[Federal Register: June 2, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 104)]
[Notices]
[Page 26385-26386]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02jn09-44]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 12704-002]
Tidewalker Associates; Notice of Intent To File License
Application, Filing of Pre-Application Document, Commencement of
Licensing Proceeding, Scoping Meetings, Solicitation of Comments on the
Pad and Scoping Document, and Identification of Issues and Associated
Study Requests
May 26, 2009.
a. Type of Filing: Notice of Intent to File License Application for
a New License and Commencing Licensing Proceeding.
b. Project No.: 12704-002.
c. Dated Filed: March 25, 2009.
d. Submitted By: Tidewalker Associates.
e. Name of Project: Half Moon Cove Tidal Power Project.
f. Location: Cobscook Bay, between the City of Eastport and Town of
Perry, Washington County, Maine. No federal lands are involved.
g. Filed Pursuant to: 18 CFR Part 5 of the Commission's
Regulations.
h. Potential Applicant Contact: Normand Laberge, Tidewalker
Associates, 46 Place Cover Road, Trescott, Maine 04652. (207) 733-5513.
i. FERC Contact: Steve Kartalia, Stephen.kartalia@ferc.gov, (202)
502-6131.
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. Cooperating agencies should note the Commission's policy that
agencies that cooperate in the preparation of the environmental
document cannot also intervene. See, 94 FERC ] 61,076 (2001).
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. With this notice, we are designating Tidewalker Associates 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. Tidewalker Associates 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. The Commission
issued a Scoping Document on May 26, 2009.
n. A copy of the PAD and the scoping document 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 the
scoping document, as well as study requests. All comments on the PAD
and the scoping document, and study requests should be sent to the
address above in paragraph h. In addition, all comments on the PAD and
the scoping document, study requests, requests for cooperating agency
status, and all communications to and from Commission staff related to
the merits of the potential application (original and eight copies)
must be filed with the Commission at the following address: Kimberly D.
Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First
Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426. All filings with the Commission must
include on the first page, Half Moon Cove Tidal Power Project) and
number (P-12704-002), 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 the scoping document, and any agency requesting cooperating status
must do so by July 23, 2009.
Comments on the PAD and the scoping document, 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. Although our current intent is to prepare an environmental
assessment (EA), there is the possibility that an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) will be required. Nevertheless, these meetings will
satisfy the NEPA scoping requirements, irrespective of whether an EA or
EIS is issued by the Commission.
Scoping Meetings
Commission staff will hold two scoping meetings in the vicinity of
the project at the time and place 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: Wednesday June 24, 2009.
Time: 10 a.m.
Location: Marine Trades Center, 16 Deep Cove Road, Eastport, ME.
Phone: Normand Laberge at (207) 733-5513.
Evening Scoping Meeting
Date: Wednesday June 24, 2009.
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Marine Trades Center, 16 Deep Cove Road, Eastport, ME.
Phone: Normand Laberge at (207) 733-5513.
The scoping document, which outlines the subject areas to be
addressed in the environmental document, was mailed to the
[[Page 26386]]
individuals and entities on the Commission's mailing list. Copies of
the scoping document 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, Scoping Document 2 may or
may not be issued.
Site Visit
Tidewalker Associates will conduct a site visit of the project at 2
p.m. on Tuesday June 23, 2009. All participants should meet where Old
Route 190 terminates at the shore on the Eastport end of the proposed
dam location. See Figure 2 of the scoping document for a map. All
participants are responsible for their own transportation. Anyone with
questions about the site visit should contact Normand Laberge.
Scoping Meeting Objectives
At the scoping meetings, staff will: (1) Initiate scoping of the
issues; (2) review and discuss existing conditions and resource
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 the appropriateness of 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 PAD in preparation for the scoping
meetings. Directions on how to obtain a copy of the PAD and the scoping
document are included in item n of this document.
Meeting Procedures
The meetings will be recorded by a stenographer and will become
part of the formal record of the Commission proceeding on the project.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9-12698 Filed 6-1-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P