[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 183 (Wednesday, September 22, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 57759]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-23685]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 2144-038; Project No. 2225-015]
Seattle City Light; Public Utility District No.1 of Pend Orielle
County; Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
September 16, 2010.
On September 9, 2009, the City of Seattle, Washington (City) filed
an application for a new license for the continued operation of the
1,003-megawatt Boundary Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 2144). On March
29, 2010, the City and the Public Utility District No. 1 of Pend
Oreille, County, Washington (District) filed a joint comprehensive
settlement agreement (Settlement), explanatory statement and a request
to consolidate the processing of the City's relicensing of the Boundary
Hydroelectric Project No. 2144-038, and the District's surrender of its
license for the Sullivan Creek Hydroelectric Project No. 2225-013. On
April 2, 2010, the District filed an application to surrender the
Sullivan Creek Project. Parts of both projects occupy lands within the
Colville National Forest.
In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and
the Commission's regulations, Commission staff held public scoping
meetings for the relicensing of the Boundary Project on July 18 and 19,
2006 in Spokane and Metaline Falls, Washington, respectively. On May
11, 2010, the Commission solicited scoping comments on the surrender of
the Sullivan Creek Project and noticed a June 10, 2010, technical
conference to discuss the Settlement and the scope of issues to be
addressed in a combined environmental assessment for both projects.
Based on the comments received at the technical conference and in
response to the Commission's July 6, 2010 Notice of Application Ready
for Environmental Analysis and Soliciting Comments, Recommendations,
Preliminary Terms and Conditions, and Preliminary Fishway Prescriptions
(REA notice) for both projects, Commission staff has determined that
relicensing of the Boundary Project may constitute a major Federal
action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment.
Therefore, staff now intends to prepare an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) that addresses both the relicensing of the Boundary
Project and the surrender of the Sullivan Creek Project.
A draft EIS will be issued and circulated for review by all
interested parties. All comments filed on the draft EIS will be
analyzed by the staff and considered in the final EIS. The staff's
conclusions and recommendations will be available for the Commission's
consideration in reaching its final licensing decision.
The application will be processed according to the following Hydro
Licensing Schedule. Revisions to the schedule may be made as
appropriate.
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Milestone Target date
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Filing of Recommendations, Preliminary September 6, 2010.
Terms and Conditions, and Fishway
Prescriptions.
Reply Comments due........................ October 19, 2010.
Issue Draft EIS........................... March 3, 2011.
Comments on Draft EIS Due................. April 18, 2011.
Filing of Modified Mandatory Terms and June 17, 2011.
Conditions.
Issue Final EIS........................... September 15, 2011.
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This notice informs all interested individuals, organizations, and
agencies with environmental expertise and concerns, that: (1) The
Commission staff has decided to prepare an EIS addressing both the
relicensing of the Boundary Project and the surrender of the Sullivan
Creek Project; and (2) the prior scoping conducted on these projects by
Commission staff and comments filed with the Commission on the
applications will be taken into account in the EIS.
Any questions regarding this notice may be directed to David Turner
at (202) 502-6091, or by e-mail at [email protected].
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2010-23685 Filed 9-21-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P