[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 152 (Wednesday, August 9, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53908-53911]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-17060]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[BLM_NV_FRN_MO4500170889]


Notice of Intent To Amend the Resource Management Plan for the 
Proposed GridLiance West Core Upgrades Transmission Line Project in Nye 
and Clark Counties, Nevada and Prepare an Associated Environmental 
Impact Statement

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 (NVSO) intends to prepare a resource management plan 
amendment (RMPA) with an associated environmental impact statement 
(EIS) for the GridLiance West Core Upgrades Transmission Line Project 
(Project). With this notice, the BLM is announcing the scoping period 
to solicit public comments and identify issues and providing the 
planning criteria for public review.

DATES: The BLM requests the public submit written comments concerning 
the scope of the analysis, potential alternatives, and identification 
of relevant information and studies by September 8, 2023. To afford the 
BLM the opportunity to consider issues raised by commenters in the 
Draft RMPA/EIS, please ensure your comments are received prior to the 
close of the 30-day scoping period or 15 days after the last public 
meeting, whichever is later. The BLM will conduct two public scoping 
meetings (virtually) which will be held August 29, 2023, and August 30, 
2023, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Pacific time. Additional information on the 
meetings, including how to register, can be found on the BLM National 
NEPA Register at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2025248/510.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria 
related to the project by any of the following methods:
     Website: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2025248/510.
     Email: [email protected].
     Mail: BLM, Southern Nevada District Office, Attn: 
GridLiance West Core Upgrades Transmission Line Project, 4701 North 
Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89130-2301.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined online at 
https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2025248/510 and at the 
Southern Nevada District Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Ann Vinson, Realty Specialist, 
telephone 702-515-5059; address 4701 North Torrey Pines Drive, Las 
Vegas, NV 89130-2301; email [email protected]. Contact Ms. Vinson 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 for contacting Ms. Vinson. 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 
NVSO intends to prepare a potential resource management plan (RMP) 
amendment with an associated EIS for the Project, announces the 
beginning of the scoping process, and seeks public input on issues and 
planning criteria. The RMPA is being considered to allow the BLM to 
evaluate the right-of-way (ROW) grant application for the project, 
which would require amending the existing 1998 Las Vegas RMP for plan 
conformance and consistency purposes.
    The planning area is located in Clark and Nye Counties, Nevada, and 
encompasses up to approximately 4,900 acres of public land.
    The scope of this land use planning process does not include 
addressing the evaluation or designation of areas of critical 
environmental concern (ACECs) and the BLM is not considering ACEC 
nominations as part of this process.

Purpose and Need

    The BLM's purpose and need for this federal action is to respond to 
FLPMA right-of-way applications submitted by GridLiance under Title V 
of FLPMA (43 U.S.C. 1761) to amend portions of their existing ROW 
grants to construct, operate, maintain, and decommission approximately 
155 miles of transmission system upgrades across BLM-administered lands 
in Nye and Clark Counties, Nevada, in compliance with FLPMA, BLM right-
of-way regulations (43 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] 2800), the 
2008 BLM NEPA Handbook, U.S. Department of the Interior NEPA 
regulations, and other applicable federal and state laws and policies. 
In accordance with FLPMA, public lands are to be managed for multiple 
uses that consider the long-term needs of future generations for 
renewable and non-renewable resources. The BLM is authorized to grant 
ROWs on public lands for systems of generation, transmission, and 
distribution of electrical energy (FLPMA section 501(a)(4)). Proposed 
amendments to the existing ROW grants may require plan amendments to 
the 1998 Las Vegas RMP, which the BLM will analyze in the EIS. The 
purpose and need for the plan amendment is to bring the project into 
compliance and consistency with the 1998 Las Vegas RMP as it pertains 
to elements of the project for which there is no other option to attain 
compliance.

