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Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Solar Millennium, LLC, Amargosa Farm Road Solar Energy Project, Nye County, NV

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[Federal Register: July 13, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 132)]
[Notices]
[Page 33458]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13jy09-93]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLNVS03000.L51010000.ER0000.F09F8590; NVN-84359; 9-08807: TAS:14X5017]

Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the Proposed Solar Millennium, LLC, Amargosa Farm Road Solar Energy
Project, Nye County, NV

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Field Office, Southern
Nevada District, Pahrump Field Office intends to prepare an
environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Amargosa Farm Road Solar
Energy Project, located on public lands in Nye County, Nevada and by
this notice is announcing the beginning of the scoping process and
soliciting input on the identification of issues.

DATES: This notice initiates public scoping. Scoping comments shall be
submitted on or before August 12, 2009.
    The BLM will announce public scoping meetings to identify relevant
issues through local news media, newsletters, and the BLM Web site
(http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/lvfo.html) at least 15 days prior to
each meeting. We will provide additional opportunities for public
participation upon publication of the Draft RMP/EIS, including a 90-day
public comment period.

ADDRESSES: Comments related to the project may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
    • E-mail: solar_millennium@blm.gov.
    • Fax: (702) 515-5064 (attention: Gregory Helseth).
    • Mail: Bureau of Land Management, Southern Nevada District
Office, Pahrump Field Office, Attn: Gregory Helseth, Project Manager,
4701 North Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89130-2301.
    Documents pertinent to this project may be examined at the Pahrump
Field Office. Additional opportunities for public participation will be
provided on publication of the draft EIS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have
your name added to the mailing list, call Gregory Helseth, (702) 515-
5173, or e-mail: gregory_helseth@blm.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Solar Millennium, LLC, has submitted a
right-of-way application to BLM to construct two concentrated solar
thermal parabolic trough power plant facilities on public lands,
approximately 80 miles northwest of Las Vegas, in Nye County, Nevada.
The Project site would consist of approximately 4,350 acres of public
land located in Amargosa Valley, south of Highway 95. Each facility is
expected to operate for approximately 30 years. Each plant would
utilize solar thermal parabolic trough technology, consisting of a 242
megawatt (MW) power block equipped with thermal storage tanks capable
of producing additional energy for 3.5 hours after sundown, and a solar
field composed of parabolic trough mirrors.
    The solar field would be highly modular and would consist of
``loops,'' each containing 4 curved glass mirror collectors. A loop is
22m wide and 400m long (72.18' wide and 1312.33' long). The solar field
would consist of approximately 400 loops. The orientation of the
collectors would be north-south, and the collectors would track the sun
from east to west during the day. The collector would focus the sun's
direct beam radiation on a receiver tube. The row of collectors would
have a hydraulic drive unit with sensors to track the sun's path
throughout the day. The solar energy would heat a transfer fluid which
cycles through a series of heat exchangers to generate steam, which
drives a steam turbine to ultimately generate electricity. The electric
output of the Project would be generated entirely by solar energy. No
electricity would be generated by the use of fossil fuel in these facilities.
    The proposed Project facilities would include the solar fields,
power blocks, buildings, parking area, laydown area, stormwater
retention pond, and evaporating ponds. A single overhead 230 kilovolt
(kV) transmission line would connect the facilities to the nearby
Valley Electric Valley substation, located on Anvil Road. Additional
elements of the Project would include access roads and optional water
pipeline. The proposed Project may require the rerouting of a road and
an existing low voltage distribution power line. The EIS will analyze
the site-specific impacts of the Project on air quality, biological
resources, cultural resources, water resources, geological resources,
paleontological resources, public health, socioeconomics, soils,
traffic and transportation, and visual resources. It will analyze the
geologic hazards, hazardous materials handling, land use and airspace,
noise, waste management, worker safety, and fire protection potentially
associated with the Project. It will also analyze facility design
engineering, efficiency, and reliability; transmission system
engineering; and transmission line safety and nuisance. Native American
Tribal consultations will be conducted in accordance with policy, and
Tribal concerns will be given due consideration. The EIS will include
the consideration of any impacts on Indian trust assets.
    Before including your address, phone number, e-mail 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. Federal, State, and local agencies, as well as
individuals or organizations that may be interested in or affected by
the BLM's decision on this project are invited to participate in the
scoping process and, if eligible, may requested or be requested by the
BLM to participate as a cooperating agency.

(Authority: 43 CFR Part 2800)

Patrick Putnam,
Field Manager, Pahrump Field Office.
[FR Doc. E9-16415 Filed 7-10-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P

 
 

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