[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 193 (Tuesday, October 6, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53652-53653]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-26669]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project Nos. 135, 2195]
Portland General Electric Company, Portland, Oregon; Notice of
Portland General Electric Company's Request To Use Alternative
Procedures in Filing a License Application
September 30, 1998.
By letter dated September 1, 1998, Portland General Electric
Company (PGE) of Portland, Oregon asked to use an alternative procedure
in filing an application for a new license for its Oak Grove Project
No. 135 and North Fork Project No. 2195.\1\ PGE has demonstrated that
they made a reasonable effort to contact the resource agencies, Indian
tribes, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and others who may be
affected by their proposal, and has submitted a communication protocol
governing how participants in the proposed process may communicate with
each other. PGE has also submitted evidence of support for their
proposal, and it appears that a consensus exists that the use of an
alternative procedure is appropriate in this case.
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\1\ The 44-megawatt Oak Grove project consists of a 100-foot-
high dam at the lower end of Timothy Lake, and a 68-foot-high
diversion dam below Lake Harriet--both on the Oak Grove Fork of the
Clackamas River. The Powerhouse is located on the Clackamas River.
The Oak Grove project is located on U.S. Forest Service land. The
121-megawatt North Fork Project is comprised of three developments
on the Clackamas River: a 206-foot-high dam with the powerhouse
located at the lower end of North Fork Reservoir; a 47-foot-high dam
with the powerhouse located at the lower end of Faraday Lake; and a
85-foot-high dam with powerhouse located at the lower end of
Estacada Lake. The North Fork project is located on U.S. Forest
Service land and Bureau of Land Management land.
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The purpose of this notice is to invite any additional comments on
PGE's request to use the alternative procedure, as required under the
final rule for Regulations for the Licensing of Hydroelectric
Projects.\2\ Additional notices seeking comments on the specific
project proposal, interventions and protests, and recommended terms and
conditions will be issued at a later date.
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\2\ 81 FERC 61,103 (1997).
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The alternative procedure being requested here combines the
prefiling consultation process with the environmental review process,
allowing the applicant to file a Third Party Contractor prepared
Environmental Impact Statement (TPC-EIS) in lieu of Exhibit E of the
license application. This differs from the traditional process, in
which the applicant consults with agencies, Indian tribes, and NGOs
during preparation of the application for the license and before filing
it, but the Commission staff performs the environmental review after
the application is filed. The alternative procedure is intended to
simplify and expedite the licensing process by combining the prefiling
consultation and environmental review processes into a single process,
to facilitate greater participation, and to improve communication and
cooperation among the participants. The alternative procedure can be
tailored to the particular project under consideration.
TPC-EIS Process and the Oak Grove and North Fork Projects Schedule
PGE has begun working collaboratively with the various interested
entities to identify issues that will need to be addressed and studies
that will need to be conducted in relicensing the project. An initial
information package will be disseminated to all interested parties in
February 1999. Site visits of the project will be conducted in May
1999. Identification of issues and issuance of Scoping Document 1 will
occur in December 1999. A Public Scoping Meeting will be held January
2000. Notice of the scoping meeting will be published at least 30 days
prior to the meeting.
Studies will be conducted beginning April 1999, and continue
through 2003. Opportunities for requesting additional studies will be
noticed at least 30 days prior to any study request deadline. A draft
license application with preliminary EIS would be distributed for
comment in August 2003. The final license application and EIS must be
filed with the Commission on or before August 31, 2004, two years
before the expiration date on the existing license. A more detailed
schedule and project description was distributed by PGE on September 1,
1998, to all parties expressing interest in the proceeding. Copies of
the schedule and project description may be obtained from Portland
General Electric, Hydro Licensing and Water Rights Office, 121
[[Page 53653]]
S.W. Salmon Street, Portland, OR 97204.
Comments
Interested parties have 30 days from the date of this notice to
file with the Commission, any comments on PGE's proposal to use the
alternative procedures to file an application for the Oak Grove and
North Fork Hydroelectric Projects.
Filing Requirements
Any comments must be filed by providing an original and 8 copies as
required by the Commission's regulations to: Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, Office of the Secretary, Dockets--Room 1A, 888 First
Street, NE, Washington, DC 20426.
All comment filings must bear the heading ``Comments on the
Alternative Procedure,'' and include the project names and numbers (Oak
Grove hydroelectric Project No. 135 and North Fork Hydroelectric
Project No. 2195). For further information, please contact John Blair
at (202) 219-2845.
David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-26669 Filed 10-5-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M
