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Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP) and
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Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement
SCH No. 2011071092
BLM/CA/PL-2014/025+1793
FWS-R8-ES-2014-N165
Prepared by:
California Energy Commission
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
U.S. Bureau of Land Management
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
SEPTEMBER 2014
Printed on 30% post-consumer recycled material.
Draft DRECP and EIR/EIS
TableofContents
TABLE OF CONTENTS - ALL VOLUMES
0.
Section Page No.
VOLUME BACKGROUND AND PLANNING PROCESS
I:
I1.0N.TRODUCTION
1.0 1.0-1
1.0.
1 Document Organization 0-1
1. 1.
2 Requirement for Further Analysis 1.0-7
3 Project Background and Overview. 1.0-7
0.3.1 Plan Area 1.0-15
1.
1.1 OBJECTIVES/PURPOSE AND NEED 1.1-1
1.1.1 Interagency Objectives/Purpose and Need 1.1-1
1.1.2 Bureau of Land Management Purpose and Need 1.1-1
1.2.1 Bureau of Land Management Roles and Responsibilities 1.1-3
1.
1.1.2.2 Bureau of Land Management Decisions to Be Made 1.1-5
1.1.3 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Purpose and Need 1.1-6
1.1.3.1 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Roles and Responsibilities 1.1-7
1.1.3.2 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Decisions to Be Made 1.1-8
1.1.4 State Objectives 1.1-9
1.1.4.1 California Energy Commission 1.1-10
1.4.2 California Department of Fish and Wildlife 1.1-11
1.
1.1.4.3 California State Lands Commission 1.1-13
1.2 LEGAL FRAMEWORK 1.2-1
1.2.1 Bureau of Land Management 1.2-1
1.2.1.1 Federal Land Policy and Management Act 1.2-1
1.2.1.2 National Environmental Policy Act 1.2-5
1.2.1.3 Federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 1.2-5
1.2.1.4 National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 1.2-7
1.2.1.5 Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 1.2-8
1.2.1.6 Other Relevant Federal Authorities 1.2-8
1.2.1.7 Renewable Energy Laws and Other Relevant Policies 1.2-15
1.2.2 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1.2-20
1.2.2.1 Federal Endangered Species Act 1.2-20
1.2.2.2 National Environmental Policy Act 1.2-23
1.2.2.3 Migratory Bird Treaty Act 1.2-24
1.2.2.4 Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act of 1940,
as Amended 1.2-24
1.2.2.5 National Historic Preservation Act 1.2-26
1.2.3 California Energy Commission 1.2-26
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1.2.3.1 California Environmental Quality Act 1.2-26
1.2.3.2 Warren-Alquist Act 1.2-27
1.2.4 California Department of Fish and Wildlife 1.2-28
1.2.4.1 California Endangered Species Act 1.2-28
2.4.2 Natural Community Conservation Planning Act 1.2-29
1.
2.4.3 Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreement 1.2-32
1.
1.2.4.4 Other Wildlife Protection Regulations and Statutes 1.2-32
1.3 1.2.5 California State Lands Commission 1.2-34
1.2.5.1 School Land Bank Act of 1984 1.2-34
1.2.5.2 Sovereign Land jurisdiction 1.2-34
1.2.5.3 State Mineral Resources 1.2-35
1.2.5.4 Geothermal Resource Jurisdiction 1.2-35
PLANNING PROCESS 1.3-1
1.3.1 Bureau of Land Management Land Use Planning Process 1.3-1
1.3.1.1 Planning Criteria 1.3-1
1.3.1.2 Types of Land Use Plan Decisions 1.3-3
1.3.1.3 Site-Specific Implementation Decisions and Requirements
for Further Environmental Analysis 1.3-4
1.3.1.4 Integration with the Conservation Planning Process 1.3-4
1.3.2 Natural Community Conservation Plan Planning Process 1.3-5
1.3.2.1 Approach to the NCCP Conceptual Plan-Wide
Reserve Design 1.3-5
1.3.2.2 Approach to the DRECP NCCP Reserve Design 1.3-9
1.3.3 General Conservation Plan Planning Process 1.3-9
1.3.4 DRECP Biological Conservation Planning Process 1.3-10
1.3.4.1 Establish the Biological Conservation Focus 1.3-11
1.3.4.2 Gather Baseline Biological Information 1.3-17
3.4.3 Identify Biological Goals and Objectives 1.3-18
1.
3.4.4 Develop Reserve Design 1.3-21
1.
