2024-06559. Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment; Sho-Me Electric Power Cooperative

On June 29, 2023, Sho-Me Electric Power Cooperative (licensee) filed an application to surrender its license for the Niangua Hydroelectric Project No. 2561. The project is located on the Nianqua River in Camden County, Missouri. The project does not occupy federal lands.

The licensee has determined it no longer wants to pursue relicensing of the project. The licensee intends to surrender its license and to leave the facilities in place, including the project dam, power tunnel, powerhouse, and associated facilities. The power canal would be drained and sealed at both ends and the project would be disconnected from the power grid. No ground disturbing activities are proposed with surrender of the project license. A Notice of Application Accepted for Filing and Soliciting Comments, Motions to Intervene, and Protest was issued on August 1, 2023.

This notice identifies Commission staff's intention to prepare an environmental assessment (EA) for the proposed action. The planned schedule for the completion of the EA is September 30, 2024.^[1] Revisions to the schedule may be made as appropriate. The EA will be issued and made available for review by all interested parties. All comments filed on the EA will be reviewed by staff and considered in the Commission's final decision on the proceeding.

With this notice, the Commission is inviting federal, state, local, and Tribal agencies with jurisdiction and/or special expertise with respect to environmental issues affected by the proposal to cooperate in the preparation of the EA planned to be issued July 2024. Agencies wishing to cooperate, or further discuss the benefits, responsibilities, and obligations of the cooperating agency role, should contact staff listed at the bottom of this notice by April 11, 2024. Cooperating agencies should note the Commission's policy that agencies that cooperate in the preparation of any environmental document cannot also intervene. See 94 FERC ¶ 61,076 (2001).

The Commission's Office of Public Participation (OPP) supports meaningful public engagement and participation in Commission proceedings. OPP can help members of the public, including landowners, environmental justice communities, Tribal members, and others to access publicly available information and navigate Commission processes. For public inquiries and assistance with making filings such as interventions, comments, or requests for rehearing, the public is encouraged to contact OPP at [phone] or [e-mail].

Any questions regarding this notice may be directed to Rebecca Martin at 202-502-6012 or [e-mail].

Dated: March 21, 2024.

Debbie-Anne A. Reese,

Acting Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  42 U.S.C. 4336a(g)(1)(B) requires lead federal agencies to complete EAs within 1 year of the agency's decision to prepare an EA.