4774 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Notices 

the aggregate. The Substantiation Report 

summarizes the review of 26 geothermal 

resource confirmation EAs that 

supported FONSIs, as well as 20 similar 

oil and gas drilling project EAs, to 

demonstrate the finding that actions 

under the revised CX would not 

normally result in significant effects to 

the human environment. The 

Substantiation Report includes 

evaluation of the BLM NEPA analyses 

and available scientific research on the 

effects of routine actions included in the 

new CX over time and over different 

geographic areas, and following 

consideration of comments from the 

public. 

The Department and the BLM 

consulted with CEQ on the proposed 

and final CX. CEQ issued a letter stating 

that it has reviewed the CX and found 

it to be in conformity with NEPA and 

the CEQ NEPA regulations. Therefore, 

the Department adds the final CX to the 

BLM’s NEPA procedures at Department 

Manual at 516 DM 11.9. When applying 

this CX, Responsible Officials within 

the BLM will evaluate proposed actions 

covered by the CX to determine whether 

any extraordinary circumstances are 

present in accordance with the 

requirements in the Department’s NEPA 

implementing procedures at 43 CFR 

46.205 and 46.215. This review would 

be documented and included in the 

information posted on the BLM’s NEPA 

register. If the Responsible Official 

cannot rely on this CX to support a 

decision to authorize geothermal 

resource confirmation activities due to 

extraordinary circumstances, the 

Responsible Official will prepare an EA 

or EIS before doing so, consistent with 

40 CFR 1501.4(b)(2) and 43 CFR 

46.205(c). When applying this CX, the 

BLM will document its reliance and 

publish the documentation on the BLM 

NEPA register website. 

VI. Amended Text for the Departmental 

Manual 

BLM’s NEPA procedures in 516 DM 

11 is modified as follows: 

Part 516: National Environmental Policy Act 

of 1969 

Chapter 11: Managing the NEPA Process— 

Bureau of Land Management 

11.9 Actions Eligible for a Categorical 

Exclusion (CX) 

B. Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Energy 

(7) Approval of an operations plan and 

associated Geothermal Drilling Permits for a 

geothermal resource confirmation project, 

pursuant to 43 CFR part 3200, subpart 3260; 

which: 

a. Does not include resource utilization; 

b. Does not exceed 20 acres of total 

(contiguous or noncontiguous) surface 

disturbance; 

c. Requires reclamation of all surface 

disturbances when their intended purpose 

has been fulfilled; 

d. Requires reclamation of temporary 

routes when their intended purpose(s) has 

been fulfilled, unless through a separate 

review and decision-making process the BLM 

incorporates and appropriately designates 

the route as part of its transportation system; 

e. Does not make a temporary route 

available for public use unless the temporary 

route is specifically intended to 

accommodate public use; 

f. Requires temporary routes to be 

constructed and used so as to allow for the 

reclamation, by artificial or natural means, of 

vegetative cover on the temporary route and 

areas where the vegetative cover was 

disturbed by the construction or use of the 

route, and requires such treatment to be 

designed to reestablish vegetative cover as 

soon as possible, but at most within 10 years 

after approved reclamation commences; and, 

g. Includes design elements to protect 

resources and resource uses consistent with 

the applicable Resource Management Plan, 

laws, regulations, and lease terms. 

Authorities: NEPA, the National 

Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as 

amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); E.O. 

11514, March 5, 1970, as amended by 

E.O. 11991, May 24, 1977; and CEQ 

regulations (40 CFR 1507.3). 

Stephen G. Tryon, 

Director, Office of Environmental Policy and 

Compliance. 

[FR Doc. 2025–01055 Filed 1–15–25; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4331–84–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Office of the Secretary 

[MO 4500183156] 

Notice of Adoption of Categorical 

Exclusions under Section 109 of the 

National Environmental Policy Act 

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Interior. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Department of the 

Interior (Department) is notifying the 

public and documenting the adoption of 

11 Department of Energy (DOE) and 6 

National Telecommunications 

Information Administration (NTIA) 

categorical exclusions (CXs) for use by 

the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 

and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), 

under section 109 of the National 

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). In 

accordance with section 109, this notice 

identifies the types of actions for which 

the BLM and BIA will rely on the CXs, 

the considerations that the BLM and 

BIA will use in determining the 

applicability of the CXs, and the 

consultation between the agencies on 

the use of the CXs, including 

application of extraordinary 

circumstances. 

