generation-tie transmission line 
required for interconnection would be located on Reservation lands, 
Reservation lands administered and managed by BLM, BLM lands, and 
private lands owned by NV Energy. The Applicant has accordingly 
requested that the BIA and BLM additionally approve rights-of-way 
(ROWs) authorizing the construction and operation of the transmission 
line. Together, the proposed solar energy facility, transmission line, 
and other associated facilities make up the proposed ESM Solar Project.
    The solar facility would generate electricity using PV panels. Also 
included would be inverters, a collection system, a potential battery 
storage system, an on-site substation to step-up the voltage to 
transmission level voltage at 230 kV, an operations and maintenance 
building, and other related facilities. A single overhead 230 kV 
generation-tie transmission line, approximately 12.5 miles long, would 
connect the solar project to NV Energy's Reid-Gardner 230kV substation.
    Construction of the ESM Solar Project is expected to take 
approximately 16 to 18 months. The Applicant is expected to operate the 
energy facility for 30 years, with two options to renew the lease for 
an additional 5 years each, if mutually acceptable to the Band and 
Applicant. During construction, the PV panels will be placed on top of 
single-axis tracking mounting systems that are set on steel posts 
embedded in the ground. Other foundation design techniques may be used 
depending on the site topography and conditions. No water will be used 
to generate electricity during operations. Water will be needed during 
construction for dust control and a minimal amount will be needed 
during operations for panel washing, administrative, and sanitary water 
use on site. The water supply required for construction and operation 
of the Project would be leased from the Band and trucked in from 
adjacent Band wells. Operational water would be trucked in from 
adjacent Band wells to the solar site. Access to the ESM Solar Project 
will be provided via North Las Vegas Boulevard.
    The purposes of the ESM Solar Project are to: (1) Help to provide a 
long-term, diverse, and viable economic revenue base and job 
opportunities for the Band; (2) help the state of Nevada to meet its 
renewable energy needs; and (3) allow the Band, in partnership with the 
Applicant, to optimize the use of the lease site while maximizing the 
potential economic benefit to the Band.
    The BIA and BLM will use the EIS to make decisions on the land 
lease and ROW applications under their respective jurisdiction; the EPA 
may use the document to make decisions under its authorities; the Band 
may use the EIS to make decisions under its Environmental Policy 
Ordinance; and the USFWS may use the EIS to support its decision under 
the Endangered Species Act.
    Directions for Submitting Comments: Please include your name, 
return address and the caption: ``DEIS Comments, Proposed Eagle Shadow 
Mountain Solar Project'' on the first page of your written comments.
    Locations Where the DEIS is Available for Review: The DEIS will be 
available for review at: BIA Western Regional Office, 2600 North 
Central Avenue, 12th Floor, Suite 210, Phoenix, Arizona; BIA Southern 
Paiute Agency, 180 North 200 East, Suite 111, St. George, Utah; and the 
BLM Southern Nevada District Office, 4701 North Torrey Pines Drive, Las 
Vegas, Nevada. The DEIS is also available on line at: 
www.esmsolareis.com.
    To obtain a compact disk copy of the DEIS, please provide your name 
and address in writing or by voicemail to Mr. Chip Lewis or Mr. Garry 
Cantley. Their contact information is listed in the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice. Individual paper copies of 
the DEIS will be provided only upon request.
    Public Comment Availability: Written comments, including names and 
addresses of respondents will be available for public review at the BIA 
Western Regional Office, 2600 North Central Avenue, 12th Floor, Suite 
210, Phoenix, Arizona during regular business hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Before including your 
address, telephone 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.

    Authority: This notice is published in accordance with section 
1503.1 of the Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR 
1500 et seq.) and the Department of the Interior Regulations (43 CFR 
part 46) implementing the procedural requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), and in accordance 
with the exercise of authority delegated to the Assistant 
Secretary--Indian Affairs by part 209 of the Department Manual.

    Dated: July 29, 2019.
Mark Cruz,
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Policy and Economic Development--Indian 
Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2019-17109 Filed 8-8-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4337-15-P