[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 84 (Monday, May 2, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25658-25661]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-09373]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLNV930000. L51010000.PQ0000. LVRWF2107770; N-99863; MO #4500161333]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and 
Potential Resource Management Plan Amendments for the Greenlink West 
Project in Clark, Nye, Esmeralda, Mineral, Lyon, Storey, and Washoe 
Counties in Nevada

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Nevada State Office (NVSO) 
intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and 
potential associated Amendments to the 2001 Carson City Consolidated 
Resource Management Plan (RMP), 1998 Las Vegas Field Office RMP, and 
the 1997 Tonopah RMP for the proposed electrical transmission 
facilities referred to as the Greenlink West Project. Nevada Power 
Company and Sierra Pacific Power Company, doing business as NV Energy 
(Proponent), are proposing to build the Greenlink West Project in 
Clark, Nye, Esmeralda, Mineral, Lyon, Storey, and Washoe counties in 
Nevada. Publication of this notice initiates the scoping process and 
opens a 30-day public comment period to solicit public comments on the 
scope of the analysis, including issues and alternatives, and to 
provide comments on the planning criteria.

[[Page 25659]]


DATES: This notice initiates a 30-day public scoping period that will 
assist in preparation of the Draft EIS.
    The BLM expects to hold at least four public meetings in Nevada 
during the scoping period, to provide an opportunity to review the 
proposal and project information. Announcements will be made by news 
release to the media and posted on the BLM's website listed in the 
ADDRESSES section. Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until 
June 1, 2022. All comments must be received by 30 days from the date of 
publication of this Notice in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments or resource information related to 
the project by any of the following methods:
     Website: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2017391/510.
     Mail: Gregory L. Helseth, Branch Chief Renewable Energy, 
BLM Nevada State Office, Greenlink West Project, 1340 Financial Blvd., 
Reno, NV 89520.
    The website also contains available documents relevant to the 
planning process for the Greenlink West Project.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have 
your name added to our mailing list, please contact Rita Henderson, 
Public Affairs Specialist, BLM Nevada State Office, 1340 Financial 
Boulevard, Reno, NV 89520; phone (775) 461-6753; or email 
[email protected]. Individuals in the United States who are deaf, 
deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 
(TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services. 
Individuals outside the United States should use the relay services 
offered within their country to make international calls to the point-
of-contact in the United States.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On September 22, 2020, NV Energy filed an Application for 
Transportation, Utility Systems, Telecommunications, and Facilities on 
Federal Lands and Property (Standard Form 299) and a preliminary Plan 
of Development (POD) with the BLM, for a Federal Land Policy and 
Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA) ROW authorization for the Greenlink West 
Project (NVN99863). The Greenlink West Project, as proposed, is an 
approximately 474-mile system of new 525-kilovolt (kV) and 345-kV 
overhead electric transmission lines and includes transmission and 
distribution lines, substations, microwave radio facilities, amplifier 
sites, access roads, and construction/material yards. In the 
application to the BLM, NV Energy has applied for a 600-foot-wide 
temporary right-of-way (ROW) for construction and a 200-foot-wide 
permanent ROW for operations and maintenance of the 525-kV line and a 
160-foot-wide permanent ROW for the 345-kV lines.
    The proposed transmission facilities would include approximately 
13,767 acres land of which approximately 10,438 acres are public lands 
administered by the BLM. The remaining lands in the project area are 
managed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Clark County, Department of 
Defense, Department of Energy, National Park Service, Nevada Division 
of State Lands, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, 
and private landowners. On March 22, 2021, NV Energy received approval 
for the various electric transmission facilities associated with the 
proposed project by the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada.

Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action

    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 
as amended (NEPA), and the FLPMA, as amended, the BLM NVSO intends to 
prepare an EIS to analyze the environmental impacts associated with NV 
Energy's application seeking to obtain a ROW grant for the Greenlink 
West Project. NV Energy's ROW grant may require plan amendments to the 
Carson City District Office, Tonopah Field Office, and Southern Nevada 
District Office RMPs, which the BLM also will analyze in the EIS.
    Under Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's Open Access 
Transmission Tariff adopted in 18 CFR 35 and 385 Order No. 888, NV 
Energy is required to plan and construct adequate transmission 
facilities to deliver the projected electric demand in Nevada. The 
State of Nevada is facing unprecedented changes in both system growth 
and resource requirements. By 2031, about 1,000 megawatts (MW) of base 
load generation are planned for retirement, i.e., will no longer be 
generating electricity. In addition, NV Energy has received more than 
1,450 MW of new electric service requests in northern Nevada that will 
require additional transmission facilities. Currently, the maximum 
amount of power that can be provided in northern Nevada on the existing 
transmission network is 1,275 MW, and all 1,275 MW are being used by 
current network customers. The power demand in northern Nevada is 
forecast to increase by more than 700 MW within 10 years. New 
transmission infrastructures are required to deliver the anticipated 
electric power demand. The Greenlink West Project would alleviate some 
of the capacity issues on existing transmission lines, and enhance 
electric grid reliability, by allowing interconnections to occur 
throughout the State.
    The purpose of this Federal action is to respond to a ROW 
application for construction, operation, maintenance, and 
decommissioning of proposed electrical transmission facilities on 
Federal land. Based on the goals and objectives of the Proponent and 
the BLM's authority, the BLM will evaluate the ROW grant application 
submitted by NV Energy in compliance with FLPMA, BLM regulations, and 
other applicable Federal laws and policies. The need for the BLM's 
action arises from FLPMA, which establishes a multiple use mandate for 
management of Federal lands, including ``systems for generation, 
transmission, and distribution of electric energy'' (FLPMA Title V). 
The BLM's action in considering NV Energy's ROW application is 
delegated authority of the Secretary of the Interior to ``grant issue 
or renew rights of way . . . for generation, transmission, and 
distribution of electric energy'' (43 CFR part 2800).

Preliminary Proposed Action and Alternatives

    As described in Greenlink West Project's POD, the proposed 525-kV 
facilities would begin approximately 10 miles north of Yerington in 
Lyon County, traverse approximately 360 miles through portions of Lyon, 
Mineral, Esmeralda, Nye, and Clark counties, and terminate at the Harry 
Allen Substation approximately 10 miles north of North Las Vegas, Clark 
County. Three proposed 345-kV facilities would begin 10 miles north of 
Yerington in Lyon County and traverse through portions of Lyon, Storey, 
and Washoe counties. Two of the 345-kV lines would terminate 
approximately 12 miles northwest of Silver Springs in Lyon County, and 
the third would terminate approximately 7 miles southeast of Reno in 
Washoe County. The proposed 345-kV facilities cross approximately 
10,308 acres of BLM-administered land and 3,712 acres of private land. 
The four expanded substations (Comstock Meadows, Mira Loma, Fort 
Churchill, and Harry Allen) and the two new substations (Esmeralda and 
Amargosa) for the Greenlink West Project would include fiber optic 
cable and microwave antennae towers for control and operation of the 
transmission system.
    The Draft EIS will analyze a reasonable range of alternatives to be

[[Page 25660]]

fully developed after considering information provided during the 
scoping period. Preliminary alternatives may include changes to 
proposed facility layouts and ROW segments, activity schedules, and 
seasonal operation requirements designed to protect resources under BLM 
management while still retaining a reliable and feasible electrical 
transmission facilities. Potential amendments to RMPs will be 
identified throughout the EIS alternative development process. The 
range of alternatives analyzed in the Draft EIS will include a no-
action alternative. Under the no-action alternative, the BLM would deny 
the application, and NV Energy electrical transmission facilities 
described in the POD would not be built.

Summary of Expected Impacts

    The Draft EIS will identify and describe the effects of the 
Proposed Action on the human environment. Based on a preliminary 
evaluation of resources, the BLM expects impacts (either beneficial or 
adverse and of varying intensity) to wildlife and their habitats, land 
uses, cultural and paleontological resources, visual (scenic) 
resources, military training flight paths, and social and economic 
conditions. The BLM will identify, analyze, and require on-site 
mitigation, as appropriate, to address the reasonably foreseeable 
impacts to resources from approval of this project. Mitigation may 
include avoidance, minimization, rectification, reduction, or 
elimination over time, and may be considered on multiple scales to 
address the associated impact.
    The disciplines to be represented in the preparation of the EIS 
include, but are not limited to:
     Air quality;
     Cultural resources;
     Earth resources (geology, minerals, and soils);
     General and special-status wildlife species, including 
Threatened and Endangered Species and their habitat;
     Health and safety/hazardous materials;
     Land use and recreation;
     Paleontological resources;
     Social and economic conditions;
     Special designations; and
     Vegetation/riparian/noxious and invasive weeds/special 
status plant species, including Threatened and Endangered Species and 
their habitat;
     Visual (scenic) resources;
     Water resources;
     Wilderness, wilderness study areas, and lands with 
wilderness characteristics;
     Wildland fire ecology and management.