DATES: The adoption is effective January 

16, 2025. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

BLM: Amelia Savage, Senior Planning 

and Environmental Analyst, Division of 

Support, Planning and NEPA, 

alsavage@blm.gov, telephone (480) 307– 

8665. BIA: Chester McGhee, Branch 

Chief, Environmental Services, 

chester.mcghee@bia.gov, telephone 

(615) 289–3390. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

Program Background 

1. Realty 

The BLM and BIA realty programs 

process applications for rights-of-way or 

other land use authorizations that 

facilitate commercial, non-commercial, 

recreational, and conservation activities 

including communication sites, 

transmission lines, fiber optic 

infrastructure, and renewable energy. 

2. Recreation 

The BLM’s recreation program 

supports and delivers a wide variety of 

recreational experiences including, but 

not limited to, camping, hunting, 

fishing, hiking, horseback riding, offhighway vehicle driving, mountain 

biking, bird watching, and various 

winter sports. The program manages 

over 4,000 recreation sites and 

associated facilities, in addition to over 

400 fee sites. An estimated 82 million 

visitors enjoy outdoor recreation on 

BLM-managed public lands every year. 

The recreation program also supports 

the bureau’s travel and transportation 

management program, which includes 

trails, roads, primitive roads, and 

associated parking lots and trail heads. 

3. Resource Protection 

The BLM’s and BIA’s Wildlife and 

Cultural Heritage Programs manage 

wildlife habitat to help ensure selfsustaining, abundant, and diverse 

populations of wildlife on public and 

Tribal lands and preserve public and 

Tribal lands and their resources that are 

important to the public and to American 

Indian and Alaska Native communities 

to ensure that current and future 

generations retain the ability to connect 

to their natural and cultural heritage. 

4. Minerals 

The BLM manages Federal mineral 

resources pursuant to the Mineral 

Leasing Act of 1920 (MLA), 30 U.S.C. 

181 et seq., and other legal authorities. 

BIA is authorized to approve leases 

for exploration, extraction of, or removal 


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of certain minerals on Indian Lands 

under the Indian Mineral Leasing Act of 

1938 (IMLA); the Act of March 3, 1909; 

the Indian Mineral Development Act of 

1982 (IMDA); and other Tribe-specific 

statutes. BIA regulations implementing 

the IMLA, the 1909 Act, and the IMDA 

are found at 25 CFR parts 211, 212, and 

225, respectively. 

National Environmental Policy Act and 

Categorical Exclusions 

NEPA as amended at, 42 U.S.C. 4321– 

4347, requires all Federal agencies to 

consider the environmental impact of 

their proposed actions before deciding 

whether and how to proceed. 42 U.S.C. 

4321, 4332. NEPA aims to ensure 

agencies consider the environmental 

effects of their proposed actions in their 

decision-making processes and inform 

and involve the public in those 

processes. 42 U.S.C. 4331. The NEPA 

created the Council on Environmental 

Quality (CEQ), which promulgated 

NEPA implementing regulations, 40 

CFR parts 1500 through 1508 (CEQ 

NEPA regulations). 

Under NEPA and the CEQ’s NEPA 

implementing regulations, a Federal 

agency can establish CXs—categories of 

actions that normally do not have a 

significant effect on the human 

environment, individually or in the 

aggregate, and therefore do not require 

preparation of an environmental 

assessment (EA) or an environmental 

impact statement (EIS)—in their agency 

NEPA procedures. 42 U.S.C. 4336(e)(1); 

40 CFR 1501.4, 1507.3, 1508.1(e). If an 

agency determines that a CX covers a 

proposed action, it then evaluates the 

proposed action for extraordinary 

circumstances in which a normally 

excluded action may have a significant 

effect. 40 CFR 1501.4(b). If no 

extraordinary circumstances are present, 

the agency may apply the CX to the 

proposed action without preparing an 

EA or EIS. 42 U.S.C. 4336(a)(2), 40 CFR 

1501.4. 

