[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 216 (Thursday, November 9, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77356-77358]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-24744]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[BLM_AZ_FRN_MO4500175810]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and 
Notice of Segregation for the Proposed Ranegras Plains Energy Center 
Project, La Paz County, AZ

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent and segregation.

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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) Yuma 
Field Office, Yuma, Arizona, intends to prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) to consider the effects of the Ranegras Plains Energy 
Center Project (Project) and by this notice is announcing the beginning 
of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues. 
The BLM also announces the segregation of 4,763 acres of public lands 
from appropriation under the public land laws, including the Mining 
Law, but not the mineral leasing or materials acts, for a period of 2 
years from the date of publication of this notice, subject to valid 
existing rights. This segregation will facilitate the orderly 
administration of the public lands while the BLM considers potential 
solar and battery energy storage development on the described parcels.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS. 
The BLM requests that the public submit comments concerning the scope 
of the analysis, potential alternatives, and identification of relevant 
information and studies by December 11, 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 30-
day scoping period or 15 days after the last public meeting, whichever 
is later. A virtual public scoping meeting will be held 2 to 3 weeks 
after publication of this notice; the meeting date will be announced on 
the Project ePlanning website at least 15 days prior to the meeting. 
The segregation for the

[[Page 77357]]

public lands identified in this notice takes effect on November 9, 
2023.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues related to the Proposed 
Ranegras Plains Energy Center Project by any of the following methods:

     Website: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2020050/510.
     Email: [email protected].
     Mail: BLM Yuma Field Office, Attention: Ranegras Plains 
Energy Center Project, 7341 E 30th Street, Yuma, AZ 85365.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined online at the 
Project's ePlanning website: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2020050/510 and at the Yuma Field Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Derek Eysenbach, Project Manager, at 
[email protected], the mailing address above, or by phone at (602) 
417-9505. Contact Mr. Eysenbach 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 
Mr. Eysenbach. 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: The proposed Project location is 
approximately 30 miles east of Quartzsite, Arizona, along the south 
side of Interstate 10 near the Vicksburg Road exit. The Project would 
have a generating capacity of up to 700 megawatts alternating current 
and consist of solar photovoltaic modules, a battery energy storage 
system, electrical collection lines, a switchyard, operations and 
maintenance facilities, access roads, and an 11-mile-long, 500-kilovolt 
generation-tie transmission line (gen-tie line) to connect to the 
Delaney Colorado River Transmission Ten West Link Series Compensation 
Station.

Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action

    The purpose and need for the action is to respond to Ranegras 
Plains Energy Center, LLC's application for a right-of-way (ROW) to 
construct, operate, maintain, and decommission a solar photovoltaic and 
battery energy storage project and associated facilities on public land 
administered by the BLM, consistent with Title V of FLPMA, regulations 
at 43 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 2800, and other applicable laws 
and regulations. In making its decision to issue a ROW grant, the BLM 
must first consider conformance with existing resource management plans 
(43 CFR 1610.5-3).

Preliminary Proposed Action and Alternatives

    The BLM has identified two preliminary alternatives: the No Action 
Alternative and the proposed action. The proposed action would 
authorize a ROW for development of a solar photovoltaic facility, 
battery energy storage system, and gen-tie line on up to 4,763 acres of 
BLM-administered public land in La Paz County, Arizona. The entire 
project, including the proposed solar array and gen-tie line, also 
includes approximately 1,100 acres of Arizona State Trust lands and 1 
acre of private lands. The No Action Alternative would deny the ROW 
application and the Project. Through comments received in the public 
scoping period, the BLM may develop action alternatives that would 
reduce impacts to preliminary resource concerns, including wildlife 
connectivity, off-highway vehicle recreation and access, and grazing/
rangeland uses. The BLM welcomes comments on all preliminary 
alternatives as well as suggestions for additional alternatives.

Summary of Expected Impacts

    Anticipated impacts from the proposed Project include up to 4,763 
acres of ground disturbance for the solar facility, a battery energy 
storage system, transmission facilities, operations and maintenance 
facilities, access roads, and temporary work areas. Potential impacts 
may include a reduction in authorized grazing; vegetation removal; 
recreation, access, and land use changes; wildlife and migratory bird 
impacts including habitat loss and potential direct mortalities during 
construction and operations; visual impacts including glint and glare 
and an increase in nighttime brightness; potential impacts to cultural 
resources and Native American concerns; and socioeconomic impacts. 
Known resources to be addressed in the analysis include, but are not 
limited to, air quality; visual resources; environmental justice; 
social and economic values; mining and minerals; land uses; Native 
American religious concerns; recreation; grazing/rangelands; cultural 
resources; wildlife; migratory birds; threatened, endangered, and 
sensitive species; soils; water resources; invasive species; and 
paleontology. Impact analysis will also consider the cumulative impacts 
to natural and cultural resources from reasonably foreseeable future 
projects in the area.

Anticipated Permits and Authorizations

    In addition to the requested ROW grant, other Federal, State, and 
local authorizations would be required for the Project. These may 
include authorizations determined through consultation under the 
Endangered Species Act (16 United States Code (U.S.C.) 1536 et seq.), 
the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.), and other laws and 
regulations determined to be applicable to the Project.

