[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 39 (Monday, March 1, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9201-9202]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-4093]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 606-027-CA]
Kilarc-Cow Creek Hydroelectric Project; Notice of Intention To
Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
February 19, 2010.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has received an
application for surrender of license for the Kilarc-Cow Creek
Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. 606. The project contains two
developments and is located on Old Cow Creek and South Cow Creek in
Shasta County, northern California.
In the March 13, 2009 application, Pacific Gas and Electric Company
(licensee) proposes to surrender the license, decommission and remove
project facilities, as described in its proposed decommissioning plan.
In general, (1) diversion dams would be removed to stop water
diversions and to allow for free passage of fish and sediment; (2) some
diversion dam abutments and foundations would be left in place to
protect stream banks and provide grade control; (3) both powerhouse
structures would be secured and left in place during decommissioning
and an option for future reuse of the powerhouse structures would be
preserved; (4) electric generators, turbines and other equipment would
be removed; (5) both forebays would be graded and filled; and (6) canal
segments would be left in place, breached, or filled in consultation
with affected landowners, and metal and wood flume structures would be
removed. The licensee consulted with federal, state, local agencies,
and other parties with potential interest, during the license surrender
application process.
As a result of the public scoping process and environmental site
review, the FERC staff has determined that the proposed license
surrender would constitute a major federal action significantly
affecting the quality of the human environment. Therefore, the staff
intends to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) on the
surrendering of the hydroelectric project
[[Page 9202]]
in lieu of an environmental assessment (EA). The EIS will be prepared
in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Scoping
The FERC staff prepared a scoping document and held public scoping
meetings on October 19, 2009 in Palo Cedro, CA and October 22, 2009 in
Redding, CA. FERC staff held public environmental site reviews of the
project on October 20 and 21, 2009. The public meetings and
environmental site reviews assisted staff in identifying the scope of
the environmental issues that should be analyzed. The results of the
scoping were extensive and indicate than an EIS should be prepared for
this project rather than an EA, as staff had initially anticipated. The
upcoming EIS will reflect input received at the scoping meetings and
justify why staff has determined that an EIS should be prepared.
Process
The FERC staff will first issue and circulate a draft EIS to all of
the interested parties for comment. All comments filed on the draft EIS
will be analyzed by the FERC staff and considered in the final EIS
pursuant to NEPA. The FERC staff will also hold a public meeting in
California before issuing the final EIS. The staff's conclusions and
recommendations will then be presented for the consideration of the
Commission in the order reaching its final decision.
For further information please contact the project coordinator,
CarLisa Linton at (202) 502-8416 or [email protected].
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2010-4093 Filed 2-26-10; 8:45 am]
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