Section 109 of NEPA, enacted as part 

of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, 

allows a Federal agency to ‘‘adopt’’ or 

another agency’s CX for a category of 

proposed agency actions. 42 U.S.C. 

4336(c). To rely on another agency’s 

CXs under Section 109, the adopting 

agency must identify the relevant CX 

listed in another agency’s (‘‘establishing 

agency’’) NEPA procedures that cover 

the adopting agency’s category of 

proposed actions or related actions; 

consult with the establishing agency to 

ensure that the proposed adoption of the 

CX for a category of actions is 

appropriate; identify to the public the 

CX that the adopting agency plans to 

use for its proposed actions; and 

document adoption of the CX. 42 U.S.C. 

4336c. The BLM and BIA have prepared 

this notice to describe how they have 

met applicable statutory requirements 

for the adoption of 17 CXs and to notify 

the public of these adoptions. Eleven of 

these CXs were established by DOE: 10 

CFR part 1021, subpart D, appendix B, 

paragraphs B1.11, B1.13, B1.19, B1.20, 

B4.6, B4.7, B4.13, B4.14, B5.12, B5.16, 

and B5.23. Six of these CXs were 

established by NTIA: 89 FR 22688, April 

2, 2024, Categorical Exclusions, 

Operational, C–2, C–4, C–5, C–6, C–7, 

and C–8. 

The Department’s NEPA procedures, 

codified at 43 CFR part 46, address 

compliance with NEPA. The 

Department’s protocol for application of 

CXs is at 43 CFR 46.205. The 

Department’s CXs available to all 

bureaus within the Department are 

listed in 43 CFR 46.210. Additional 

Department-wide NEPA policy is found 

in the Department’s Departmental 

Manual (DM), in chapters 1 through 4 of 

part 516. Supplementary NEPA 

procedures for the Department’s bureaus 

are published in additional chapters in 

part 516 of the DM. Chapter 10 and 11 

of the 516 DM covers the BIA’s and the 

BLM’s NEPA procedures, respectively. 

The BLM CXs are listed in 516 DM 11.9 

and BIA’s CXs are listed in 516 DM 

10.5. 

Categorical Exclusions That Are 

Adopted 

The BLM and BIA have identified the 

DOE CX, found at 10 CFR part 1021, 

subpart D, appendix B, paragraph B1.11, 

regarding installation of fencing, for 

adoption. Examples of actions for which 

BLM and BIA programs would rely on 

the CX include, but are not limited to, 

installation of fences to mark the 

boundary of facilities such as visitor 

centers, recreation sites, or 

communication sites; along highways to 

guide wildlife to safe passages to 

facilitate migration; and to protect 

resources. 

The BLM and BIA have identified the 

DOE CX, found at 10 CFR part 1021, 

subpart D, appendix B, paragraph B1.13, 

regarding pathways, short access roads, 

and rail lines, for adoption. Examples of 

actions for which the BLM’s and BIA’s 

recreation and realty programs would 

rely on the CX include, but are not 

limited to, construction of walkways 

and trails, bicycle paths, small outdoor 

fitness areas, and short access roads and 

rail lines. 

The BLM and BIA have identified the 

DOE CX, found at 10 CFR part 1021, 

subpart D, appendix B, paragraph B1.19, 

regarding microwave, meteorological, 

and radio towers, for adoption. 

Examples of actions for which the 

BLM’s and BIA’s realty programs would 

rely on the CX include, but are not 

limited to, modification, operation, and 

removal of existing communications 

facilities and associated infrastructure. 

