This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), as the lead Federal agency, with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Nellis Air Force Base (Nellis AFB) and the Moapa Band of Paiute Indians (Band) as Cooperating Agencies, intends to file a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) with the EPA for the proposed Eagle Shadow Mountain Solar Project (ESM Solar Project) on the Moapa River Indian Reservation (Reservation) in Clark County, Nevada. This notice also announces that the DEIS is now available for public review and that public meetings will be held to solicit comments on the DEIS.

The proposed Federal action, taken under 25 U.S.C. 415, is BIA's approval of a 2,200 acre solar energy ground lease and associated agreements entered into by the Band with 326MK 8me LLC (ESM Solar or Applicant), a wholly owned subsidiary of 8Minute Energy, to provide for construction, operation, maintenance, and eventual decommissioning of an up-to 300 megawatt (MW) alternating current solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity generation facility located entirely on the Reservation and specifically on lands held in trust by BIA for the Band. The proposed 230 kilovolt (kV) generation-tie transmission line required for interconnection would be located on Reservation lands, Reservation lands administered and managed by BLM, BLM lands, and private lands owned by NV Energy. The Applicant has accordingly requested that the BIA and BLM additionally approve rights-of-way (ROWs) authorizing the construction and operation of the transmission line. Together, the proposed solar energy facility, transmission line, and other associated facilities make up the proposed ESM Solar Project.

The solar facility would generate electricity using PV panels. Also included would be inverters, a collection system, a potential battery storage system, an on-site substation to step-up the voltage to transmission level voltage at 230 kV, an operations and maintenance building, and other related facilities. A single overhead 230 kV generation-tie transmission line, approximately 12.5 miles long, would connect the solar project to NV Energy's Reid-Gardner 230kV substation.

Construction of the ESM Solar Project is expected to take approximately 16 to 18 months. The Applicant is expected to operate the energy facility for 30 years, with two options to renew the lease for an additional 5 years each, if mutually acceptable to the Band and Applicant. During construction, the PV panels will be placed on top of single-axis tracking mounting systems that are set on steel posts embedded in the ground. Other foundation design techniques may be used depending on the site topography and conditions. No water will be used to generate electricity during operations. Water will be needed during construction for dust control and a minimal amount will be needed during operations for panel washing, administrative, and sanitary water use on site. The water supply required for construction and operation of the Project would be leased from the Band and trucked in from adjacent Band wells. Operational water would be trucked in from adjacent Band wells to the solar site. Access to the ESM Solar Project will be provided via North Las Vegas Boulevard.