30-day FRN Published 03/23/2018

12808

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 57 / Friday, March 23, 2018 / Notices

Dated: March 12, 2018.
Todd M. Richardson,
Acting General Deputy Assistant Secretary
for Policy Development and Research.
[FR Doc. 2018–05946 Filed 3–22–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210–67–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–HQ–ES–2018–N019;
FXHC11220900000–167–FF09E33000; OMB
Control Number 1018–0148]

Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission to the Office of
Management and Budget for Review
and Approval; Land-Based Wind
Energy Guidelines
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of information collection;
request for comment.
AGENCY:

In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we,
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are
proposing to revise an existing
information collection.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before April 23,
2018.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments on
this information collection request (ICR)
to the Office of Management and
Budget’s Desk Officer for the
Department of the Interior by email at
[email protected]; or via
facsimile to (202) 395–5806. Please
provide a copy of your comments to the
Service Information Collection
Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, MS: BPHC, 5275
Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041–
3803 (mail); or by email to Info_Coll@
fws.gov. Please reference OMB Control
Number 1018–0148 in the subject line of
your comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To
request additional information about
this ICR, contact Madonna L. Baucum,
Service Information Collection
Clearance Officer, by email at Info_
[email protected], or by telephone at (703)
358–2503. You may also view the ICR
at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/
PRAMain.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In
accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, we provide the
general public and other Federal
agencies with an opportunity to
comment on new, proposed, revised,
and continuing collections of
information. This helps us assess the
impact of our information collection

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requirements and minimize the public’s
reporting burden. It also helps the
public understand our information
collection requirements and provide the
requested data in the desired format.
A Federal Register notice with a 60day public comment period soliciting
comments on this collection of
information was published on October
10, 2017 (82 FR 47021). The following
comment was received:
Comment #1: Received from Michael
Speerschneider, Senior Director,
Permitting Policy and Environmental
Affairs, and Gene Grace, Senior
Counsel, American Wind Energy
Association, on December 11, 2017, via
email.
The American Wind Energy
Association (AWEA) comments were
limited to the accuracy of the estimate
of the burden for the collection of
information detailed therein. They
provided the Service with an estimate of
the paperwork and respondent burden
required for the wind industry to collect
the data associated with the voluntary
Land-Based Wind Energy Guidelines
(‘‘Guidelines’’) on a per project basis.
Based on a survey of their member
companies involved in the development
of wind energy facilities, they believe
the updated estimates are a more
accurate reflection of the work
necessary to adhere to the Guidelines,
and respectfully requested that the
Service utilize this estimate, combined
with other assumed costs (e.g.,
government agency costs) in this and
any other analysis of the Guidelines
going forward. Rather than have
individual companies submit their
respective data with respect to the
estimate burden hours related to the
Guidelines, AWEA submitted
aggregated data and, therefore, chose not
to include identifying information for
any of their members that supplied the
data.
FWS Response to Comment #1: The
Service thanks AWEA for the useful
comments that they provided on this
information collection, and specifically
on the estimate of the burden hours and
expenditures necessary to adhere to the
voluntary Guidelines. We used this
information to update the estimated
burden, noting that there are significant
differences between the Service’s
burden estimate developed several years
ago, and AWEA’s current estimate. We
assume that these differences are a
reflection of the wide range and
variability in the size and degree of
complexity of commercial-scale wind
energy projects, and that changes in cost
reflect that variability. We attempted to
obtain further clarification and feedback

