SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The EIS for the New Comstock Wind Energy Project (Project) will analyze the direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts resulting from construction and operation of a commercial wind turbine facility proposed in a right-of-way application submitted by Great Basin Wind, LLC. The proposed project includes the construction of approximately 69 wind turbines with the potential of producing 192 megawatts of electricity. The turbine towers would be 210 feet to 330 feet tall supporting a nacelle and three blades 115 feet to 170 feet in length. Turbine units would be connected to a proposed electric substation by approximately 20 miles of underground electrical distribution system. A proposed 120 kV overhead transmission line approximately 5 miles in length would connect the new substation to an ( printed page 72077) existing substation operated by NV Energy located near U.S. Highway 50 east of Carson City. A series of 15 feet to 40 feet wide access roads will be improved or constructed to facilitate site development. Other facilities will include several small outbuildings for storage of materials and temporary work areas and storage yards.

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 EIS process. The EIS will address issues brought forth through scoping and will be evaluated by an interdisciplinary team of BLM and other agency specialists. A range of alternatives and mitigating measures will be considered to evaluate and minimize environmental impacts and to assure that the proposed actions do not result in undue or unnecessary degradation of public lands. Federal, State, and local agencies and other individuals and organizations that may be interested in or affected by the BLM decision on the New Comstock Wind Energy Project are urged to participate in the EIS process. It is important that those interested in the proposed activities participate in the scoping and commenting processes of the EIS.

Written comments may be provided to BLM at the public scoping meetings or may be submitted to the BLM using one of the methods listed in the Addresses section. 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 publically 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 2804.