[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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