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from AWEA on that presumption but
received no response.
We are again soliciting comments on
the proposed ICR that is described
below. We are especially interested in
public comment addressing the
following issues: (1) Is the collection
necessary to the proper functions of the
Service; (2) will this information be
processed and used in a timely manner;
(3) is the estimate of burden accurate;
(4) how might the Service enhance the
quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (5) how
might the Service minimize the burden
of this collection on the respondents,
including through the use of
information technology.
Comments that you submit in
response to this notice are a matter of
public record. 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.
Abstract: As wind energy production
increased, both developers and wildlife
agencies recognized the need for a
system to evaluate and address the
potential negative impacts of wind
energy projects on species of concern.
As a result, the Service worked with the
wind energy industry, conservation
nongovernmental organizations, Federal
and State agencies, Tribes, and
academia to develop the voluntary
Land-Based Wind Energy Guidelines
(Guidelines; http://www.fws.gov/
windenergy) to provide a structured,
scientific process for addressing wildlife
conservation concerns at all stages of
land-based wind energy development.
Released in 2012, the Guidelines
promote effective communication
among wind energy developers and
Federal, State, Tribal, and local
conservation agencies. When used in
concert with appropriate regulatory
tools, the Guidelines are the best
practical approach for conserving
species of concern.
The Guidelines discuss various risks
to species of concern from wind energy
projects, including collisions with wind
turbines and associated infrastructure;
loss and degradation of habitat from
turbines and infrastructure;
fragmentation of large habitat blocks
into smaller segments that may not
support sensitive species; displacement
and behavioral changes; and indirect

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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 57 / Friday, March 23, 2018 / Notices
effects such as increased predator
populations or introduction of invasive
plants. The Guidelines assist developers
in identifying species of concern that
may potentially be affected by proposed
projects, including but not limited to:
• Migratory birds;
• Bats;
• Bald and golden eagles, and other
birds of prey;
• Prairie chickens and sage grouse;
and
• Species that have been identified as
candidates, or proposed or listed under
the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
The Guidelines follow a tiered
approach. The wind energy developer
begins at Tier 1 or Tier 2, which entails
gathering of existing data to help
identify any potential risks to wildlife
and their habitats at proposed wind
energy project sites. The developer then
proceeds through subsequent tiers, as
appropriate, to collect information in
increasing detail until the level of risk
is adequately ascertained and a decision
on whether or not to develop the site
can be made. Many projects may not
proceed beyond Tier 1 or 2, when
developers become aware of potential
barriers, including high risks to wildlife.
Developers would only have an interest
in adhering to the Guidelines for those
projects that proceed beyond Tier 1 or
2.
At each tier, wind energy developers
and operators should retain
documentation to provide to the
Service. Such documentation may
include copies of correspondence with

the Service, results of pre- and postconstruction studies conducted at
project sites, bird and bat conservation
strategies, or any other record that
supports a developer’s adherence to the
Guidelines. The extent of the
documentation will depend on the
conditions of the site being developed.
Sites with greater risk of impacts to
wildlife and habitats will likely involve
more extensive communication with the
Service and longer durations of pre- and
post-construction studies than sites with
little risk.
Distributed or community-scale wind
energy projects are unlikely to have
significant adverse impacts to wildlife
and their habitats. The Guidelines
recommend that developers of these
small-scale projects conduct the desktop
analysis described in Tier 1 or Tier 2
using publicly available information to
determine whether they should
communicate with the Service. Since
such project designs usually include a
single turbine associated with existing
development, conducting a Tier 1 or
Tier 2 analysis for distributed or
community-scale wind energy projects
should incur limited non-hour burden
costs. For such projects, if there is no
potential risk identified, a developer
will have no need to communicate with
the Service regarding the project or to
conduct studies described in Tiers 3, 4,
and 5.
Adherence to the Guidelines is
voluntary. Following the Guidelines
does not relieve any individual,
company, or agency of the responsibility
Annual
number of
respondents