BIA would rely on this CX for 

associated approvals for siting or 

construction of a new communication 

facility, but the BLM would not rely on 

this CX to site or construct a new 

communication facility. BIA would rely 

on this CX to approve Wind Energy 

Evaluation Leases. Additionally, the 

BLM and BIA may rely on this CX to 

authorize new land uses that support 

adjacent communications facilities. The 

reference to B(4)(iv) in this CX is for 

DOE’s ‘‘Integral Elements’’. 

The BLM and BIA have identified the 

DOE CX, found at 10 CFR part 1021, 

subpart D, appendix B, paragraph B1.20, 

regarding protection of cultural 

resources, fish and wildlife habitat, for 

adoption. Examples of actions for which 

the BLM’s and BIA’s cultural heritage, 

wildlife, fisheries, and other programs 

would rely on the CX include, but are 

not limited to, small habitat restoration 

projects, fencing for resource protection, 

and installation of fish passage 

structures. 

The BLM and BIA have identified the 

DOE CX, found at 10 CFR part 1021, 

subpart D, appendix B, paragraph B4.6, 

regarding additions and modifications 

to transmission facilities, for adoption. 

Examples of actions for which the BLM 

and BIA would rely on this CX include, 

but are not limited to, transmission line 

reconductoring to upgrade facilities, 

replacing damaged insulators, installing 

fire monitoring equipment, and paving 

of roads to access transmission lines in 

previously disturbed or developed 

facility areas. 

The BLM and BIA have identified the 

DOE CX, found at 10 CFR part 1021, 

subpart D, appendix B, paragraph B4.7, 

regarding adding fiber optic cables, for 

adoption. Examples of actions for which 

the BLM and BIA would rely on this CX 

include, but are not limited to, installing 

fiber optic lines within existing rightsof-ways, or previously disturbed utility 

corridors, and associated vaults and 

pulling and tensioning sites outside of 

rights-of-way in nearby previously 

disturbed or developed areas. 

The BLM and BIA have identified the 

DOE CX, found at 10 CFR part 1021, 

subpart D, appendix B, paragraph B4.13, 

regarding upgrading and rebuilding 

existing powerlines, for adoption. 

Examples of actions for which the BLM 

and BIA would rely on this CX include, 

but are not limited to, upgrading or 

rebuilding existing powerlines, 

replacing poles to different material, 

and placing emergency control and fault 


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notification equipment on poles within 

existing powerline right-of-way or 

within otherwise previously disturbed 

or developed lands. Additionally, 

powerlines would be upgraded or 

rebuilt within the existing right-of-way 

boundary and could extend into a small 

(as discussed at 10 CFR 1021.410(g)(2)) 

area beyond such lands as needed to 

comply with applicable electrical 

standards. The BLM and BIA would 

incorporate appropriate design and 

construction standards, control 

technologies, and best management 

practices into the authorizations. 

The BLM and BIA have identified the 

DOE CX, found at 10 CFR part 1021, 

subpart D, appendix B, paragraph B4.14, 

regarding construction and operation of 

electrochemical-battery or flywheel 

energy storage systems, for adoption. 

Examples of actions for which BLM and 

BIA would rely on this CX include, but 

are not limited to, construction, 

operation, upgrading, retrofitting, and 

decommissioning of electrochemicalbattery or flywheel energy storage 

systems within a previously disturbed 

or developed area or within a small area 

contiguous to a previously disturbed or 

developed area consistent with the text 

of the CX, such as for installation of 

back up battery systems for wind and 

solar energy generation and at 

communication facilities. 

The BLM and BIA have identified the 

DOE CX, found at 10 CFR part 1021, 

subpart D, appendix B, paragraph B5.12, 

regarding workover of existing wells, for 

adoption. Examples of actions for which 

the BLM and BIA would rely on the CX 

include, but are not limited to, projects 

involving the reuse of existing well 

facilities for in situ recovery of locatable 

and non-energy leasable minerals such 

as lithium or similar mineral bearing 

brines, sedimentary aquifer hosted 

uranium deposits, or subsurface nonenergy leasable resources, and 

conversion of existing wells to aid in 

carbon sequestration consistent with the 

CX text. 

