[Federal Register: January 19, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 12)]
[Notices]
[Page 3015-3017]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19ja05-53]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 2244-012]
Energy Northwest; Notice of Intent To File License Application,
Filing of Pre-Application Document, Commencement of Licensing
Proceeding, Scoping Meetings and Study Request Workshop, Solicitation
of Comments on the Pad and Scoping Document, and Identification of
Issues and Associated Study Requests
January 12, 2005.
a. Type of Filing: Notice of intent to file license application for
a new license and pre-application document; commencing licensing
proceeding.
b. Project No.: 2244-012.
c. Dated Filed: November 12, 2004.
d. Submitted by: Energy Northwest.
e. Name of Project: Packwood Lake Hydroelectric Project.
f. Location: Packwood Lake Hydroelectric Project is located on Lake
Creek and the Cowlitz River in Lewis County, Washington. The project
occupies 503.25 acres of United States lands under the jurisdiction of
the U.S. Forest Service.
g. Filed Pursuant to: 18 CFR part 5 of the Commission's
Regulations.
h. Potential Applicant Contact: Laura Schinnell, Licensing Project
Manager, Mail Drop 1030, Energy Northwest, P.O. Box 968, Richland, WA,
99352, (509) 372-5123.
[[Page 3016]]
i. FERC Contact: Kenneth Hogan (202) 502-8434 or via e-mail at
Kenneth.hogan@ferc.gov.
j. We are asking federal, state, local, and tribal agencies with
jurisdiction and/or special expertise with respect to environmental
issues to cooperate with us in the preparation of the environmental
document. Agencies who would like to request cooperating status should
follow the instructions for filing comments described in paragraph o
below.
k. With this notice, we are initiating informal consultation with:
(a) The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and/or NOAA Fisheries under
section 7 of the Endangered Species Act and the joint agency
regulations thereunder at 50 CFR part 402 and (b) the State Historic
Preservation Officer, as required by section 106, National Historical
Preservation Act, and the implementing regulations of the Advisory
Council on Historic Preservation at 36 CFR 800.2.
l. On March 10, 2004 and November 16, 2004, respectively, we
designated Energy Northwest as the Commission's non-federal
representative for carrying out informal consultation, pursuant to
section 7 of the Endangered Species Act and section 106 of the National
Historic Preservation Act.
m. Energy Northwest filed a Pre-Application Document (PAD);
including a proposed process plan and schedule with the Commission,
pursuant to 18 CFR 5.6 of the Commission's regulations.
n. Copies of the PAD and Scoping Document 1 (SD1) are available for
review at the Commission in the Public Reference Room or may be viewed
on the Commission's Web site (http://www.ferc.gov), using the
``eLibrary'' link. Enter the docket number, excluding the last three
digits in the docket number field to access the document. For
assistance, contact FERC Online Support at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov
or toll free at 1-866-208-3676, of for TTY, (202) 502-8659. A copy is
also available for inspection and reproduction at the address in
paragraph h.
Register online at http://ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm to be notified
via e-mail of new filing and issuances related to this or other pending
projects. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support.
o. With this notice, we are soliciting comments on the PAD and SD1
as well as study requests. All comments on the PAD and SD1, and study
requests should be sent to the address above in paragraph h. In
addition, all comments on the PAD and SD1, study requests, requests for
cooperating agency status, and all communications to Commission staff
related to the merits of the potential application (original and eight
copies) must be filed with the Commission at the following address:
Magalie R. Salas, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888
First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426. All filings with the
Commission must include on the first page, the project name (Packwood
Lake Hydroelectric Project) and number (P-2244-012), and bear the
heading ``Comments on Pre-Application Document,'' ``Study Requests,''
``Comments on Scoping Document 1,'' ``Request for Cooperating Agency
Status,'' or ``Communications to and from Commission Staff.'' Any
individual or entity interested in submitting study requests,
commenting on the PAD or SD1, and any agency requesting cooperating
status must do so by March 12, 2005.
