[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 10, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 717]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-304]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Project No. 2496-OR]
Eugene Water & Electrical Board; Notice of Intent To Hold Public
Meeting in Springfield, OR, To Discuss the Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (DEIS) for the Proposed Relicensing of the Leaburg-
Walterville Hydroelectric Project
January 4, 1996.
On October 13, 1995, the Commission staff mailed the DEIS to the
Environmental Protection Agency, resource and land management agencies,
and interested organizations and individuals. This document evaluates
the environmental consequences of the proposed relicensing of the
Leaburg-Walterville Hydroelectric Project at the installed capacity of
21.5 megawatts. The project is located on the McKenzie River in Lane
County, Oregon.
A public meeting, to be recorded by a court reporter, is scheduled
to be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, January 17, 1996 at the Thurston
High School auditorium which is located just off Highway 126, at 333
North 58th Street, Springfield, Oregon. At the meeting, Commission
Staff will summarize major DEIS findings and recommendations. Resource
agency personnel and other interested persons will have an opportunity
to submit oral and written comments on the DEIS for the public record.
Written comments on the DEIS may also be sent to: The Secretary,
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 1st Street, NE., Washington,
DC 20426. Comments must be received before January 19, 1996 and should
be identified by project name and number.
The DEIS considers recommendations of government agencies,
nongovernmental organizations, affected Indian tribes, the public,
Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB), and the Commission's staff. It
evaluates natural and social resource benefits, the economic costs, and
the project-specific and cumulative environmental impacts associated
with relicensing the project.
To maintain and enhance the project's power generation efficiency
and capacity, the DEIS recommends raising Leaburg Lake by 1.5 feet,
installing structures in the McKenzie River near the Walterville
intake, excavating the Walterville tailrace, and upgrading powerhouse
generation equipment. The environmental impacts of these actions would
be minor and could be mitigated by staff recommended measures.
To enhance highly valued McKenzie River fishery resources, EWEB
would install a fish screen in the Walterville canal intake and would
install tailrace barriers in the Leaburg and Walterville tailraces. To
further improve fish habitat and boating opportunities, enhanced year-
around minimum in-stream flows, including a flow allotment that could
be used during late-summer low-flow conditions are recommended.
To enhance recreation access and opportunities along the McKenzie
River, EWEB proposes trust fund donations to acquire lands along the
river for access and habitat protection. EWEB also proposes several
lesser measures to enhance wildlife habitat values and recreation
opportunities on project lands.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-304 Filed 1-9-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M