Schedule for the Decision-Making Process

    The BLM will provide additional opportunities for public 
participation consistent with NEPA, including a 45-day comment period 
on the Draft EIS. The Draft EIS is anticipated to be available for 
public review in fall 2024, with a record of decision expected in 
summer 2025.

Public Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping period. The BLM will 
hold one virtual public scoping meeting (see the DATES and ADDRESSES 
sections above). The meeting date, time, and information on how to 
attend will be announced at least 15 days in advance on the Project 
ePlanning website at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2020050/510 and via news release. Project information and documents 
will also be posted on that website. Persons needing assistance 
(assistive technology, translators, or other assistance) should contact 
Mr. Eysenbach, Project Manager (see contact information above).

Segregation

    Regulations at 43 CFR 2804.25(f) allow the BLM to segregate public 
lands included in an application for a ROW for solar energy development 
from the operation of the public land laws, including the Mining Law, 
by publication of a Federal Register notice. The BLM uses this 
authority to preserve its ability to approve, approve with 
modifications, or deny a proposed ROW, and to facilitate the orderly 
administration of the public lands. This segregation is subject to 
valid existing rights, including existing mining claims located before 
the date of this segregation notice. Licenses, permits, cooperative 
agreements, or discretionary land use authorizations of a temporary 
nature that would not impact lands identified in this notice may be 
allowed with the approval of a BLM authorized officer during the 
segregation period. As

[[Page 77358]]

provided in the regulations, the segregation of lands in this notice 
will not exceed 2 years from the date of publication unless extended 
for up to an additional 2 years through publication of a new notice in 
the Federal Register. The segregation period will terminate and the 
land will automatically reopen to appropriation under the public land 
laws, including the Mining Law, at the earliest of the following dates: 
upon issuance of a decision by the authorized officer granting, 
granting with modifications, or denying the application for a ROW; 
without further administrative action at the end of the segregation 
provided for in the Federal Register notice initiating the segregation; 
or upon publication of a Federal Register notice terminating the 
segregation.
    Legal Description for Parcel: The subject lands for the proposed 
solar facility are legally described as follows:

Solar Array

Gila and Salt River Meridian, Arizona

T. 3 N., R. 14 W.,
    Secs. 17 and 18;
    Sec. 19, lots 1 and 2, NE\1/4\, E\1/2\NW\1/4\, and N\1/2\SE\1/
4\;
    Sec. 20, N\1/2\, N\1/2\SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\;
    Secs. 21 and 22;
    Sec. 23, SW\1/4\NW\1/4\, W\1/2\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 25, SW\1/4\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 26, W\1/2\NE\1/4\, NW\1/4\, and S\1/2\;
    Sec. 27, N\1/2\ and N\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 28, N\1/2\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, and N\1/2\NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 35, NE\1/4\NE\1/4\.
T. 3 N., R. 15 W.,
    Sec. 12, N\1/2\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 13, E\1/2\;
    Sec. 24, N\1/2\NE\1/4\.

    The area described contains 4,674 acres, more or less, derived from 
GIS data received from the BLM Arizona State Office, on September 11, 
2023.

Substation

Gila and Salt River Meridian, Arizona

T. 3 N., R. 15 W.,
    Sec. 12, NE\1/4\, those portions northerly of the northern 
alternative Gen-Tie route.

    The area described contains 89 acres, more or less, derived from 
GIS data received from the BLM Arizona State Office, on September 11, 
2023.

Lead and Cooperating Agencies

    These Federal agencies have agreed to participate as Cooperating 
Agencies under a Memorandum of Understanding to Improve Public Land 
Renewable Energy Project Permit Coordination: the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation, Department of Defense, 
Department of Energy, and Environmental Protection Agency. Other 
Federal agencies, Tribal Nations, and State and local agencies wishing 
to be considered as a Cooperating Agency on this effort, either on the 
basis of their jurisdiction by law or special expertise, are invited to 
express their interest to Mr. Eysenbach, Project Manager (see FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).

Responsible Official

    The BLM Arizona State Director is the deciding official for this 
notice of segregation. The authorized officer and decision maker for 
the Project is the BLM Yuma Field Office Manager.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The BLM will decide whether to approve, approve with 
modification(s), or deny issuance of a ROW grant to the applicant for 
the proposed Project.

Additional Information

    The BLM will identify, analyze, and consider mitigation to address 
the reasonably foreseeable impacts to resources from the proposed 
action and all analyzed reasonable alternatives and, in accordance with 
40 CFR 1502.14(e), include appropriate mitigation measures not already 
included in the proposed action or 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 and coordinate the NEPA process for this 
effort to help support compliance with applicable procedural 
requirements under the Endangered Species Act 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. Information about historic and cultural resources and threatened 
and endangered species within the area potentially affected will assist 
the BLM in identifying and evaluating impacts to such resources.
    The BLM will consult with Tribal Nations on a government-to-
government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175, BLM Manual 
Sections 1780, and other Departmental policies. Tribal concerns, 
including impacts on Indian trust assets and potential impacts to 
cultural resources, will be given due consideration. Federal, State, 
and local agencies, along with Tribal Nations and stakeholders that may 
be interested in or affected by the proposed Project 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, 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: 40 CFR 1501.9)

Gera Ashton,
Acting State Director.
[FR Doc. 2023-24744 Filed 11-8-23; 8:45 am]
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