1.3.4.5 Develop Conservation and Management Actions 1.3-29
1.3.4.6 Develop Monitoring and Adaptive Management Program .1.3-30
1.3.5 Renewable Energy Goals and Planning Process 1.3-30
1.3.5.1 Federal/BLM Renewable Energy Goals 1.3-30
1.3.5.2 California’s Renewable Energy Requirements and
Energy Goals 1.3-33
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1.3.5.3 Overview ofthe Renewable Energy Planning Process and
Development Focus Area Design Process 1.3-36
1.3.5.4 Estimating the Quantity of Renewable Energy Generation
Within the Plan Area 1.3-43
1.3.5.5 Renewable Energy Resource Distribution and
Development Potential 1.3-53
1.3.5.6 Identification of Development Focus Areas 1.3-55
1.3.5.7 Transmission Planning Goals and Assumptions 1.3-58
1.3.6 Plan Integration 1.3-61
1.3.6.1 BLM Land Use Planning Designations 1.3-61
1.3.6.2 Biological Conservation Planning.. 1.3-62
1.3.6.3 Renewable Energy Planning Areas 1.3-62
1.3.7 Duration ofthe DRECP 1.3-64
1.3.7.1 Bureau of Land Management Land Use Plan Amendment..I.3-64
1.3.7.2 Endangered Species Act Incidental Take Permit Duration.1.3-64
1.3.7.3 Natural Community Conservation Plan Duration 1.3-64
4 LITERATURE CITED - VOLUME 1.4-1
I. 1
Chapter 1.0 Introduction 1.4-1
Chapter 1.1 Objectives/Purpose and Need 1.4-1
Chapter 1.2 Legal Framework 1.4-3
Chapter 1.3 Planning Process 1.4-7
VOLUME DESCRIPTION OF ALTERNATIVES
II:
II.l APPROACH TO DEVELOPING ALTERNATIVES II.l-l
11.1.1 Alternatives Carried Forward for Detailed Analysis II.l-l
11.1.2 Alternatives Not Carried Forward for Detailed Analysis II.1-5
NO ACTION ALTERNATIVE
II. II.2-1
11.2.1 Plan-Wide Description ofthe No Action Alternative II.2-1
11.2.1.1 Overview ofthe No Action Alternative II.2-1
11.2.1.2 Conservation Under the No Action Alternative II.2-4
11.2.1.3 Renewable Energy and Transmission Development
Under the No Action Alternative 2-9
II.
11.2.2 Existing BLM Land Use Plan Elements ofthe No Action Alternative .11.2-25
11.2.2.1 BLM Renewable Energy Policies II.2-25
11.2.2.2 BLM Conservation Areas II.2-31
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II.2.2.3 BLM-Specific Management II.2-41
11.2.3 Natural Community Conservation Plan Elements ofthe
No Action Alternative 2-106
II.
11.2.4 General Conservation Plan Elements ofthe No Action Alternative. II.2-106
11.3 PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE II.3-1
11.3.1 Plan-Wide Description ofthe Preferred Alternative II.3-1
11.3.1.1 Overview ofthe Preferred Alternative II.3-1
11.3.1.2 Conservation Strategy II.3-10
11.3.1.3 Monitoring and Adaptive Management Program II.3-89
11.3.1.4 Overview Description of Covered Activities II.3-161
11.3.1.5 Plan Implementation II.3-205
11.3.1.6 Obtaining Federal ESA and NCCPA Take
Authorizations for Covered Activities II.3-247
11.3.1.7 Regulatory Assurances Under the NCCP and the GCP II.3-264
11.3.1.8 Cost and Funding II.3-280
11.3.2 BLM LUPA Elements ofthe Preferred Alternative II.3-298
11.3.2.1 BLM Renewable Energy Policies II.3-303
11.3.2.2 BLM Conservation Areas II.3-313
11.3.2.3 BLM-Specific Conservation and Management Actions.... II.3-367
11.3.2.4 CDCA Plan Amendments II.3-424
11.3.3 NCCP Elements ofthe Preferred Alternative II.3-437
11.3.4 GCP Elements ofthe Preferred Alternative II.3-444
11.3.4.1 Overview ofthe Non-Federal GCP Lands ofthe
Preferred Alternative 3-444
II.
