[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 48 (Monday, March 11, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17510-17512]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-05071]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[BLM_NV_FRN_MO#4500178000]
Notice of Intent To Amend Resource Management Plans for the
Greenlink North Transmission Project, 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 intends to prepare a Resource Management Plan amendment
(RMPA) with an associated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the
Greenlink North Transmission Project and by this notice is announcing
the beginning of the scoping period to solicit public comments and
identify issues, and is providing the planning criteria for public
review.
DATES: The BLM requests the public submit comments concerning the scope
of the analysis, potential alternatives, and identification of relevant
information, and studies by April 10, 2024. 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.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues related to the Greenlink
North Transmission 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
Transmission Project, 1340 Financial Boulevard, Reno, NV 89502.
Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined
online at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2017033/510
and at the Nevada State Office in Reno, Nevada.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Buttazoni, Project Manager,
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 Director intends to prepare an RMPA/EIS for the Greenlink
North Transmission Project, announces the beginning of the scoping
process, seeks public input on issues and planning criteria. The plan
amendments are being considered to allow the BLM to evaluate modifying
restrictions on major rights-of-way (ROWs) within greater sage-grouse
habitat management areas and in proximity to leks and to establish a
new 235-mile utility corridor between Ely, Nevada and Yerington,
Nevada, which would require amending the existing 2001 Consolidated
Resource Management Plan in Carson City District, 1986 Shoshone-Eureka
Resource Management Plan/Record of Decision in Battle Mountain
District, and 2008 Record of Decision/Resource Management Plan in Ely
District.
The planning area is located in White Pine, Eureka, Lander,
Churchill, and Lyon counties and encompasses approximately 451,706
acres of BLM, U.S. Forest Service, and private lands.
The scope of this land use planning process does not include
addressing the evaluation or designation of areas of critical
environmental concern (ACEC), and the BLM is not considering ACEC
nominations as part of this process.
Purpose and Need
The BLM's preliminary purpose and need for this Federal action is
to respond to the ROW application submitted by NV Energy under Title V
of FLPMA (43 U.S.C. 1761) on July 20, 2020, to construct, operate, and
decommission a proposed system of new 525-kV, 345-kV, 230-kV, and 120-
kV electric transmission facilities on BLM-administered lands in White
Pine, Eureka, Lander, Churchill, and Lyon counties, in compliance with
FLPMA, BLM ROW regulations, the BLM NEPA Handbook (BLM 2008), 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 considering 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)). The U.S. Forest Service, Humboldt-Toiyabe National
Forest also received an application from NV Energy for an approximately
10-mile segment of the project. The Forest Service's purpose and need
is to respond to NV Energy's application for a Special Use Permit to
construct, operate, maintain, and decommission the proposed 500-kV
transmission line on National Forest System land in Lander County in
compliance with FLPMA, the National Forest Management Act (16 U.S.C.
1601-1614), and the Toiyabe National Forest Land and Resource
Management Plan (Forest Service 1986 as amended), which provides
standards and guidelines for managing the National Forest.
The BLM has also determined that it will evaluate the need for
RMPAs for this Project, and as a result the document will be a combined
RMPA/EIS following the requirements of the BLM's land use planning
regulations. Accordingly, the BLM will consider whether to amend the
2001 Consolidated Resource Management Plan in Carson City District,
1986 Shoshone-Eureka Resource Management Plan/Record of Decision in
Battle Mountain District, and 2008 Record of Decision/Resource
Management Plan in Ely District within the proposed Project area to
establish a new 235-mile long utility corridor between Ely and
Yerington, Nevada, and modify restrictions on major ROWs for
transmission lines greater than 100 kV currently in place under the
2015 Greater Sage Grouse RMPA, including its designation of habitat
management
[[Page 17511]]
areas as avoidance areas for major ROWs and restrictions on proximity
to greater sage-grouse leks.
Preliminary Proposed Action and Alternatives
The Proposed Action is to construct, operate, maintain, 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. During the original scoping period completed in
2023 several alternatives were presented to the BLM to consider to
avoid placement of this project along U.S. Highway 50 and to avoid
greater sage-grouse habitat management areas.
Under the No Action Alternative, the BLM and U.S. Forest Service
would not issue a ROW grant or special use permit for the construction,
operation, maintenance, 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 all preliminary alternatives as well
as suggestions for additional alternatives.
Planning Criteria
The planning criteria guides the planning effort and lays 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 engagement with
Federal, State, and local agencies; Tribes; and stakeholders. The BLM
has identified 14 preliminary issues for this planning effort's
analysis. The planning criteria are available for public review and
comment at the project website: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2017033/510.