Preliminary Alternatives

    The Proposed Action is to amend portions of existing BLM ROW grants 
to construct, operate, maintain, and decommission approximately 155 
miles of upgraded alternating current overhead transmission lines on 
BLM, Las Vegas Paiute Snow Mountain Reservation, Department of Defense, 
and State of Nevada-administered lands, as well as private lands in 
Clark and Nye Counties, Nevada. The project is an upgrade of an 
existing overhead transmission system that is currently comprised of a 
single-circuit 230-kilovolt (kV) transmission line system and seven 
substations. The proposed upgrade consists of four segments, with 
double-circuit 230-kV or double-circuit 500-kV options being considered 
for each segment, unless otherwise noted:
     Segment 1: Sloan Canyon Switchyard to Trout Canyon 
Switchyard. Includes upgrades and expansions at both switchyards; only 
the Trout Canyon Switchyard upgrades are located on BLM-administered 
lands. This segment would be upgraded to a double-circuit 500-kV 
transmission line, regardless of the voltage option chosen for the 
remainder of the system.
     Segment 2: Trout Canyon Switchyard to Pahrump Substation. 
Includes upgrades and expansions at the Gamebird Substation and at 
Pahrump Substation, both located on private lands.
     Segment 3: Pahrump Substation to Innovation Substation. 
Includes upgrades at Innovation Substation. The transmission line 
upgrades between the Pahrump Substation and the proposed Johnnie Corner 
Substation would be constructed at either double-circuit 230 kV or 
double-circuit 500 kV; however, the proposed substation at Johnnie 
Corner would not be constructed if the transmission line is constructed 
as double-circuit 230 kV. The portion from the proposed Johnnie Corner 
Substation

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to Innovation Substation would consist of a double-circuit 230-kV 
transmission line, regardless of the voltage option chosen for the 
remainder of the system.
     Segment 4: Innovation Substation to Northwest Substation. 
Includes upgrades at the Desert View Substation. This segment would be 
upgraded to a double-circuit 230-kV transmission line, regardless of 
the voltage option chosen for the remainder of the system.
    The final voltage configuration of the transmission line requested 
by GridLiance would be determined based on ongoing studies being 
completed by the California Independent System Operator and would be 
finalized before the signing of the record of decision (ROD) for the 
proposed upgrades. GridLiance is currently advancing design efforts for 
both voltages of the transmission line in order to provide the 
necessary information for analysis of either option in the EIS. Double-
circuit 500-kV components of the project would require a 275-foot-wide 
right-of-way, while the double-circuit 230-kV components of the project 
would require a 150-foot-wide right-of-way.
    For the majority of Segments 1, 2, and 3, the upgraded transmission 
line would be constructed adjacent to the existing transmission line in 
a right-of-way that mostly does not overlap with the existing 
transmission line right-of-way. A notable exception is the portion of 
Segment 3 from Johnnie Corner Substation to Innovation Substation where 
the existing transmission line would be fully removed, and the new line 
would be constructed in a ROW that mostly would overlap with the 
existing transmission line ROW. Work in these segments would require 
upgrades to existing access roads and the development of new access 
roads to safely access the work areas. Access roads would be improved 
or constructed to contain a 16-foot-wide travel surface and appropriate 
ditches and berms. The total disturbance width of the access roads is 
anticipated to be up to 24 feet. In addition to access roads, the 
project would require temporary work areas, including laydown yards and 
pulling and tension sites, as described in the relevant Plans of 
Development submitted to the BLM by GridLiance. Structures would vary 
based on the voltage option selected as well as specific site 
characteristics and would be steel lattice or tubular steel structures 
between 120 and 200 feet tall.
    For Segment 4, the upgraded transmission line would be constructed 
in an expanded ROW that wholly overlaps with the existing transmission 
line ROW. Upgrades in this section would be limited to adding a second 
circuit to the existing tubular steel transmission line poles and 
reconductoring the existing circuit, both of which would require 
laydown yards and pulling and tensioning sites. Individual poles that 
do not meet the structural requirements of the upgraded conductors 
would need to be replaced.
    The project would also involve the decommissioning of the existing 
single-circuit 230-kV transmission line from the Sloan Canyon 
Switchyard to the Innovation Substation. In Segments 1, 2, and the 
portion of Segment 3 from the proposed Johnnie Corner Substation to the 
Innovation Substation, the existing transmission line would be removed, 
and any disturbances associated with the line (including roads to tower 
locations not required for access to the upgraded transmission line) 
would be reclaimed. For the portion of Segment 3 from approximately the 
Pahrump Substation to the proposed Johnnie Corner Substation, the 
existing transmission line is strung on poles shared with an existing 
138-kV transmission line owned and operated by Valley Electric 
Association. In this area, the GridLiance 230-kV transmission conductor 
would be removed, but the poles and existing Valley Electric 
Association transmission line would remain. No decommissioning of the 
existing line in Segment 4 would be required.
    The Proposed Action also includes amending the 1998 Las Vegas RMP 
(updated 2019). One potential amendment would be to adjust the Visual 
Resource Management (VRM) class associated with portions of the 
project. The project area includes VRM Classes II, III, and IV within 
the proposed right-of-way. In some instances, design and mitigation may 
be insufficient to make the project consistent with VRM classes and may 
require an RMPA to change the class.
    There is one preliminary action alternative being considered 
involving a modification of Segment 2. This alternative route follows 
the designated utility corridor approximately 0.5 mile further north 
before turning west to approach the Pahrump Substation. The total 
length difference between this alternative and the proposed route is 
negligible. This alternative route is intended to utilize more of the 
designated utility corridor and would result in fewer angle structures. 
The EIS will fully disclose all impacts of this alternative and any 
other alternatives developed through the EIS process.
    A No-Action Alternative is also being considered. Under this 
alternative the BLM would not issue right-of-way grant amendments for 
the project and the project would not be constructed. Existing land 
uses in the project area would continue. Additionally, the BLM would 
not undertake an RMP amendment.
    The BLM welcomes written comments on all preliminary alternatives 
as well as suggestions for additional alternatives.

