Draft Toquop land disposal amendment to the Caliente management framework plan and draft environmental impact statement for the Toquop energy project

416 Pages·2002·84.6 MB·English

by  United States. Bureau of Land Management. Nevada State Office

BLM LIBRARY
88063931
Draft Toquop Land Disposal Amendment to the
Caliente Management Framework Plan
and Draft Environmental Impact Statement
for the Toquop Energy Project
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United States Department of Interior
Bureau of Land Management
DES 01-17
Nevada State Office, Nevada
May 2002
BVi«
BLM Mission Statement
The Bureau of Land Management is responsible for the stewardship of our pubHc lands. It is
committed to manage, protect, and improve these lands in a manner to serve the needs of the
American people for all times.
Management is based upon the principles of multiple use and sustained yield of our nation's
resources within a framework ofenvironmental responsibility and scientific technology.
These resources include recreation, rangelands, timber, minerals, watershed, fish and
wildlife, wilderness, air and scenic, scientific and cultural values.
BLM/EL/PL-02/0 0+ 793
1 1
United States Department of the Interior
BUREAU OFLAND MANAGEMENT
NevadaStateOffice
P.O. Box 12000(1340Financial Blvd.)
Reno, Nevada 89520-0006
http://www.nv.blm.gov
nA) 2 2002
InRepIyReferlo:
2800/2200 (NV-040)
N-74943/N-74105
DearReader:
Enclosed for yourreview and comment is the Draft Toquop Land Disposal Amendment to theCaliente
Management Framework Plan (MFP) and DraftEnvironmental Impact Statement (EIS) fortheToquopEnergy
Project. This documentevaluates theenvironmental effects that would result ft-om constructing an 1,100-
megawatt (MW) natural gas-fired water-cooled electric power generatingplantand associated featureson public
lands in Lincoln County and ClarkCounty, southern Nevada, thatare presently managed by the Ely and Las
Vegas Field Offices ofthe U.S. Bureau ofLand Management (BLM). The powerplant site would be nearthe
Toquop Wash, approximately 50miles south-southeastofCaliente, Nevada, and 12 miles northwestof
Mesquite, oralternatively, approximately 12 miles north-northwestofthe Toquop Wash site in theTule Desert.
This document also evaluates the effectsofamending the Caliente MFP, which would identify specific sections
ofland as available fordisposal. This action would be needed to exchange approximately 640 acres ofprivate
land (the Pah Rah parcel) in Washoe County, northwestern Nevada, for a similarly valued parcel ofpublic land
atoneofthe powerplant sites. The Pah Rah parcel would come underBLM administration ifthePah
Rah/Toquop land exchange is approved.
Publiccomments concerning the adequacy and accuracy oftheDraft MFP Amendment/EIS will beaccepted
until August 29, 2002, and must be submitted in writing to:
Bureau ofLand Management
Ely Field Office
Gene A. Kolkman, Field Manager
HC 33, Box 33500
Ely, Nevada 89301-9408
Public meetings to accept verbal and writtencomments havealso been scheduled for the followingdates, times,
and locations:
Date Time Location
July 8, 2002 7:00to9:00p.m. CalienteCity Hall
100 Depot Avenue
Caliente, Nevada
July9, 2002 7:00to9:00 p.m. Las VegasBLM Field Office
4701 Torrey Pines Drive
Las Vegas, Nevada
July 10, 2002 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. MesquiteCityHall
TrainingRooms A and B
10East Mesquite Boulevard
Mesquite, Nevada
July 11, 2002 7:00 to 9:00p.m. AirportPlaza Hotel
1981 Terminal Way
Reno, Nevada
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OEHVEii.
Both written and oral comments received during the public comment period will be fully considered and
evaluated for preparationofthe Final MFP Amendment/EIS. Ifyou would like any additional information,
pleasecontactDan Netcher, TeamLead at [phone].
Sincerely,
tL^v
/I Robert V. Abbey
State Director, Nevada
Enclosure
Draft Toquop Land Disposal Amendment to the Caliente
Management Framework Plan and Draft Environmental
Impact Statement for the Toquop Energy Project
(X) Draft Final
( )
Lead Agency: United States Departmentofthe Interior
BureauofLand Management
Counties Directly Affected: Lincoln, Clark, and Washoe Counties, Nevada
Environmental Impact Statement Contact: Correspondence on this DraftEnvironmental Impact
Statement (DraftEIS) should be directed to:
Dan Netcher Gene A. Kolkman, Field Manager
Team Lead BureauofLand ManagementEly District
ElyField Office HC 33 Box 33500
Ely, Nevada 89301-9408
Date DraftEIS filed with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: May 31, 2002
Date by which commentson this draft plan amendment and DraftEIS must be received to be considered in the
Final EIS: August 29, 2002
Abstract
This DraftToquop Land Disposal Amendmentto theCalienteManagementFrameworkPlan (MFP) and Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) fortheToquopEnergyProjectevaluates theenvironmental effects that
would result fromconstructingtheproposed Toquop Energyelectric power generatingplant. This 1,100-
megawatt(MW) natural gas-fired and water-cooled electric power plant and associated features would be
located onpublic lands inLincolnCounty andClarkCounty, southern Nevada, thatare presently managed by
theEly and Las Vegas Field Officesofthe U.S. Bureau ofLand Management (BLM). Thepowerplantsite for
theProposed Action is approximately 50 miles south-southeastofCaliente, Nevada, and 12 miles northwestof
Mesquite, Nevada. An alternative powerplantsite is located in the Tule Desertapproximately 12 miles north-
northwestofthe Toquop Wash plantsite.
Thisdocumentalso evaluates theeffectsofamendingtheCaliente MFP, which would identify specific sections
ofland as available fordisposal. This action would be needed toexchange approximately 640acres ofprivate
land (thePah Rah parcel) for a similarly valued parcel ofpublic land atoneofthepowerplant sites. ThePah
Rah parcel is located in thePah Rah Range in WashoeCounty in northwestern Nevada, and would come under
BLM administration ifthePah Rah/Toquop land exchange is approved.
Federal actions addressed in theaccompanyingdocument arethe BLM's issuanceofrights-of-way needed to
construct and operate theToquopEnergyProject, amendmentofthe Caliente MFP to identify specific public
lands as available fordisposal, and facilitationofa land exchange as itrelatesto theproposed project. This
DraftEIS satisfies the National Environmental Policy Act, which mandates that federal agenciesanalyze the
environmental consequencesofmajor undertakings.
Official responsible for the/^lan amendmentand theenvironmental impactstatement:
.L^^^A^^^ ^^'^ 2 2002
Date
State Director, Nevada
BOI020630002.CXX:/JI HI May20,2002

