[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 193 (Tuesday, October 6, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 53653]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-26670]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 477]
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 Bull Run Project No.
477.\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 22-megawatt Bull Run project consists of a 57-foot-high
diversion dam on the Sandy River and a 18-foot-high diversion dam on
the Little Sandy River. A powerhouse is located on the Bull Run
River near the confluence with the Sandy River. The Bull Run 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 Bull Run Project 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
December 1998. Site visits of the project will be conducted in March
1999. Identification of issues and issuance of Scoping Document 1 will
occur 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 2001. 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 November 2001. The final license application and EIS must be
filed with the Commission on or before November 16, 2002, two years
before the expiration date of 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 SW
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 Bull Run
Hydroelectric Project.
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 name and number (Bull
Run Hydroelectric Project No. 477). For further information, please
contact John Blair at (202) 219-2845.
David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-26670 Filed 10-5-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M
