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Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed One Nevada Transmission Line, Nevada

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.

PDF Version (2 pp, 50K, About PDF)

[Federal Register: July 29, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 144)]
[Notices]
[Page 37728-37729]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29jy09-94]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLNVLVRWF1640000.L51010000.ER0000; N-82076; 09-08807; TAS: 14x5017]

Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement for the Proposed One Nevada Transmission Line, Nevada

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

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1976 (NEPA), as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act
of 1976 FLPMA, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Ely and
Southern Nevada District Offices intend to prepare a Supplemental
Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for a proposed 500 kilovolt (kv)
transmission line and associated facility from Ely, Nevada, to the
Harry Allen substation just north of Las Vegas, Nevada and by this
notice are announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit
public comments and identify issues.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the SEIS.
Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until August 28, 2009.
The date(s) and location(s) of any scoping meetings will be announced
at least 15 days in advance through local news media, newspapers and
the BLM Web site at: http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/ely_field_
office.html. In order to be included in the draft SEIS, all comments
must be received prior to the close of the scoping period or 15 days
after the last public meeting, whichever is later. We will provide
additional opportunities for public participation upon publication of
the draft SEIS.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Proposed One Nevada
Transmission Line by any of the following methods:
    • Web Site: http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/ely_field_
office.html;
    • E-mail: eyfoweb@nv.blm.gov;
    • Fax: 775-289-1910;
    • Mail: BLM, Ely District Office, 702 North Industrial Way,
Ely, NV 89301; or
    • Mail: Southern Nevada District Office, 4701 North Torrey
Pines Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89130.

    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Ely and
Southern Nevada District Offices.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have
your name added to our mailing list, send requests to: ATTN: One Nevada
Transmission Line; contact Michael Dwyer, telephone (702) 821-7102;
address, Ely District Office, 702 North Industrial Way, Ely, NV 89301;
e-mail michael_dwyer@blm.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 5, 2006 the applicant, Sierra
Pacific Power Company (SPPC), requested authorization for the Ely
Energy Center (EEC), a proposed power-generating facility that included
rail lines, transmission lines with fiber optic cable, new and expanded
substations, water well-fields and pipeline delivery systems, and
associated facilities to be located on mostly public lands in White
Pine, Lincoln, Nye, Elko, and Clark counties, Nevada. On January 26,
2007, the BLM published a Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS for the
EEC and its associated facilities. Five public scoping meetings were
held between February 5 and 9, 2007 in Las Vegas, Alamo, Ely, Elko, and
Reno, Nevada. In January 2009, the BLM published a Notice of
Availability of a draft EIS initiating a 90-day public comment period
on the draft EIS. In February 2009, during the public comment period,
NV Energy (formerly SPPC) made public its intention to postpone
indefinitely the power generation facilities associated with the EEC
from its proposal. On March 30, 2009, the BLM received an amended
application and Plan of Development from NV Energy for one
approximately 236-mile 500 kV transmission line, one new substation, an
expansion of one substation, one fiber optic line, and related
appurtenances that were part of the EEC proposal. The project was given
a new name by the proponent: The One Nevada 500 kV Transmission Line
Project (ON Line Project).
    The BLM will develop a SEIS for the project because of substantial
changes to the proposed action that are relevant to environmental
concerns. See 40 CFR 1502.9(c). Removal of the coal-fired power
generation facilities from the application makes an assessment of their
impacts in the draft EIS no longer applicable.
    The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant
issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis,
including alternatives, and guide the process for developing the EIS.
This scoping process will direct the preparation of a SEIS for a
proposed 500 kv transmission line and associated facilities from Ely,
Nevada, to the Harry Allen substation just north of Las Vegas, Nevada.
The SEIS will supplement the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
for the Ely Energy Center. A power

[[Page 37729]]

generation plant is not associated with the SEIS.
    Because the ON line proposed action is part of the EEC proposed
action, the ON Line SEIS will incorporate all applicable sections of
the draft EIS. The ON Line draft SEIS will be made available for public
comment, and applicable comments collected during the public comment
period on the EEC draft EIS will be carried forward into the SEIS
process. The BLM will use and coordinate the NEPA commenting process to
satisfy the public involvement requirements of Section 106 of the
National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (16 U.S.C. 470f) as provided
for in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). Native American Tribal consultations will be
conducted in accordance with policy, and Tribal concerns will be given
due consideration, including impacts on Indian trust assets. Federal,
State, and local agencies, as well as individuals or organizations 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. 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:  43 CFR part 2800.

Michael J. Herder,
District Manager,
    Ely District.
[FR Doc. E9-18081 Filed 7-28-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P

 
 

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