[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 37 (Wednesday, February 25, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9511-9512]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-4734]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 2114, WA]
Public Utility District No. 2 of Grant County, Washington; Notice
of Public Utility District No. 2 of Grant County's Request for
Alternative Procedures in Preparing a License Application
February 19, 1998.
By letter dated January 22, 1998, Public Utility District No. 2 of
Grant County, Washington (Grant) has asked to use an alternative
procedure in preparing to relicense their Priest
[[Page 9512]]
Rapids Project No. 2114.\1\ Specifically, Grant is asking for a waiver
of Section 16.6(c)(1) of the Commission's regulations, and for early
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) scoping.
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\1\ The 1,946-megawatt Priest Rapids project is located on the
Columbia River in Chelan, Douglas, Kittitas, Grant, Yakima, and
Benton Counties, Washington. The project consists of two
developments; Priest Rapids Dam and Wanapum Dam.
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Section 16.6(c)(1) of the Commission's regulations requires an
applicant to file a notice of intent to relicense a project no earlier
than five and one-half years before license expiration.\2\ Grant
intends to negotiate pre-filing settlements during the 3-stage
consultation period before filing their relicense application, and in
order to do so would like to start formal consultation before the year
2000. Grant is also asking that Commission staff conduct NEPA scoping
during the pre-filing stages to facilitate the early identification of
issues.
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\2\ The license for the Priest Rapids project was issued on
November 4, 1955 (14 FPC 1067), effective November 1, 1995, and
expires by its terms on October 31, 2005.
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Grant has demonstrated that they have made an effort to contact
resource agencies, Indian tribes, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs),
and others affected by their proposal, and that a consensus exists that
the use of an alternative procedure is appropriate in this case.
The purpose of this notice is to invite comments on Grant's request
to use the alternative procedure, as required under the final rule for
Regulations for the Licensing of Hydroelectric Projects.\3\ 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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\3\ 81 FERC para. 61,103 (1997).
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Comments
Interested parties have 30 days from the date of this notice to
file with the Commission, any comments on Grant's proposal to use the
alternative procedures to prepare an application to relicense the
Priest Rapids Project.
Filing Requirements
The 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
(Priest Rapids Hydroelectric Project, No. 2114).
For further information, please contact Vince Yearick of the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission at 202-219-3073.
David P. Boergers,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-4734 Filed 2-24-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M