Comments on the PAD and SD1, study requests, requests for
cooperating agency status, and other permissible forms of
communications with the Commission may be filed electronically via the
Internet in lieu of paper. The Commission strongly encourages
electronic filings. See 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions
on the Commission's Web site (http://www.ferc.gov) under the ``e-
filing'' link.
p. At this time, Commission staff intends to prepare an
Environmental Assessment for the project, in accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act. However, there is the possibility
that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be required.
Nevertheless, this meeting will satisfy the NEPA scoping requirements,
irrespective of whether an EA or EIS is issued by the Commission.
Scoping Meetings
We will hold two scoping meetings at the times and places noted
below. The daytime meeting will focus on resource agency, Indian
tribes, and non-governmental organization concerns, while the evening
meeting is primarily for receiving input from the public. We invite all
interested individuals, organizations, and agencies to attend one or
both of the meetings, and to assist staff in identifying particular
study needs, as well as the scope of environmental issues to be
addressed in the environmental document. The times and locations of
these meetings are as follows:
Daytime Scoping Meeting
Date and Time: Thursday, February 3, 2005, 1 p.m. (PST).
Location: Packwood Lake Community Center, 12935 U.S. Highway 12,
Packwood, Washington.
Evening Scoping Meeting
Date and Time: Thursday, February 3, 2005, 7 p.m. (PST).
Location: Packwood Lake Community Center, 12935 U.S. Highway 12,
Packwood, Washington.
For Directions: Please call Laura Schinnell at (509) 372-5123.
Scoping Document 1 (SD1), which outlines the subject areas to be
addressed in the environmental document, has been mailed to the
individuals and entities on the Commission's mailing list. Copies of
SD1 will be available at the scoping meetings, or may be viewed on the
Web at http://www.ferc.gov, using the ``eLibrary'' link. Follow the
directions for accessing information in paragraph n. Depending on the
extent of comments received, a Scoping Document 2 (SD2) may or may not
be issued.
Site Visit
A site visit is typically held in conjunction with the scoping
meeting. However, anticipating that access to some project facilities
would be limited by winter weather, Energy Northwest hosted a project
site visit in August 2004. The site visit was noticed by the Commission
on July 13, 2004 and attended by Commission staff on August 27, 2004.
For these reasons, the Commission will not host its own site visit in
conjunction with its NEPA scoping meeting.
Scoping Meeting Objectives
At the scoping meetings, staff will: (1) Present the proposed list
of issues to be addressed in the EA; (2) review and discuss existing
conditions and resource agency management objectives; (3) review and
discuss existing information and identify preliminary information and
study needs; (4) review and discuss the process plan and schedule for
pre-filing activity that incorporates the time frames provided for in
part 5 of the Commission's regulations and, to the extent possible,
maximizes coordination of federal, state, and tribal permitting and
certification processes; and (5) discuss requests by any federal or
state agency or Indian tribe acting as a cooperating agency for
development of an environmental document.
Meeting participants should come prepared to discuss their issues
and/or concerns. Please review the Pre-Application Document in
preparation for the scoping meetings. Directions on how to obtain a
copy of the PAD and
[[Page 3017]]
SD1 are included in item n. of this document.
Scoping Meeting Procedures
The scoping meetings will be recorded by a stenographer and will
become part of the formal Commission record on the project.
Study Request and Process Plan Workshop
To assist parties in the development of their study requests
(pertaining to format and the study criteria outlined in the
Commission's regulation 18 CFR 5.8), and further development of the
project's Process Plan we will be hosting a workshop on February 2,
2005, at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Sawyer Hall at 510
Desmond Drive SE., Lacey, Washington. The workshop will begin at 9 a.m.
(PST). For directions, please contact Laura Schinnell at (509) 372-
5123.
Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E5-185 Filed 1-18-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P