[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 51 (Thursday, March 18, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14763-14764]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-05590]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLCAD06000.L51010000.ER0000.LVRWB19B6970.19X (MO #4500143795)]


Notice of Intent To Amend the California Desert Conservation Area 
Plan and Prepare an Associated Environmental Assessment for the Oberon 
Solar Project, Riverside County, CA

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management 
Act (FLPMA) of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 
Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office is proposing to amend the 1980 
California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan, as amended, and 
prepare the associated environmental analysis for the Oberon Solar 
Project (Project). By this notice, the BLM is announcing the beginning 
of the scoping process to solicit public comments on issues and 
identify planning criteria.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the CDCA 
Plan amendment with associated environmental analysis. Comments on 
issues may be submitted in writing until April 19, 2021. The date(s) 
and location(s) of any scoping meetings will be announced at least 15 
days in advance through local news media, newspapers, and the BLM 
ePlanning website at: https://go.usa.gov/xfdH5.
    To be included in the analysis, all comments must be received prior 
to the close of the 30-day scoping period. Additional opportunities for 
public participation will be available upon publication of the draft 
plan amendment environmental analysis document.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria by 
any of the following methods:
     Email: [email protected].
     Mail: ATTN: Brandon Anderson, BLM, 22835 Calle San Juan De 
Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, CA 92553.
     Online via ePlanning: https://go.usa.gov/xfdH5.
    Documents pertinent to this project may be examined during regular 
business hours upon request using email: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brandon Anderson, Assistant District 
Manager, telephone (951) 697-5215; address Bureau of Land Management, 
22835 Calle San Juan De Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, CA 92553; email 
[email protected]. Documents relevant to this planning 
process can be found at https://go.usa.gov/xfdH5. Contact the Bureau of 
Land Management to arrange for other means of viewing documents. 
Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call 
the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1(800) 877-8339 to contact the above 
individual 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: The applicant, IP Land Holding, LLC, a 
wholly owned subsidiary of Intersect Power, has requested a right-of-
way (ROW) authorization to construct, operate, maintain, and 
decommission a 500-megawatt (MW) alternating current solar photovoltaic 
energy-generating facility along with the necessary ancillary 
facilities on public lands managed by the BLM. The project is proposed 
within a 4,700-acre area of public lands managed by the BLM just north 
and east of Desert Center, California. The Project is within a 
development focus area, as identified through the Desert Renewable 
Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP) amendment to the CDCA Plan.
    The DRECP contains Conservation and Management Actions (CMAs) that 
are intended to avoid and/or minimize impacts to numerous resources 
within the plan area. However, application of the relevant CMAs to the 
proposed project would preclude the ability to construct and operate 
the 500-MW project in an area identified as suitable for renewable 
energy development. As such, the proposed Project would require a plan 
amendment to allow solar development within the application area.
    This notice informs the public that the BLM intends to prepare a 
draft CDCA Plan amendment and associated environmental analysis 
document for the Oberon Solar Project. It also announces the beginning 
of the scoping process for this effort and seeks public input on 
environmental issues and potential planning criteria relevant to the 
project and any potential plan amendments. The public-scoping process 
may guide the planning process and determine relevant issues that will 
influence the scope of the environmental analysis, including 
alternatives and mitigation measures.
    Preliminary issues for the Project have been identified by the BLM, 
other Federal agencies, the State, local agencies, and other 
stakeholders. Issues include air quality and greenhouse gas emissions, 
special status wildlife and vegetation species, cultural resources, 
geology and soils, hazards and hazardous materials, hydrology and water 
quality, noise, recreation, traffic, visual resources, and cumulative 
effects. Written comments may be submitted via one of the methods 
listed in the ADDRESSES section above. Input must be received by the 
close of the 30-day public-scoping period.
    If a plan amendment is necessary, the BLM will integrate the land 
use planning process with the NEPA process for the project. A 
preliminary list of the potential planning criteria that will be used 
to help guide and define the scope of the plan amendment includes:
    1. Any plan amendments will be completed in compliance with FLPMA, 
NEPA, and all other relevant Federal laws, executive orders, and BLM 
polices.
    2. Existing valid plan decisions will not change, and any new plan 
decisions will not conflict with existing plan decisions.
    3. Any plan amendments will recognize valid existing rights.
    With respect to the potential land use plan amendment, the BLM will 
evaluate identified issues to be addressed in the plan amendment, and 
will place them into one of three categories:
    1. Issues to be resolved in the plan amendment.
    2. Issues to be resolved through policy or administrative action.
    3. Issues beyond the scope of this plan amendment.
    The BLM will provide an explanation in the environmental analysis 
document as to why an issue was placed in category two or three. The 
public is also encouraged to help identify any

[[Page 14764]]

management questions and concerns that should be addressed in the 
environmental analysis and potential land-use plan amendments. The BLM 
will work collaboratively with interested parties to identify the 
management decisions that are best suited to local, regional, and 
national needs and concerns.
    The BLM will utilize and coordinate the NEPA scoping process to 
help fulfill the public involvement process under the National Historic 
Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 306108) as provided in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). 
Information about historic and cultural resources within the area that 
may be potentially affected by the proposed action will assist the BLM 
in identifying and evaluating impacts to such resources. The BLM will 
consult with American Indian tribes on a government-to-government basis 
in accordance with Executive Order 13175 and other policies. Tribal 
concerns, including impacts on American Indian trust assets and 
potential impacts to cultural resources, will be given due 
consideration. Federal, State, and local agencies, along with tribes, 
and other stakeholders that may be interested in or affected by the 
proposed action that the BLM is evaluating, are invited to participate 
in the scoping process and, if eligible, may request or be requested by 
the BLM to participate in the development of the environmental analysis 
as a cooperating agency.
    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information (PII) in your comment, you 
should be aware that your entire comment--including your PII--may be 
made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your 
comment to withhold your PII from public review, we cannot guarantee 
that we will be able to do so.

Danielle Chi,
BLM California Deputy State Director, Natural Resources.
[FR Doc. 2021-05590 Filed 3-17-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P