The CX refers to DOE best practices 

and protocols, which refer to conditions 

that DOE places on the conduct of work. 

These conditions are specific to the type 

and location of the project. ‘‘Best 

management practices’’ are not specified 

in the CXs because they change over 

time and vary by location and 

technology. The BLM and BIA would 

use their respective best management 

practices and industry standards when 

using CXs that mention ‘‘best practices 

and protocols.’’ 

The BLM and BIA have identified the 

DOE CX, found at 10 CFR part 1021, 

subpart D, appendix B, paragraph B5.16, 

regarding solar photovoltaic systems, for 

adoption. Examples of actions for which 

the BLM and BIA would rely on the CX 

include, but are not limited to, 

installation of solar photovoltaic 

systems on or adjacent to existing 

facilities (i.e., recreation sites, fire annex 

buildings, and other BLM and BIA 

owned facilities). Additionally, BIA 

would rely on this CX for construction 

of solar photovoltaic systems on 

previously disturbed or developed 

lands. 

The BLM and BIA have identified the 

DOE CX, found at 10 CFR part 1021, 

subpart D, appendix B, paragraph B5.23, 

regarding electric vehicle charging 

stations, for adoption. Examples of 

actions for which the BLM and BIA 

would rely on the CX include, but are 

not limited to, installation of electric 

vehicle charging stations at BLM and 

BIA facilities, rest stops, or on Indian 

lands. 

The BLM and BIA have identified the 

NTIA CX, found at 89 FR 22688, 

Categorical Exclusions, Operational, C– 

2, regarding outdoor research activities, 

for adoption. Examples of actions for 

which the BLM and BIA would rely on 

this CX include, but are not limited to, 

the examples listed in the CX text, as 

well as geotechnical surveys to properly 

site facilities and structures. 

The BLM and BIA have identified the 

NTIA CX, found at 89 FR 22688, 

Categorical Exclusions, Operational, C– 

4, regarding new construction or 

improvement of non-tower structures, 

for adoption. Examples of actions for 

which the BLM and BIA would rely on 

this CX include, but are not limited to, 

addition of equipment and structures 

(such as emergency power facilities) to 

support existing communication 

facilities and new construction of 

facilities that support communication 

systems, within a previously disturbed 

area that cause no more than 1 acre of 

disturbance. 

The BLM and BIA have identified the 

NTIA CX, found at 89 FR 22688, 

Categorical Exclusions, Operational, C– 

5, regarding existing microwave or radio 

communication facilities, for adoption. 

Examples of actions for which the BLM 

and BIA would rely on this CX include, 

but are not limited to, installing, 

operating, maintaining, retrofitting, 

upgrading, repairing, removing, and/or 

replacing infrastructure (examples listed 

in CX text) within an existing 

communication facility. 

The BLM and BIA have identified the 

NTIA CX, found at 89 FR 22688, 

Categorical Exclusions, Operational, C– 

6, regarding new construction or 

improvement of temporary buildings or 

experimental equipment, for adoption. 

Examples of actions for which the BLM 

and BIA would rely on this CX include, 

but are not limited to, new construction 

or improvement of temporary buildings 

or experimental equipment such as 

installation of small instrument panels 

and other small facilities outside the 

existing communication facility, 

installation of buildings that will aid in 

carbon sequestration, and seismic 

testing stations on previously disturbed 

ground consistent with the CX text. 

The BLM and BIA have identified the 

NTIA CX, found at 89 FR 22688, 

Categorical Exclusions, Operational, C– 

7, regarding new construction of selfsupporting wireless communication 

towers, for adoption. Examples of 

actions for which the BLM and BIA 

would rely on this CX include, but are 

not limited to, support for approval of 

the installation of communication 

towers to aid in placement of wind 

turbines and installation of selfsupporting towers within an existing 

communication site, consistent with the 

CX text. 