11.3.4.2 Overview ofthe GCP Permitting Process II.3-445
11.4 ALTERNATIVE 1 II.4-1
11.4.1 Plan-Wide Description ofAlternative 1 II.4-1
11.4.1.1 Overview ofAlternative 1 II.4-1
11.4.1.2 Conservation Strategy II.4-3
11.4.1.3 Monitoring and Adaptive Management Program II.4-14
11.4.1.4 Overview Description of Covered Activities II.4-14
11.4.1.5 Plan Implementation II.4-29
11.4.2 BLM LUPA Elements ofAlternative 1 II.4-29
11.4.2.1 BLM Renewable Energy Policies II.4-33
11.4.2.2 BLM Conservation Areas II.4-33
11.4.2.3 BLM-Specific CMAs II.4-52
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II.4.2.4 California Desert Conservation Area Plan Amendments...II.4-54
11.4.3 NCCP Elements ofAlternative 1 11.4-54
11.4.4 GCP Elements ofAlternative 1 II.4-55
11.4.4.1 Overview ofthe Nonfederal GCP Lands ofAlternative 1... II.4-56
11.4.4.2 Overview ofthe GCP Permitting Process II.4-56
11.5 ALTERNATIVE 2 II.5-1
11.5.1 Plan-Wide Description ofAlternative 2 II.5-1
11.5.1.1 Overview ofAlternative 2 II.5-1
11.5.1.2 Conservation Strategy II.5-3
11.5.1.3 Monitoring and Adaptive Management Program II.5-18
11.5.1.4 Overview Description of Covered Activities II.5-18
11.5.1.5 Plan Implementation II.5-34
11.5.2 BLM LUPA Elements ofAlternative 2 II.5-34
11.5.2.1 BLM Renewable Energy Policies II.5-36
11.5.2.2 BLM Conservation Areas II.5-36
11.5.2.3 BLM-Specific CMAs II.5-58
11.5.2.4 CDCA Plan Amendments II.5-62
11.5.3 NCCP Elements ofAlternative 2 II.5-62
11.5.4 GCP Elements ofAlternative 2 II.5-63
11.5.4.1 Overview ofthe Nonfederal GCP Lands ofAlternative 2...II.5-63
11.5.4.2 Overview ofthe GCP Permitting Process II.5-64
11.6 ALTERNATIVE 3 II.6-1
11.6.1 Plan-Wide Description ofAlternative 3 II.6-1
11.6.1.1 Overview ofAlternative 3 II.6-1
11.6.1.2 Conservation Strategy II.6-4
11.6.1.3 Monitoring and Adaptive Management Program II.6-14
11.6.1.4 Overview Description of Covered Activities II.6-14
11.6.1.5 Plan Implementation II.6-29
11.6.2 BLM LUPA Elements ofAlternative 3 II.6-29
11.6.2.1 BLM Renewable Energy Policies II.6-33
11.6.2.2 BLM Conservation Areas II.6-33
11.6.2.3 BLM-Specific CMAs II.6-49
11.6.2.4 CDCA Plan Amendments II.6-53
11.6.3 NCCP Elements ofAlternative 3 II.6-53
11.6.4 GCP Elements ofAlternative 3 II.6-59
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11.6.4.1 Overview ofthe Nonfederal GCP Lands
ofAlternative 3 II.6-59
11.6.4.2 Overview ofthe GCP Permitting Process II.6-60
11.7 ALTERNATIVE 4 II.7-1
11.7.1 Interagency Description ofAlternative 4 II.7-1
11.7.1.1 Overview ofAlternative 4 II.7-1
11.7.1.2 Conservation Strategy II.7-4
11.7.1.3 Monitoring and Adaptive Management Program II.7-14
11.7.1.4 Overview Description of Covered Activities II.7-14
11.7.1.5 Plan Implementation II.7-29
11.7.2 BLM LUPA Elements ofAlternative 4 II.7-29
11.7.2.1 BLM Renewable Energy Policies II.7-33
11.7.2.2 BLM Conservation Areas II.7-33
11.7.2.3 BLM-Specific CMAs II.7-50
11.7.2.4 CDCA Plan Amendments II.7-52
11.7.3 NCCP Elements ofAlternative 4 II.7-52
11.7.4 GCP Elements ofAlternative 4 II.7-55
11.7.4.1 Overview ofthe Nonfederal GCP Lands ofAlternative 4...II.7-56
11.7.4.2 Overview ofthe GCP Permitting Process II.7-56
11.8 ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED BUT NOT CARRIED FORWARD II.8-1
11.8.1 Context for Alternatives Considered but Not Carried Forward for
Detailed Analysis 8-4
II.