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Draft Toquop Land Disposal Amendment to the
Caliente Management Framework Plan
and Draft Environmental Impact Statement
for the Toquop Energy Project
United States Department of Interior
Bureau of Land Management
DES 01-17
"'^CH 3,^*
Nevada State Office, Nevada
May 2002

Contents
Chapter Page
Letter to Reader
Abstract
ES.O Executive Summary ES-1
ES.l Introduction ES-1
ES.1.1 General Overview ES-1
ES.1.2 Purpose and Need ES-1
ES.2 Description ofProposed Action and Alternatives ES-2
ES.2.1 Proposed Action and Action Alternatives ::tt}. ES-2
ES.2.2 No Action Alternative ES-2
...T.
ES.2.3 Alternatives Considered During Scoping but Eliminated
from Further Consideration '.'. ES-7
ES.2.4 Preferred Alternative ES-7
ES.3 Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences ES-7
ES.3.1 Proposed Action and Action Alternatives ES-7
ES.3.2 No Action Alternative ES-8
ES.4 Consultation and Coordination ES-8
Chapter 1.0 Introduction 1-1
1.1 General Overview 1-1
1.2 Purpose and Need 1-1
1.3 Project Location 1-2
1.4 Background 1-2
1.5 Policies, Plans, and Programs 1-2
1.5.1 Plan Conformance 1-2
BLM
1.5.2 Relationships to Policies, Plans, and Programs 1-7
1.5.3 Relationships to Non-BLM Policies, Plans, and Programs 1-7
1.6 Management Framework Plan Amendment Process Overview 1-7
1.6.1 Identification ofIssues 1-8
1.6.2 Development of Planning Criteria 1-8
1.6.3 Inventory and Data Evaluation 1-8
1.6.4 Analysis of the Existing Condition 1-8
1.6.5 Formulation of Alternatives 1-9
1.6.6 Estimation ofthe Effects of Alternatives 1-9
1.6.7 Selection of the Preferred Alternative 1-10
1.6.8 Selection of the Proposed Plan Amendment 1-10
1.6.9 Monitoring and Evaluation 1-10
1.7 Applicable Laws and Regulations and Authorizing Actions and Permits ... 1-10
1.7.1 Applicable Laws and Regulations 1-10
1.7.2 Permits and Approvals 1-10
1.8 Interrelated Projects 1-13
111
1
CONTEhfTS,CONTINUED
Chapter Page
Chapter 2.0 Description of Proposed Action and Alternatives 2-1
2.1 Introduction 2-1
2.2 Proposed Action 2-9
BLM
2.2.1 Description of Actions 2-9
2.2.2 Description of Project Area, Land Exchange, and
Power Plant Site 2-9
2.2.3 Description of Project Features and Operation 2-1
2.2.4 Construction Activities 2-24
2.2.5 Best Management Practices and Standard Operating
Procedures 2-27
2.2.6 Decommissioning 2-28
2.3 Alternative 1 2-28
BLM
2.3.1 Description of Actions 2-28
2.3.2 Description ofProject Area, Land Exchange, and
Power Plant Site 2-29
2.3.3 Description ofProject Features and Operation 2-29
2.3.4 Construction Activities 2-30
2.3.5 Best Management Practices and Standard Operating
Procedures 2-30
2.3.6 Decommissioning 2-30
2.4 Alternative 2 2-30
BLM
2.4.1 Description of Actions 2-30
2.4.2 Description ofProject Area, Land Exchange, and
Power Plant Site 2-31
2.4.3 Description ofProject Features and Operation 2-31
2.4.4 Construction Activities 2-32
2.4.5 Best Management Practices and Standard Operating
Procedures 2-35
2.4.6 Decommissioning 2-35
2.5 No Action Alternative 2-35
2.6 Alternatives Considered During Scoping but Eliminated from
Further Consideration 2-35
2.6.1 Alternative Fuels 2-35
2.6.2 Alternative Locations 2-36
2.6.3 Alternative Access Road 2-36
2.6.4 Alternative Cooling Systems 2-37
2.7 Preferred Alternative 2-42
Chapter 3.0 Affected Environment 3-1
3.1 Introduction 3-1
3.2 Soils and Geology 3-1
3.2.1 Soils 3-1
3.2.2 Geology 3-3
3.3 Surface Water Hydrology 3-11
3.3.1 Toquop Area 3-11
3.3.2 Pah Rah Parcel 3-20
IV