The BLM and BIA have identified the 

NTIA CX, found at 89 FR 22688, 

Categorical Exclusions, Operational, C– 

8, regarding aerial or buried utility 

communication and security systems, 

for adoption. Examples of actions for 

which the BLM and BIA would rely on 

this CX include, but are not limited to, 

support for approval of installation, 

reconstruction, replacement and 

operation of water, sewer, electrical, 

other utilities, and fiber optic cables that 

are within existing rights-of-ways, 

easements, grants of license, 

distribution systems, facilities, or 

similar arrangements, such as 

previously disturbed areas. 

Consultation With DOE and NTIA and 

Determination of Appropriateness 

The BLM and BIA consulted with 

DOE and NTIA on the appropriateness 

of the adoption of these CXs for the 

BLM’s and BIA’s use in September and 

October 2024. The consultations 

included a review of DOE’s and NTIA’s 

experience developing and applying 

these CXs, as well as the types of actions 

for which the BLM and BIA plan to 

utilize the CXs. The BLM and BIA 

actions are similar in type and scope to 

the actions that DOE and NTIA conduct 

and therefore the effects of the BLM’s 

and BIA’s actions are expected to be 

similar to the effects of DOE and NTIA 

actions, which are not significant, 

assuming compliance with all 

applicable conditions and absent the 

existence of extraordinary 

circumstances. DOE regulations at 10 

CFR 1021 subpart D, appendix B also 

identify ‘‘conditions that are integral 

elements of the classes of actions in 


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Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Notices 4777 

appendix B’’ that apply to the CXs that 

BLM and BIA are adopting. As 

described below, the BLM and BIA will 

ensure that proposed actions comply 

with these ‘‘DOE Integral Elements’’ 

when relying on CXs adopted from 

DOE. The Department has determined 

that adoption of the CXs for the BLM’s 

and BIA’s use as described in this notice 

is appropriate. 

DOE Integral Elements 

When the BLM and BIA intend to rely 

on a CX adopted from DOE as described 

in this notice, the Responsible Official 

will evaluate the proposed action 

against the DOE’s Integral Elements, 

which are additional conditions for 

reliance on each CX. The Responsible 

Official will only rely on a CX adopted 

from DOE as identified in this notice if 

the proposed action complies with the 

DOE Integral Elements. The DOE 

Integral Elements are described in 10 

CFR 1021 subpart D, appendix B. The 

BLM and BIA will use their respective 

environment, safety, and health 

protocols when using these CXs. 

Consideration of Extraordinary 

Circumstances 

In consultation with DOE and NTIA, 

the BLM and BIA evaluated the 

extraordinary circumstances to be 

considered when applying these CXs. 

When applying these CXs, Responsible 

Officials (43 CFR 46.30) within the BLM 

and BIA will evaluate proposed actions 

covered by the CXs to determine 

whether any extraordinary 

circumstances, listed at 43 CFR 46.215, 

are present that would preclude reliance 

on the CX. The Department’s 

extraordinary circumstances include, in 

part, consideration of impacts on public 

health and safety; natural resources and 

unique geographic characteristics such 

as historic or cultural resources; park, 

recreation, or refuge lands; wilderness 

areas; wild or scenic rivers; national 

natural landmarks, sole or principal 

drinking water aquifers; prime 

farmlands; wetlands; floodplains; 

national monuments; migratory birds; 

and other ecologically significant or 

critical areas; unresolved conflicts 

concerning alternative uses of available 

resources; unique or unknown 

environmental risks; precedent for 

future decision-making; historic 

properties; listed species or critical 

habitat; low income or minority 

populations; access by Indian religious 

practitioners to, and for ceremonial use 

of, Indian sacred sites and the physical 

integrity of those sites; and contribution 

to the introduction, continued 

existence, or spread of invasive weeds 

or non-native invasive species. 