Requirement

to comply with applicable laws and
regulations (i.e., species protected by
the Endangered Species Act and/or Bald
and Golden Eagle Protection Act (16
U.S.C. 668–668c)).
Title of Collection: Land-Based Wind
Energy Guidelines.
OMB Control Number: 1018–0148.
Form Number: None.
Type of Review: Revision of a
currently approved collection.
Respondents/Affected Public:
Developers and operators of wind
energy facilities.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Respondents: 160.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Responses: 160.
Estimated Completion Time per
Response: Varies from 1 hour to 3,600
hours, depending on activity.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Burden Hours: 282,995.
Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary.
Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
Total Estimated Annual Nonhour
Burden Cost: $36,870,000. Costs will
depend on the size and complexity of
issues associated with each project.
These expenses may include, but are not
limited to: Travel expenses for site
visits, studies conducted, and meetings
with the Service and other Federal and
State agencies; training in survey
methodologies; data management;
special transportation, such as allterrain vehicles or helicopters;
equipment needed for acoustic,
telemetry, or radar monitoring; and
carcass storage.
Completion
time per
response
(hours)

Number of
responses
each

Total annual
responses

1
........................

40
........................

25
1

1,000
40

1
........................

35
........................

155
3

5,425
105

30
........................

3,100
5

93,000
150

45
........................

3,600
5

162,000
225

Total annual
burden hours

Tier 1 (Desktop Analysis)
Reporting ...............................................................................................................
Recordkeeping ......................................................................................................

40
........................

Tier 2 (Site Characterization)
Reporting ...............................................................................................................
Recordkeeping ......................................................................................................

35
........................

Tier 3 (Pre-construction studies)
Reporting ...............................................................................................................
Recordkeeping ......................................................................................................

30
........................

1
........................

Tier 4 (Post-construction fatality monitoring and habitat studies)

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Reporting ...............................................................................................................
Recordkeeping ......................................................................................................

45
........................

1
........................

Tier 5 (Other post-construction studies)
Reporting ...............................................................................................................
Recordkeeping ......................................................................................................

10
........................

1
........................

10
........................

2,100
5

21,000
50

Totals .............................................................................................................

160

........................

160

........................

282,995

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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 57 / Friday, March 23, 2018 / Notices

An agency may not conduct or
sponsor and a person is not required to
respond to a collection of information
unless it displays a currently valid OMB
control number.
The authority for this action is the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
Dated: March 20, 2018.
Madonna L. Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2018–05931 Filed 3–22–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLWYD04000–LL51010000–ER0000–
LVRWK14K1600.17X]

Notice of Availability of the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Riley Ridge to Natrona Project,
Wyoming
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
AGENCY:

In compliance with the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the
Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 (MLA), as
amended, the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) Rock Springs Field
Office has prepared a Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
for the Riley Ridge to Natrona Project
(RRNP or Project) and by this Notice
announces the beginning of public
review to solicit public comments.
DATES: The Draft EIS is now available
for public review. To be considered in
the Final EIS, written comments on the
Draft EIS must be received within 45
days after the Environmental Protection
Agency’s publication in the Federal
Register of a Notice of Availability
(NOA) of this Draft EIS.
Four public open houses for the
proposed Project will be held in Big
Piney, Rock Springs, Lander, and
Casper, Wyoming. Meeting times and
locations will be announced through
local media and the BLM Project
website at http://bit.ly/2aW727l at least
15 days prior to the event. To be
considered in the analysis, all
comments must be received prior to the
close of the public comment period or
15 days after the last public meeting,
whichever is later.
ADDRESSES: The Draft EIS and
supporting documents will be available
electronically on the following BLM
website: http://bit.ly/2aW727l.