Planning Criteria

    The planning criteria guide the planning effort and lay the 
groundwork for effects analysis by identifying the preliminary issues 
and their analytical frameworks. Preliminary issues for the planning 
area have been identified by BLM personnel and from early engagement 
conducted for this planning effort with Federal, State, and local 
agencies, Tribes, and stakeholders. The BLM has identified 16 
preliminary issues for this planning effort's analysis. The planning 
criteria are available for public review and comment at the ePlanning 
website (see ADDRESSES).

Summary of Expected Impacts

    The project is anticipated to cause direct and indirect impacts 
during construction, operations and maintenance, and decommissioning. 
During construction (including decommissioning of the redundant 
existing transmission line) impacts would occur from land disturbance; 
operation of construction equipment; installation of towers, access 
roads, and other facilities; and presence of work forces. During 
operations and maintenance, impacts would occur from continued presence 
of project facilities and from maintenance activities. Impacts from 
eventual decommissioning of the upgraded line would be similar to those 
expected from the construction phase. Cumulative impacts from relevant 
reasonably foreseeable future actions will also be disclosed in the 
EIS.
    The following resources could be impacted by the project and will 
be analyzed in the EIS. This is not necessarily a comprehensive list 
and other resources may be added as a result of scoping. These 
preliminary resources include geology and soils; general vegetation, 
riparian, and noxious and invasive species; general wildlife; 
threatened and endangered species; sensitive species; wetlands; air 
quality; minerals; paleontological resources; visual resources; 
National Historic Trails; surface water and groundwater quality and 
quantity; cultural resources; socioeconomics and environmental justice; 
public health and safety; land use and recreation; and special 
designations.

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Anticipated Permits and Authorizations

    Authorization of this proposal may require amendments to the 
applicable RMPs in effect for the Southern Nevada District Office to 
modify locations of some Visual Resource Management class locations 
involving the proposed ROW Project. Along with the ROW grant issued by 
the BLM, GridLiance anticipates needing the following authorizations 
and permits for the proposed project: construction authorization from 
the Bureau of Indian Affairs; clearance for survey and construction on 
Department of Defense lands; biological opinion and incidental take 
permit(s) from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for 
Endangered Species Act compliance; USFWS Migratory Bird Treaty Act 
compliance; USFWS Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act compliance; 
section 404 permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for Clean 
Water Act compliance; effect concurrence from the Nevada State Historic 
Preservation Office for National Historic Preservation Act compliance; 
No Hazard Declaration from the Federal Aviation Administration; 
Department of Homeland Security consultation regarding military radar; 
Utilities Environmental Protection Act Permit to Construct from the 
Public Utilities Commission of Nevada; Rare and Endangered Plant Permit 
from the Nevada State Division of Forestry; Desert Tortoise and Gila 
Monster Handling Permit from the Nevada Department of Wildlife; Native 
Cacti and Yucca Commercial Salvaging and Transportation Permit from the 
Nevada Division of Forestry; Incidental Take Permit from the Nevada 
Department of Wildlife; Clean Water Act, section 401 Compliance with 
the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) and Bureau of 
Water Quality Planning; Notification for Stormwater Management During 
Construction for the Clean Water Act, section 402 permit for stormwater 
discharge from NDEP; Groundwater Discharge Permit from NDEP; ROW 
Occupancy Permit from the Nevada Department of Transportation; Over 
Legal Size/Load Permit from the Nevada Department of Transportation; 
Uniform Permit (for transportation of hazardous materials) from the 
Nevada Department of Public Safety; NDEP Phase 1 Environmental Site 
Assessment; Clark County Dust Control Permit; Clark County Grading 
Permit; Clark County Building Permit; Nye County Dust Control Permit; 
Nye County Grading Permit; and other permits as necessary. Further 
details on these permitting requirements may be found in the relevant 
Plans of Development submitted to the BLM by GridLiance.