Anticipated Permits and Authorizations

    In addition to the requested ROW grant, other Federal, state, and 
local authorizations will likely be required for the Greenlink West 
Project. These include authorizations under the National Historic 
Preservation Act of 1966, Endangered Species Act of 1973, and other 
laws and regulations determined to be applicable to the Greenlink West 
Project.
    If approved, the BLM would issue a ROW Grant and Temporary Use 
Permit for Federal lands. Any portion of the Greenlink West Project 
selected that would cross the Tule Springs Fossil Bed National 
Monument, Native American Indian reservations, or the Humboldt-Toiyabe 
National Forest would require permit approval from the National Park 
Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, or U.S. Forest Service, 
respectively.
    Authorization of this proposal may require amendments to the 
applicable RMPs in effect for the Carson City District Office, Tonopah 
Field Office, and Southern Nevada District Office to modify the 
location of the existing West-Wide Energy Corridors or potentially to 
designate a new energy corridor with an associated Visual Resource 
Management class. The West-Wide Energy Corridors originated through the 
Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct), enacted August 8, 2005. The EPAct 
requires, among other things, the designation of energy corridors (also 
referred to as utility corridors) on Federal lands in 11 western states 
(including Nevada), the establishment of procedures to ensure that 
additional corridors are identified and designated as necessary, and to 
expedite applications to construct or modify electricity transmission 
and distribution facilities. These designated corridors are referred to 
as the West-Wide Energy Corridors. Information on the West-Wide Energy 
Corridor and the Final EIS and Decision are available at http://corridoreis.anl.gov/index.cfm.
    By this notice, the BLM is complying with requirements 43 CFR 
1610.2(c) to notify the public of potential amendments to the Carson 
City District Office, Tonopah Field Office, and Southern Nevada 
District Office RMPs. If any RMP amendments are necessary, the BLM 
would integrate the resource management planning process, as described 
in 43 CFR subpart 1610 and 36 CFR 219.8, concurrently into the NEPA 
process and EIS for the Greenlink West Project.

Schedule for the Decision-Making Process

    The Draft EIS is scheduled for Fall of 2022 and the Final EIS is 
scheduled for Spring of 2023, with a Record of Decision issued Summer 
of 2023. NV Energy then is anticipated to secure all necessary 
authorizations following the BLM decision.

Public Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
development of the EIS. The scoping process encourages those who may be 
interested or affected by the Greenlink West Project to submit comments 
on resources and issues, impact-causing factors, reasonable 
alternatives and potential mitigation measures to be analyzed in the 
EIS. For information on how to submit comments, see the ADDRESSES 
section. The BLM will hold public scoping meetings; the dates, 
locations, and times will be announced at least 15 days in advance 
through public notices, media releases and/or mailings.
    The BLM will use the NEPA process to satisfy the public involvement 
requirements of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act 
(NHPA) (54 U.S.C. 306108) pursuant to 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). Information 
about historic and cultural resources within the area potentially 
affected by the project will be used to identify and evaluate impacts 
in the context of both NEPA and Section 106 of the NHPA. Federal 
agencies, Tribes, State and local governments, and other stakeholders 
interested in historic properties and cultural resources may request to 
participate in the Section 106 process as a Consulting Party. The BLM 
will continue consultation with Tribes on a government-to-government 
basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175 and other policies. 
Tribal concerns, including potential impacts to cultural resources and 
treaty rights will be given due consideration.
    You may submit comments in writing to the BLM at any public scoping 
meeting or at any time by using one of the methods listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this notice. Public scoping meetings will be 
conducted in an open-house format with BLM staff and representatives 
from NV Energy available to explain project details and gather 
information from interested individuals or groups.
    Comments must be received prior to the close of the scoping period 
to be included in the Draft EIS/Resource Management Plan Amendments 
(EIS/DRMPA). The BLM will provide

[[Page 25661]]

additional opportunities for public participation upon publication of 
the EIS/DRMPA. The public will have the opportunity to comment during a 
90-day public comment period on the EIS/DRMPA.
    Any persons wishing to be added to a mailing list of interested 
parties can call or write to the BLM, as described in this Notice. 
Additional information meetings may be conducted throughout the process 
to keep the public informed of the progress of the EIS.