Summary of Expected Impacts
The BLM will evaluate the beneficial or adverse short- and long-
term impacts from the alternatives utilizing issue-based NEPA analysis
for air resources; soil resources; wildlife and special status species;
vegetation, including noxious and invasive species; cultural resources;
Native American religious concerns; socioeconomics; environmental
justice; recreation and access; visual resources; lands and realty;
livestock grazing authorizations; and wild horses.
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 would occur on
National Forest System land, 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 make a decision whether or not to issue a
special use permit and under what conditions. 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 and land use planning processes,
including a 90-day comment period on the Draft RMPA/EIS, and a
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 in the summer of 2024 and
the Final RMPA/EIS is anticipated to be available for public protest of
the Proposed RMPAs in the winter 2025, with Approved RMPAs and a Record
of Decision in late spring or early summer of 2025.
Public Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates a new scoping period and public
review of the planning criteria, which guide the development and
analysis of the Draft RMPA/EIS. Between May 26, 2023 and July 19, 2023
the BLM completed a 45-day scoping period that included a combination
of virtual and in-person meetings. While the Project has not changed,
the BLM has determined that several plan amendments will need to be
evaluated, and therefore the BLM is initiating a second scoping period
disclosing the nature of the plan amendments that would be evaluated in
the upcoming EIS/RMPA.
The BLM will be holding at least one virtual meeting. The date and
Zoom link for the virtual meeting will be announced at least 15 days in
advance through the project website at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2017033/510.
Lead and Cooperating Agencies
The BLM Nevada State Office is the lead Federal agency for this
EIS. In January 2022 the BLM invited approximately 35 Federal, State
and county agencies, and Tribes to become Cooperating Agencies for the
Project. Cooperating Agencies participating in meetings and the
environmental analysis of the Project include: Department of the Air
Force, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region
9, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Nevada Department of Transportation,
Duckwater Shoshone Tribe, Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe, Pyramid Lake
Paiute Tribe, Walker River Paiute Tribe, Yomba Shoshone Tribe, Nevada
Department of Agriculture, Nevada Department of Wildlife, Nevada
Department of Conservation & Natural Resources, Nevada Division of
Minerals, Churchill County, White Pine County, Lyon County, Eureka
County, and Lander County.
Responsible Official
The Nevada State Director is the deciding official for the proposed
Greenlink North Transmission Project on BLM administered land and the
Forest Supervisor of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest is the
deciding official on National Forest System land.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The nature of the decision to be made is the State Director's
selection of land use planning decisions pursuant to this RMPA 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 ROW application. Pursuant to 43 CFR 2805.10, if the BLM issues
a ROW, the BLM decision 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 plan amendments in accordance with
BLM policy about delegation of authorities. In the ROD, the BLM will
clearly distinguish the RMPA decisions from the selected alternative
for the Project.
The Forest Service will decide whether to issue a special use
permit to construct, operate, maintain, and decommission the proposed
facilities on National Forest System land and, if so, under what terms
and conditions.
Forest Service Administrative Review Process
The decision that the USDA Forest Service will make is subject to a
pre-decisional administrative review process, also known as an
objection process (36 CFR 218, subparts A and B).
[[Page 17512]]
The objection process provides an opportunity for members of the public
who have participated in the planning process for the action to have
any unresolved concerns reviewed by the USDA Forest Service prior to a
final decision by the Responsible Official.
Comments should be provided prior to the close of the comment
period and should clearly articulate the reviewer's concerns and
contentions. Commenting during scoping and any other designated
opportunity to comment provided by the Responsible Official as
prescribed by the applicable regulations will also govern eligibility
to object once the final EIS and draft Record of Decision has been
published. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and
considered; however, they will not be used to establish eligibility for
the objection process.
Objections will be accepted only from those who have previously
submitted specific written comments regarding the proposed project
during scoping or other designated opportunity for public comment in
accordance with 36 CFR 218.5(a). Issues raised in objections must be
based on previously submitted timely, specific written comments
regarding the proposed project unless based on new information arising
after designated opportunities.
Interdisciplinary Team
The BLM will use an interdisciplinary approach to develop the RMPA/
EIS in order to consider the variety of resource issues and concerns
identified. Specialists with expertise in the following disciplines
will be involved in this process: air resources, archaeology,
vegetation, environmental justice, mineral resources and soils,
hydrology, groundwater, invasive/non-native species, lands and realty,
paleontology, rangelands, wild horses, recreation and access,
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 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 plan amendment 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 and land use planning
processes for this Project 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. Information about historic and
cultural resources and threatened and endangered species within the
area potentially affected by the RMPAs will assist the BLM in
identifying and evaluating impacts to such resources.
The BLM will consult with The 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 Colony,
Yerington Paiute Tribe, and Yomba Shoshone Tribe 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, 43 CFR 1610.2, and 43 CFR part 2800)
Jon K. Raby,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 2024-05071 Filed 3-8-24; 8:45 am]
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