Schedule for the Decision-Making Process

    The BLM will provide additional opportunities for public 
participation consistent with the NEPA and land use planning processes, 
including a 90-day comment period on the Draft RMPA/EIS and concurrent 
30-day public protest period and 60-day Governor's consistency review 
on the Proposed RMPA. The Draft RMPA/EIS is anticipated to be available 
for public review fall 2023 and the Proposed RMPA/Final EIS is 
anticipated to be available for public protest of the Proposed RMPA 
spring 2024 with an Approved RMPA and ROD summer 2024.

Public Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping period and public 
review of the planning criteria, which guide the development and 
analysis of the Draft RMPA/EIS.
    The BLM will be holding two virtual scoping meetings (see DATES and 
ADDRESSES sections earlier). The date(s) and location(s) of any 
additional scoping meetings will be announced at least 15 days in 
advance through the BLM National NEPA Register, news release, and BLM 
social media pages.
    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 EIS. Federal, State, and local agencies and 
Tribes, along with 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 written 
comments concerning the Project and RMP amendment, 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 
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 alternatives; therefore, please identify the 
activity along with the potential issues.

Lead and Cooperating Agencies

    The BLM Southern Nevada District Office is the lead agency for this 
EIS and RMPA. The BLM has initially invited 31 Agencies and 17 Indian 
Tribal Nations to be cooperating agencies to participate in the 
environmental analysis of the project. Additional agencies and 
organizations may be identified as potential cooperating agencies to 
participate in the environmental analysis of the project.

Responsible Official

    The Nevada State Director is the deciding official for this 
planning effort.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The nature of the decision to be made will be the Nevada State 
Director's selection of land use planning decisions for managing BLM-
administered lands under the principles of multiple use and sustained 
yield in a manner that best addresses the purpose and need.
    The BLM will decide whether to grant, grant with conditions, or 
deny the applications for right-of-way amendments associated with the 
project. The BLM will also make the decision whether or not to approve 
any RMP amendment. In the ROD, the BLM will clearly distinguish the RMP 
amendment decision from the right-of-way grant decision concerning the 
selected alternative for the project.

Interdisciplinary Team

    The BLM will use an interdisciplinary approach to develop the plan 
amendment in order to consider the variety of resource issues and 
concerns identified. Specialists with expertise in the following 
disciplines will be involved in this planning effort: geology and 
soils, vegetation and noxious and invasive species, wildlife, 
hydrology, air quality, minerals, paleontology, visual resources, 
cultural resources, socioeconomics, public health and safety, land use 
and recreation, and special designations, among others deemed necessary 
based on the results of the scoping process.

Additional Information

    The BLM will identify, analyze, and consider mitigation to address 
the reasonably foreseeable impacts to resources from the proposed plan 
amendment and all analyzed reasonable alternatives and, in accordance 
with 40 CFR 1502.14(e), include appropriate mitigation measures not 
already included in the proposed plan amendment or alternatives. 
Mitigation

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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 and coordinate the NEPA and land use planning 
processes for this planning effort to help support compliance with 
applicable procedural requirements under the Endangered Species Act (16 
U.S.C. 1536) and 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 plan amendment 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 MS 1780, 
and other Departmental policies. Tribal concerns, including impacts on 
Indian trust assets and potential impacts to cultural resources, will 
be given due consideration.
    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 43 CFR 1610.2)

Jon K. Raby,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 2023-17060 Filed 8-8-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4331-21-P