Request for Identification of Potential Alternatives, Information, and 
Analyses Relevant to the Proposed Action

    The BLM encourages comments concerning the proposed Greenlink West 
Project, feasible alternatives, possible measures to minimize and/or 
avoid adverse environmental impacts, and any other information relevant 
to the proposed action. Planning criteria are the standards, rules, and 
other factors developed by managers and interdisciplinary team members 
for use in forming judgements about decision making, analysis, and data 
collection during the planning process. The BLM has identified some 
preliminary planning criteria to guide development of the RMP 
amendments, to avoid unnecessary data collection and analysis, and to 
ensure the RMP amendments are tailored to the issues. These criteria 
may be modified and/or other criteria may be identified during the 
public scoping process. The following preliminary specific planning 
criteria will help guide the planning process.
    Criteria 1: The BLM will use a systematic interdisciplinary 
approach to integrate physical, biological, economic, and other 
sciences.
    Criteria 2: The BLM will use the best available data regarding 
natural resources.
    Criteria 3: The BLM will consider the present and potential uses of 
public lands and where existing RMP decisions are valid, those 
decisions will remain unchanged.
    Criteria 4: The BLM will consider the relative scarcity of values 
and availability of alternative means and sites for recognizing those 
values.
    Criteria 5: Any plan amendments will be completed in compliance 
with FLPMA, NEPA, and all other relevant Federal laws, executive 
orders, and BLM polices.
    Criteria 6: The BLM will seek coordination and consistency with 
other government programs including Tribal plans and policies.
    Criteria 7: Existing valid planning decisions for RMPs in effect 
will not change unless specifically amended, and any new plan decisions 
will not conflict with existing planning decisions.
    Criteria 8: Any RMP amendments will recognize valid existing 
rights.
    The BLM also requests assistance with identifying potential 
alternatives to the Proposed Action. As alternatives should resolve a 
problem with the Proposed Action, please indicate the purpose of the 
suggested alternative. In addition, the BLM requests the identification 
of potential impacts that should be analyzed. Impacts should be a 
result of the action; therefore, please identify the activity along 
with the potential impact. Information that reviewers have that would 
assist in the development of alternatives or analysis of resources 
issues is also helpful.
    Actions not relevant to the Greenlink West Project include 
considerations of Areas of Critical Environmental Concern for 
nomination or recommendations. Permanent closure of public land to 
hunting, fishing, or recreational shooting are also not proposed as 
part of the Greenlink West Project and therefore a shooting ``notice of 
intent'' is not applicable under this Notice.

Lead and Cooperating Agencies

    The BLM Nevada State Office is the lead agency for this EIS. At 
this time, the following have agreed to participate in the 
environmental analysis of the Greenlink West Project as Cooperating 
Agencies: Bureau of Indian Affairs--Pacific Region, Bureau of Indian 
Affairs--Western Region, Department of the Air Force, National Park 
Service, National Nuclear Security Administration, U.S. Army and Air 
National Guard, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 9, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, Nevada Department of 
Transportation, Fallon Paiute Shoshone Tribe, Fort McDermitt Paiute and 
Shoshone Tribe, Las Vegas Paiute Tribe, Lovelock Paiute Tribe, Pyramid 
Lake Paiute Tribe, Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, Summit Lake Paiute Tribe, 
Timbisha Shoshone Tribe, Walker River Paiute Tribe, Washoe Tribe of 
Nevada and California, Winnemucca Paiute and Shoshone Tribe, Yerington 
Paiute Tribe, Yomba Shoshone Tribe, Nevada Department of Wildlife, 
Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, Nevada Division of 
Minerals, Nevada Division of State Lands, Clark County, Esmeralda 
County, Lyon County, Mineral County, Nye County, Storey County, Washoe 
County, Silver State Energy Association, City of Carson City, City of 
Las Vegas, City of North Las Vegas, City of Reno, and Town of Tonopah.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The BLM will decide whether to grant, grant with conditions, or 
deny the application for a ROW. Pursuant to 43 CFR 2805.10, if the BLM 
issues a grant, the BLM decision maker may include terms, conditions, 
and stipulations determined to be in the public interest. The BLM will 
make the decision as to whether or not to approve any RMP amendments, 
in accordance with BLM policy about delegation of authorities. In the 
ROD, the BLM will clearly distinguish the RMP amendment decision from 
the selected alternative for the proposed electric transmission 
project.

Personal Identifying Information

    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. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and 
considered.
    It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times 
and in such manner that they are useful to the agency's preparation of 
the EIS. Therefore, comments should be provided prior to the close of 
the public scoping period and should clearly articulate the reviewer's 
concerns and contentions.
    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., 40 CFR 1501.9, 40 CFR 1501.7, 43 
CFR 1610.2. 43 CFR 2091.3-1, and 43 CFR 2804.25(f).

Jon K. Raby,
BLM Nevada State Director.
[FR Doc. 2022-09373 Filed 4-29-22; 8:45 am]
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