[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 102 (Friday, May 26, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34178-34180]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-11070]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[BLM_NV_FRN_MO #4500170412]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed Greenlink North Project in White Pine, Eureka, Lander, 
Churchill, and Lyon Counties, Nevada

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Nevada 
State Office, Reno, Nevada, intends to prepare an environmental impact 
statement (EIS) to consider the effects of a right-of-way (ROW) 
application for proposed transmission facilities from NV Energy for the 
Greenlink North Project. Publication of this notice initiates the 
scoping period to solicit public comments and identify issues to be 
analyzed in the Draft EIS.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS. 
The BLM requests the public submit comments concerning the scope of the 
analysis, potential alternatives, and identification of relevant 
information and studies by July 10, 2023. To afford the BLM the 
opportunity to consider issues raised by commenters in the Draft EIS, 
please ensure your comments are received prior to the close of the 45-
day scoping period or 15 days after the last public scoping workshop, 
whichever is later.
    The BLM will conduct a combination of virtual and in-person scoping 
workshops during the 45-day scoping period. The BLM will provide the 
public at least 15 days' notice prior to the workshops.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues related to the Greenlink 
North Project by any of the following methods:
     Website: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2017033/510.
     Email: [email protected].
     Mail: BLM, Nevada State Office, Attn: Greenlink North 
Project, 1340 Financial Boulevard, Reno, NV 89502.
    Documents pertinent to this Project may also be examined at the 
Reno Nevada State Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Buttazoni, Planning & 
Environmental Specialist, telephone (775) 861-6491; address 1340 
Financial Boulevard, Reno, NV 89502; email 
[email protected]. Contact us at this email address to have 
your name added to our mailing list. 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: This document provides notice that the BLM 
Nevada State Office intends to prepare an EIS to consider the effects 
of a ROW application for the Greenlink North Project, announces the 
beginning of the scoping process, and seeks public input on issues to 
be analyzed in the Draft EIS. The proposed Project is in White Pine, 
Eureka, Lander, Churchill, and Lyon counties, Nevada. The proposed 
Project encompasses approximately 1,394 acres of public lands 
administered by the BLM.

Purpose and Need

    In compliance with NEPA and FLPMA, the BLM Nevada State Office 
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 North Project.
    Under the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC's) Open 
Access Transmission Tariff adopted in 18 CFR parts 35 and 385, Order 
No. 888 (75 FERC 61,080 (April 24, 1996)), 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, 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 infrastructure is 
required to deliver the anticipated electric power demand.
    The Greenlink North Project would alleviate some of the capacity 
issues on existing transmission lines and enhance

[[Page 34179]]

electric grid reliability by allowing interconnections to occur 
throughout the State. The purpose of this Federal action is to respond 
to the ROW application for construction, operation, 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 application submitted by NV Energy in 
compliance with FLPMA, BLM regulations, and other applicable Federal 
laws and policies. The need for this Federal action is to fulfill the 
BLM's responsibilities under FLPMA and its ROW regulations to manage 
the public lands for multiple uses, including for ``systems for 
generation, transmission, and distribution of electric energy'' (43 
U.S.C. 1761(a)(4)).

Preliminary Proposed Action and Alternatives

    The Proposed Action is to construct, operate and decommission a 
proposed system of new 525-kV, 345-kV, 230-kV, and 120-kV electric 
transmission facilities on approximately 1,394 acres of BLM 
administered lands. Additional action alternatives have not been 
identified to date but will be developed by taking into consideration 
comments and input received during the application evaluation 
determination process and scoping.
    Under the No Action Alternative, the BLM would not issue a ROW 
grant for the construction, operation and decommissioning of a proposed 
system of new 525-kV, 345-kV, 230-kV, and 120-kV electric transmission 
facilities. The proposed Project would not be constructed, and existing 
land uses in the project area would continue. The BLM welcomes comments 
on the preliminary Proposed Action as well as suggestions for 
additional alternatives.

Summary of Expected Impacts

    The analysis in the EIS will be focused on the proposed 
transmission project and associated facilities. The BLM evaluated the 
proposed Project application per the 43 CFR part 2800 application 
evaluation determination process. Through this process, the BLM 
gathered input from an interdisciplinary team of resource specialists 
and completed public outreach and agency and Indian Tribal Nations 
coordination specific to the proposed Project. From the input received 
during four pre-EIS virtual public workshops, the preliminary impacts 
from construction, operation, and eventual decommissioning of the 
Project and associated facilities could include:
     Vegetation and soils.
     Threatened, endangered, and BLM sensitive species.
     Air quality and climate.
     Cultural and historical resources.
     Greater-sage grouse.
     Access to public lands.
     Socioeconomics.
     Public health and safety.

Anticipated Permits and Authorizations

    Along with a BLM ROW grant as required under 43 CFR 2801.9, NV 
Energy anticipates needing additional permits for the proposed project: 
a Nevada Public Utilities Commission Permit to Construct; Nevada 
Division of Water Resources water rights modification permits; and 
other permits, as necessary. A portion of the Project could occur on 
lands administered by the U.S. Forest Service, which would require a 
special use permit for the Project. The U.S. Forest Service would rely 
on the analysis contained in the EIS to support any special use permit. 
Further details on these permitting requirements may be found in the 
Preliminary Plan of Development which is available on the project 
website at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/admin/project/2017033/510.

Schedule for the Decision-Making Process

    The BLM will provide additional opportunities for public 
participation consistent with the NEPA process, including a 60-day 
comment period on the Draft EIS. The Draft EIS is anticipated to be 
available for public review in winter 2024, and the Final EIS and 
subsequent Record of Decision are anticipated to be released in summer 
2024.

