[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 40 (Wednesday, February 28, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7503-7504]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-4452]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Project Nos. 2390-003, 2395-003, 2421-003, 2473-002, 2475-006 and
2640-010]
Flambeau River, WI; Notice of Intent to Hold Public and Agency
Meetings to Discuss Staff's Draft Environmental Statement (DEIS) for
Existing Projects on the Flambeau River
February 22, 1996.
On November 30, 1995, The Commission's Staff mailed the Flambeau
River Basin Hydroelectric Projects, Wisconsin, DEIS to the
Environmental Protection Agency, resource and land management agencies,
interested organizations and individuals. The availability of the DEIS
was public noticed in the Federal Register on December 8, 1995. The
document evaluates the continued operation of the Big Falls Water Power
Project No. 2390; the Pixley Project No. 2395; the Lower Hydro Project
No. 2421;
[[Page 7504]]
the Crowley Project No. 2473; the Thornapple Project No. 2475; and the
Upper Hydro Project No. 2640. The projects are located on the Flambeau
River in Rusk, Price and Ashland Counties, Wisconsin.
The action of relicensing these projects involves tradeoffs between
energy production and enhancement of environmental quality. The staff
formulated alternatives, and evaluated impacts to respond to concerns
raised during the scoping process. In developing recommendations in the
DEIS, the staff gave equal consideration to developmental and
nondevelopmental values in accordance with the Federal Power Act.
The issues addressed in the DEIS are potential impacts to and
effects on: (1) Geologic and soils resources; (2) water quality and
quantity; (3) fisheries resources; (4) terrestrial resources; (5)
recreational resources; (6) aesthetic values; (7) cultural resources;
(8) air quality; (9) cumulative effects of the proposed projects.
Alternatives to the applicants' proposals considered in detail are
(1) modification to proposed project operation or facilities to further
protect, enhance or mitigate adverse impacts to environmental resources
and values and (2) no action.
A public meeting will be conducted by staff in Park Falls,
Wisconsin on Tuesday, March 12, 1996, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. in
the auditorium of the Public Library, 410 Division Street, Park Falls,
Wisconsin, to hear the public's comments on the DEIS.
The meeting will be recorded by a stenographer and will become part
of the formal record of the Commission's proceeding on the Flambeau
River projects under consideration. Individuals presenting statements
at the meeting will be asked to sign in before the meeting starts and
to clearly identify themselves for the record.
In accordance with Section 10(j) of the Federal Power Act (FPA),
the Commission's staff will also meet with staff from the Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
on Tuesday, March 12 and Wednesday, March 13 at the offices of the
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, 875 South Forth Avenue, Park
Falls, Wisconsin, to discuss inconsistencies of some recommendations
with the comprehensive planning and public interest standards of
Sections 4(e) and 10(a) of the FPA or the substantial evidence
requirement of Section 313(b) of the FPA.
All those that are formally recognized by the Commission as
intervenors in the Flambeau Projects' proceedings are asked to refrain
from engaging the staff in discussions of the merits of the projects
outside of any announced meetings.
For further information, please contact Ms. Julie Bernt at (202)
219-2814.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-4452 Filed 2-27-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M