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Written comments may be submitted
by any of the following methods:
• Email: [email protected].
• Fax: 307–352–0329.
• Mail or Delivery: BLM High Desert
District, Attn: Mark Mackiewicz, BLM
National Project Manager, Riley Ridge to
Natrona Project, 280 Highway 191
North, Rock Springs, WY 82901.
Copies of the Draft EIS may be
examined at the following BLM offices
from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. MDT,
Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays:
• BLM Rock Springs Field Office, 280
Highway 191 North, Rock Springs,
Wyoming.
• BLM Pinedale Field Office, 1625
West Pine Street, Pinedale, Wyoming.
• BLM Rawlins Field Office, 1300 N.
Third Street, Rawlins, Wyoming.
• BLM Lander Field Office, 1335
Main Street, Lander, Wyoming.
• BLM Casper Field Office, 2987
Prospector Drive, Casper, Wyoming.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mark Mackiewicz, BLM National Project
Manager, at:
• Telephone: 435–636–3616.
• Email: [email protected].
Persons who use a
telecommunications device for the deaf
(TDD) may call the Federal Relay
Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to
speak with Mr. Mackiewicz during
normal business hours. The FRS is
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,
to leave a message or question for the
above individual. You will receive a
reply during normal business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM
is responding to three applications for
right-of-way (ROW) grants submitted by
Denbury Green Pipeline-Riley Ridge,
LLC (Denbury) and PacifiCorp, doing
business as Rocky Mountain Power
(collectively referred to as the
Applicant), to the BLM for the Project.
Denbury submitted an ‘‘Application for
Transportation and Utility Systems and
Facilities on Federal Lands’’ (Standard
Form 299) to the BLM for two
underground pipeline projects: (1) The
Riley Ridge Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
Pipeline Project (WYW–167867) and (2)
the Bairoil to Natrona CO2 Pipeline
Project (WYW–168290). In addition,
Denbury has proposed two hydrogen
sulfide (H2S) injection wells (WYW–
181373) to be sited near the proposed
Riley Ridge Sweetening Plant, which is
included in the Riley Ridge CO2
Pipeline Project application. PacifiCorp
submitted an application for ROW for a
230-kilovolt (kV) transmission line
(WYW–185369) to supply energy to the
Riley Ridge Sweetening Plant. The
applications for ROW grants for

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Denbury’s Proposed Action were
submitted to the BLM on February 19,
2013 (Denbury), and January 25, 2016
(PacifiCorp); the proposal for the
injection wells was submitted to the
BLM on September 12, 2013.
Collectively, the Project consists of the
following components (as proposed):
• An underground non-gaseous
H2S/carbon dioxide (CO2) pipeline from
the existing Riley Ridge Treating Plant
(a methane and helium recovery facility)
to the proposed Riley Ridge Sweetening
Plant, consisting of 31 miles of 16-inchdiameter pipe within Sublette County;
• A CO2 underground pipeline from
the proposed Riley Ridge Sweetening
Plant to the Bairoil Interconnect,
consisting of 129 miles of 24-inchdiameter pipe, and continuing from the
interconnect another 84 miles to the
terminus at the Natrona Hub within
Natrona County;
• The 4.3-acre proposed Riley Ridge
Sweetening Plant, located on BLMadministered lands, constructed and
operated to separate the CO2 from the
H2S; the H2S would be reinjected into
deep geologic formations via two
proposed injection wells;
• An approximately 1-mile-long 230
kV overhead transmission line that
would bring power to the Riley Ridge
Sweetening Plant from an existing 230
kV transmission line; and
• Ancillary facilities, such as roads,
valves, flowlines, etc.
After reviewing the scope of the
Project, the BLM, as the lead Federal
agency, determined that the Proposed
Action is a major federal action and
would require preparation of an EIS in
compliance with requirements of NEPA,
as amended by the Council on
Environmental Quality regulations for
implementing NEPA (40 CFR 1500–
1508).
On June 9, 2014, the BLM published
in the Federal Register a Notice of
Intent to prepare the EIS. Thirteen
agencies are participating as cooperating
agencies in preparation of the EIS,
including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (USFWS), the National Park
Service and the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (USACE); the State of
Wyoming (and associated departments);
Fremont, Lincoln, Sublette, Sweetwater,
and Natrona counties, Wyoming; and
four conservation districts, Natrona
County, Popo Agie, Sublette County,
and Sweetwater County, in Wyoming.
To allow the public an opportunity to
review the Project information, the BLM
held public meetings from July 14 to
July 17, 2014, in Casper, Lander, Big
Piney, and Rock Springs, Wyoming.
Issues and potential impacts on specific
resources were identified during the

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