Public Scoping Process

    This Notice of Intent initiates the public scoping process, which 
guides the development of the Draft EIS.
    The BLM will be holding a combination of virtual and in-person 
scoping workshops. The specific date(s) and location(s) of scoping 
workshops will be announced at least 15 days in advance through the 
local media and the e-Planning web page: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2017033/510.
    The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant 
issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis, 
including alternatives and mitigation measures, and to guide the 
process for developing the Draft EIS. Federal, State, and local 
agencies, along with Indian Tribal Nations and stakeholders that may be 
interested or affected by the BLM's decision on this project, are 
invited to participate in the scoping process and, if eligible, may 
request or be requested by the BLM to participate as a cooperating 
agency. The BLM encourages comments concerning the proposed Greenlink 
North Project, possible measures to minimize and/or avoid adverse 
environmental impacts, and any other information relevant to the 
Proposed Action.
    The BLM also requests assistance with identifying potential 
reasonable alternatives to the Proposed Action. As alternatives should 
resolve an issue with the Proposed Action, please indicate the purpose 
of the suggested alternative. In addition, the BLM requests the 
identification of potential issues that should be analyzed. Issues 
should be a result of the Proposed Action or other reasonable 
alternatives; therefore, please identify the activity along with the 
potential issues.

Lead and Cooperating Agencies

    The BLM Nevada State Office is the lead Federal agency for this 
EIS. The BLM has initially identified the following agencies and 
organizations as potential Cooperating Agencies to participate in the 
environmental analysis of the Project: Department of the Air Force, 
Department of Defense, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency Region 9, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Nevada 
Department of Transportation, Duckwater Shoshone Tribe, Ely Shoshone 
Tribe, Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe, Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, Walker 
River Paiute Tribe, Yomba Shoshone Tribe, Nevada Department of 
Wildlife, Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, Nevada Division 
of Minerals, Churchill County, White Pine County, Lyon County, Eureka 
County, and Lander County.
    The following Tribes were invited to participate as a Cooperating 
Agency in BLM's initial notification letter: Confederated Tribes of the 
Goshute Reservation, Duckwater Shoshone Tribe, Ely Shoshone Tribe, 
Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe, Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribe, 
Lovelock Paiute Tribe, Moapa Band of Paiutes, Pahrump Paiute Tribe, 
Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, Shoshone-Bannock 
Tribes, Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of Duck Valley, Summit Lake Paiute 
Tribe, Susanville Indian Rancheria, Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone, 
Te-Moak Tribe-Battle Mountain Band, Te-Moak Tribe-Elko Band, Te-Moak 
Tribe-South Fork Band, Te-Moak Tribe-Wells Band, Timbisha Shoshone 
Tribe, Walker River Paiute Tribe, Washoe Tribe of Nevada and 
California, Winnemucca Indian Colony, Winnemucca Indian

[[Page 34180]]

Colony, Yerington Paiute Tribe, and Yomba Shoshone Tribe. These and 
other federally recognized T`ribes may request Cooperating Agency 
status during preparation and review of the Draft EIS.

Responsible Official

    The Nevada State Office Director is the deciding official for the 
proposed Greenlink North Project.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The BLM will decide whether to grant, grant with conditions, or 
deny the right-of-way application. Pursuant to 43 CFR 2805.10, if the 
BLM issues a right-of-way grant(s), the BLM decision maker may include 
terms, conditions, and stipulations determined to be in the public 
interest.

Interdisciplinary Team

    The BLM will use an interdisciplinary approach to develop the EIS 
to consider the variety of resource issues and concerns identified. 
Specialists with expertise in the following disciplines will be 
involved in this process: air quality, archaeology, botany, climate 
change (greenhouse gases), environmental justice, fire and fuels, 
geology/mineral resources, hydrology, invasive/non-native species, 
lands and realty, National Conservation Lands, National Trails System, 
public health and safety, recreation/transportation, socioeconomics, 
soils, visual resources, and wildlife.

Additional Information

    The BLM will identify, analyze, and consider mitigation to address 
the reasonably foreseeable impacts to resources from all analyzed 
reasonable alternatives and, in accordance with 40 CFR 1502.14(e), 
include appropriate mitigation measures not already included in the 
proposed alternatives. Mitigation may include avoidance, minimization, 
rectification, reduction or elimination over time, and compensation; 
and may be considered at multiple scales, including the landscape 
scale.
    The BLM will utilize the NEPA process to help support compliance 
with applicable procedural requirements under Section 106 of the 
National Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 306108) as provided in 36 
CFR 800.2(d)(3), including public involvement requirements of section 
106. The information about historic and cultural resources and 
threatened and endangered species within the area potentially affected 
by the proposed Project will assist the BLM in identifying and 
evaluating impacts to such resources.
    The BLM will consult with Indian Tribal Nations on a government-to-
government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175, BLM Manual 
Section 1780, and other policies. Tribal concerns, including impacts on 
Indian trust assets and potential impacts to cultural resources, will 
be given due consideration. The BLM intends to hold government-to-
government consultation meetings. The BLM will send invitations to 
potentially impacted Indian Tribal Nations prior to the meetings. The 
BLM will provide additional opportunities for government-to-government 
consultation during the NEPA process.
    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.

(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 2800.)

Jon K. Raby,
Nevada State Director.
[FR Doc. 2023-11070 Filed 5-25-23; 8:45 am]
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