The Department’s list of extraordinary 

circumstances addresses those of the 

DOE found at 10 CFR 1021.410(b)(2) 

and those of the NTIA found at 89 FR 

22688; therefore, BLM and BIA 

Responsible Officials intending to rely 

on these CXs will review whether the 

proposed action has the potential to 

result in significant effects as described 

in the Department’s extraordinary 

circumstances. If the Responsible 

Official cannot rely on a CX to support 

a decision on a particular proposed 

action due to extraordinary 

circumstances, the Responsible Official 

will prepare an EA or EIS, consistent 

with 40 CFR 1501.4(b)(2) and 43 CFR 

46.205(c). 

Notice to the Public and Documentation 

of Adoption 

This notice identifies to the public 

that the BLM and BIA are adopting 11 

DOE CXs and 6 NTIA CXs for the BLM’s 

and BIA’s use. The notice identifies the 

types of actions to which the BLM and 

BIA would apply these CXs. The 

documentation of the adoptions is 

available at https://www.blm.gov/ 

programs/planning-and-nepa/whatinforms-our-plans/nepa for the BLM, 

https://www.bia.gov/service/nepacompliance for BIA and at https://

www.doi.gov/oepc/nepa/categoricalexclusions. The BIA and the BLM will 

add the adopted CXs to their respective 

NEPA DM Chapters, 516 DM 10 and 11. 

Authorities 

National Environmental Policy Act of 

1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et 

seq.). 

Stephen G. Tryon, 

Director, Office of Environmental Policy and 

Compliance. 

[FR Doc. 2025–01057 Filed 1–15–25; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4331–27–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Bureau of Land Management 

[PO #4820000251] 

Notice of Availability of the Record of 

Decision for the Jove Solar Project, La 

Paz County, Arizona 

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of availability. 

SUMMARY: In compliance with the 

Federal Land Policy and Management 

Act of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the 

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 

announces the availability of the Record 

of Decision for the Jove Solar Project, 

located in La Paz County, Arizona. The 

Record of Decision signed on January 3, 

2025, constitutes the decision of the 

BLM, as approved by the Department of 

the Interior. 

DATES: The Department of the Interior 

approved the BLM’s Record of Decision 

on January 3, 2025. 

ADDRESSES: The Record of Decision, 

Final Environmental Impact Statement, 

and other documents pertinent to the 

Jove Solar Project are available for 

review on the BLM ePlanning project 

website at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/ 

eplanning-ui/project/2017881/510. 

Printed copies of the Record of Decision 

are available at the BLM Yuma Field 

Office, 7341 East 30th Street, Yuma, 

Arizona 85365. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Derek Eysenbach, Project Manager, at 

deysenbach@blm.gov, Bureau of Land 

Management, One North Central 

Avenue, Suite 800, Phoenix, Arizona 

85004, or by phone at (602) 417–9505. 

Individuals in the United States who are 

deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have 

a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, 

TDD, or TeleBraille) to access 

telecommunications relay services for 

contacting Mr. Eysenbach. Individuals 

outside the United States should use the 

relay services offered within their 

country to make international calls to 

the point-of-contact in the United 

States. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

Department of the Interior has approved 

the BLM’s decision to issue a right-ofway grant for an initial term of 30 years 

for construction, operation, 

maintenance, and decommissioning of a 

utility-scale solar photovoltaic facility, 

called the Jove Solar Project. The Project 

encompasses 3,495 acres of public lands 

administered by the BLM Yuma Field 

Office and 38 acres administered by La 

Paz County, located in southeastern La 

Paz County, Arizona, south of Interstate 

10 midway between Phoenix and the 

California border, approximately 22 

miles east-southeast of the community 

of Brenda and the I–10/Highway 60 

junction, and 30 miles west of the 

community of Tonopah. The Jove Solar 

Project consists of up to 1.2 million 

solar photovoltaic modules and 

associated infrastructure, new and 

improved roads, and powerlines for 

collection and transmission of 

electricity to the Cielo Azul Switchyard 

adjacent to the Ten West Link 500- 

kilovolt transmission line and will have 

a generation capacity of 600 megawatts 

or more. 

The decision to authorize this energy 

generation project on public lands is 

consistent with FLPMA and the BLM’s 

right-of-way regulations ((43 U.S.C. 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1