[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 47 (Friday, March 12, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14146-14147]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-05092]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

[212A2100DD AAK6006201 AOR3030.999900]


Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Southern 
Bighorn Solar Projects, 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 
environmental impact statement (DEIS) with the EPA for the proposed 
Southern Bighorn Solar Projects (SBSPs or Project). The DEIS evaluates 
photovoltaic (PV) solar energy generation and storage projects on the 
Moapa River Indian Reservation (Reservation) and collector lines along 
with the use of existing access roads and an existing generation 
interconnection (gen-tie) line located on the Reservation, Reservation 
lands managed by BLM, and BLM lands. 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.

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.southernbighornsolar.com/. In order to be fully considered, written 
comments on the DEIS must arrive no later April 26, 2021.

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 the BIA's approval of two solar energy ground leases and 
associated agreements entered into by the Moapa Band with 300MS 8me LLC 
and 425LM 8me LLC (Applicants). The agreements provide for 
construction, operation and maintenance (O&M), and eventual 
decommissioning of the PV electricity generation and battery storage 
facilities located entirely on the Reservation and specifically on 
lands held in trust for the Moapa Band, in Clark County Nevada.
    The PV electricity generation and battery storage facilities would 
be located on up to 3,600 acres of tribal trust land (2,600 acres for 
SBSP I and 1,000 acres for SBSP II) and would have a combined capacity 
of up to 400 megawatts alternating current (MWac)--300 MWac for SBSP I, 
and 100 MWac for SBSP II. The two solar Projects include the solar 
fields, access roads, collector lines, and connection with an existing 
transmission gen-tie line.
    Construction of the 300MWac project is expected to take 
approximately 14-16 months, and construction of the up to 100MWac 
project is expected to take approximately 8-10 months. The two projects 
may be constructed simultaneously or sequentially. The electricity 
generation and storage facilities are expected to be operated for up to 
50 years under the terms of the leases, with time for construction and 
decommissioning. Major onsite facilities include multiple blocks of 
solar PV panels mounted on fixed tilt or tracking systems, pad mounted 
inverters and transformers, collector lines, up to 1,000 MW-hours of 
battery storage, access roads, and O&M facilities. Water will be needed 
during construction for dust control and a minimal amount will be 
needed during operations for administrative and sanitary water use and 
for panel washing. The water supply required for the Projects would be 
leased from the Moapa Band. Access to the SBSPs 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) Provide a long-term, diverse, and viable economic revenue base and 
job opportunities for the Moapa Band; (2) assist Nevada to meet their 
State renewable energy needs; and (3) 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 and BLM will use the EIS to make decisions on the land 
lease and right-of-way applications under their respective 
jurisdiction; the EPA may use the document to make decisions under its 
authorities; the Band may use the DEIS to make decisions under its 
Environmental Policy Ordinance; and the USFWS may use the DEIS 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 Southern 
Bighorn Solar Projects'' 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 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.southernbighornsolar.com 15 days before the meetings.
    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.

[[Page 14147]]

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.southernbighornsolar.com.
    To obtain an electronic 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, at the mailing address shown in the 
ADDRESSES section 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 Principal Deputy 
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs by part 209 of the Department 
Manual.

Darryl LaCounte,
Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, exercising the delegated authority 
of the Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2021-05092 Filed 3-11-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4337-15-P