[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 153 (Friday, August 7, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47984-47985]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-17165]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

[201A2100DD AAK6006201 AOR3030.999900]


Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Proposed Arrow Canyon 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), and the Moapa Band of Paiute Indians 
(Moapa Band) as cooperating agencies, intends to file a draft 
supplemental environmental impact statement (DSEIS) with the EPA for 
the proposed Arrow Canyon Solar Project (ACSP or Project). The DSEIS 
evaluates the expansion of the previously approved Moapa Solar Energy 
Center (MSEC) Project on the Moapa River Indian Reservation 
(Reservation) in Clark County, Nevada. This notice also announces that 
the DSEIS is now available for public review and that public meetings 
will be held to solicit comments on the DSEIS.

DATES: The dates and times of the virtual public meetings will be 
published in the Las Vegas Review-Journal and Moapa Valley Progress and 
on the following website 15 days before the public meetings: 
www.arrowcanyonsolarseis.com. In order to be fully considered, written 
comments on the DSEIS 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 at (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 approval of a lease to accommodate the expansion of 
the solar field previously approved for the MSEC Project and the 
modification of the existing solar energy ground lease and related 
agreements entered into by the Moapa Band with the Applicant. The 
agreements provide for construction, operation and maintenance (O&M), 
and decommissioning of a 200-megawatt (MW) alternating current solar 
photovoltaic (PV) electricity generation facility located entirely on 
the Reservation and specifically on lands held in trust for the Moapa 
Band.
    The MSEC Project was originally developed by Moapa Solar LLC and 
included an 850-acre solar site on the Reservation and associated 
rights-of-way (ROWs) on BLM-managed lands for an access road, gen-tie 
line, and water pipeline. Records of Decision (RODs) were issued by the 
BIA and BLM in May 2014 and BIA approved the lease one month later. The 
ROW was issued by BLM in August 2015 for the linear facilities. In 
March 2017, EDF Renewables Development, Inc. (EDFR) purchased the MSEC 
Project from the original owner and renamed the Project the Arrow 
Canyon Solar Project. EDFR subsequently transferred the Project to 
Arrow Canyon Solar, LLC. Currently, the approved MSEC Project and 
associated facilities have not yet been constructed.
    The Applicant currently plans to expand the solar field on the 
Reservation from 850 acres to 2,200 acres. This expansion would occur 
on Tribal lands identified by the Moapa Band that are adjacent to the 
originally approved MSEC site. The linear facilities, (i.e. main access 
road, 230kV gen-tie line, and water pipeline) as previously approved by 
the BLM would remain a part of the Project description; therefore, 
these facilities are not reevaluated. The SEIS focuses on the expansion 
of the solar field only.
    Construction of the Project is expected to take approximately 18 to 
20

[[Page 47985]]

months. The Applicant is expected to operate the energy facility up to 
35 years. Major components of the solar site would include multiple 
blocks of solar PV panels mounted on tracking systems, inverters, 
transformers, collection lines, battery storage facilities, project 
substation, and O&M facilities. Water will be needed during 
construction primarily for dust control and a minimal amount will be 
needed during operations for administrative and sanitary water use and 
panel washing. The water supply required for the Project would be from 
wells owned by the Moapa Band and delivered to the site via the 
previously approved water pipeline or trucks. Access to the ACSP will 
be provided via North Las Vegas Boulevard from the I-15/US 93 
interchange.
    The purposes of the proposed Project are, among other things, to: 
(1) Help provide a long-term, diverse, and viable economic revenue base 
and job opportunities for the Moapa Band; (2) meet the terms of the 
existing Power Purchase Agreement for the output of the Project; (3) 
help Nevada and neighboring states to meet their State renewable energy 
needs; and (4) allow the Moapa Band, in partnership with the Applicant, 
to optimize the use of the lease site while maximizing the potential 
economic benefit to the Moapa Band.
    The BIA will use the SEIS to make a decision on the land lease 
application under its jurisdiction; the EPA may use the document to 
make decisions under its authorities; the Band may use the DSEIS to 
make decisions under its Environmental Policy Ordinance; and the USFWS 
may use the DSEIS to support its decision under the Endangered Species 
Act.
    Directions for Submitting Comments: Please include your name, 
return address and the caption: ``DSEIS Comments, Proposed Arrow Canyon 
Solar Project'' on the first page of your written comments. You may 
also submit comments verbally during one of the virtual public meeting 
presentations or provide written comments to the address listed above 
in the ADDRESSES section.
    To help protect the public and limit the spread of the COVID-19 
virus, virtual public meetings will be held, where team members will 
provide a short presentation will be made and remain available to 
discuss and answer questions. The PowerPoint presentation will be 
posted to the project website prior to the virtual meetings. Those who 
cannot live stream the presentation would be able to access the meeting 
presentation on the website and could join by telephone. Additionally, 
the live presentation will be recorded and made accessible for viewing 
throughout the comment period. The first public meeting will be held in 
the afternoon by video and telephone conference and the second public 
meeting will be held in the evening by video and telephone conference. 
The dates, times, and access information for the virtual meetings will 
be included in notices to be published in the Las Vegas Review-Journal 
and Moapa Valley Progress and on the project website at 
www.arrowcanyonsolarseis.com 15 days before the meetings.
    Locations Where the DSEIS is Available for Review: The DSEIS 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 DSEIS is also available on line at: 
www.arrowcanyonsolarseis.com.
    To obtain an electronic copy of the DSEIS, 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 DSEIS 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.

Tara Sweeney,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2020-17165 Filed 8-6-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4337-15-P