11.8.1.1 NEPA Requirements for Alternatives. II.8-5
11.8.1.2 CEQA Requirements for Alternatives II.8-5
11.8.2 Description and Rationale for Alternatives Considered but
Not Carried Forward for Detailed Analysis II.8-6
11.8.2.1 Distributed Generation Alternative II.8-6
11.8.2.2 CEERT and LSA Proposed Solar Areas Alternative II.8-10
11.8.2.3 CalWEA Proposed Wind Areas Alternative II.8-14
11.8.2.4 BLM-Only Lands Alternative II.8-17
11.8.2.5 Private and Previously Disturbed Lands Alternative II.8-20
11.8.2.6 Dispersed Development Alternative II.8-22
11.8.2.7 Southeast Emphasis Alternative II.8-24
11.8.2.8 Avian Avoidance Alternative II.8-30
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II.9 LITERATURE CITED - VOLUME II 11,9-1
Chapter II.1 Approach to Developing Alternatives II.9-1
Chapter II.2 No Action Alternative II.9-1
Chapter II.3 Preferred Alternative II.9-3
Chapter II.4 Alternative 1 II.9-12
Chapter II.5 Alternative 2 II.9-13
Chapter II.6 Alternative 3 II.9-13
Chapter II.7 Alternative 4 II.9-13
Chapter 11.8 Alternatives Considered but Not Carried Forward II.9-14
VOLUME ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING/AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT
III:
III.l ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING/AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT III.l-l
111.1.1 Overview ofthe Plan Area III.1-1
111.1.2 Ecoregion Subareas Within the Plan Area III.1-5
111.1.3 Definition of Environmental Baseline III.1-5
111.1.3.1 CEQA Environmental Setting III.1-5
111.1.3.2 NEPA Affected Environment III.1-6
111.1.3.3 Environmental Baseline Used in This Document III.1-6
111.1.4 Baseline Outside the Plan Area III.1-13
111.1.5 Organization ofthe Environmental Baseline Chapters III.1-13
III.2 AIR QUALITY III.2-1
111.2.1 Regulatory Setting III.2-1
111.2.1.1 Federal III.2-1
111.2.1.2 State III.2-13
111.2.1.3 Toxic Air Contaminants III.2-13
111.2.1.4 State Implementation Plan III.2-16
111.2.1.5 California Environmental Quality Act III.2-19
111.2.1.6 Local III.2-19
111.2.2 Geographic Setting III.2-23
111.2.3 Air Quality Baseline Analysis for the Plan Area III.2-23
111.2.3.1 Ozone III.2-23
PM10 2-24
111.2.3.2 III.
111.2.3.3 PM2.5 III.2-24
111.2.3.4 Nitrogen Dioxide III.2-24
111.2.3.5 Sulfur Dioxide III.2-25
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111.2.3.6 Carbon Monoxide III.2-25
111.2.3.7 Lead III.2-25
111.2.4 Air Quality within the Plan Area III.2-25
111.2.4.1 Air Quality - Federal Standards III.2-25
111.2.4.2 Air Quality - State Standards III.2-38
111.2.5 Air Quality within the DRECP Ecoregion Subareas III.2-46
111.2.5.1 Cadiz Valley and Chocolate Mountains
Ecoregion Subarea 2-46
III.
111.2.5.2 Imperial Borrego Valley Ecoregion Subarea III.2-55
111.2.5.3 Kingston and Funeral Mountains
Ecoregion Subarea 2-55
III.
111.2.5.4 Mojave and Silurian Valley Ecoregion Subarea III.2-56
111.2.5.5 Owens River Valley Ecoregion Subarea III.2-56
111.2.5.6 Panamint Death Valley Ecoregion Subarea III.2-57
111.2.5.7 Pinto Lucerne Valley and Eastern Slopes
Ecoregion Subarea 2-57
III.
111.2.5.8 Piute Valley and Sacramento Mountains
Ecoregion Subarea 2-58
III.
111.2.5.9 Providence and Bullion Mountains
Ecoregion Subarea 2-59
III.
111.2.5.10 West Mojave and Eastern Slopes
Ecoregion Subarea 2-59
III.
111.2.6 Affected Environment for the Natural Community
Conservation Plan 2-60
III.
111.2.7 Affected Environment for the General Conservation Plan. III.2-60
111.2.8 Baseline Emissions for the Plan Area III.2-60
111.2.9 Air Quality Outside of Plan Area III.2-60
111.2.9.1 Transmission III.2-60
111.2.9.2 Bureau of Land Management Land Use Plan
Amendment Decisions 2-62
III.
III.3 METEOROLOGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE III.3-1
111.3.1 Regulatory Setting III.3-4
111.3.1.1 Federal III.3-4
111.3.1.2 State III.3-5
111.3.2 Climate Change Trends for the State and Plan Area III.3-6
III.3.2.1 Understanding Climate Change III.3-6
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