[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 78 (Friday, April 23, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19985-19986]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-10220]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 11659-000]
Gustavus Electric Company of Gustavus, Alaska; Notice of Scoping
Meetings, Site Visit, and Soliciting Additional Comments on the Request
to Use Alternative Licensing Procedures
April 19, 1999.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC or Commission)
Regulations provide applicants with the option of preparing their own
Environmental Assessment (EA) for hydropower projects, and filing this
applicant prepared environmental assessment (APEA) with their
application as part of an alternative licensing procedure (ALP).\1\ On
February 17, 1999, the Commission received a request from Gustavus
Electric Company (GEC) to use the ALP in the preparation of a license
application for the proposed Kahtaheena River (Falls Creek) Project,
No. 11659. On March 9, 1999, the Commission issued a notice requesting
comments on the applicant's use of this process. A Commission decision
regarding the use of this process is still pending; however, contingent
on subsequent Commission approval of the use of this process, we are
proceeding with scoping, pursuant to the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) of 1969, at this time.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 81 FERC para. 61,103 (1997).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The alternative procedures include provisions for the distribution
of an initial information package, and for the cooperative scoping of
environmental issues and needed studies. On December 1, 1998, GEC
distributed their initial information document (ICD). On January 19 and
20, 1999, GEC held two public meetings to discuss the ICD and conducted
a visit of the proposed project site. On April 5, 1999, GEC distributed
their Scoping Document 1 (SD1).\2\ As part of scoping, GEC has
scheduled two public meetings to discuss the information presented in
SD1, primarily the alternatives and issues to be evaluated in any APEA
which may be prepared by GEC if it is subsequently approved to use the
ALP in preparation of a license application. In addition to
participating in the scoping meetings and site visit, Commission staff
will use this opportunity to answer questions and take comments about
the use of the ALP. Participation in these meetings will not prejudice
any rights or future participation by the Department of the Interior or
any of its subsidiary agencies.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ Copies of the ICD and SDI can be obtained by calling Lani
Joslin at 907-697-2299.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scoping Meetings
GEC will hold public scoping meetings on May 6 and 7, 1999,
pursuant to NEPA. At the scoping meetings, GEC will: (1) Summarize the
environmental issues tentatively identified for analysis in the EA; (2)
outline any resources they believe would not require a detailed
analysis; (3) identify reasonable alternatives to be addressed in the
EA; (4) solicit from the meeting participants all available
information, especially quantitative data, on the resources at issue;
and (5) encourage statements from experts and the public on issues that
should be analyzed in the EA.
GEC has requested to use the ALP and prepare an APEA for inclusion
in its application; however, there is the possibility that an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) would be required. If the
Commission subsequently approves the applicant's request to use the
ALP, these meetings would serve to satisfy the NEPA scoping
requirements, regardless of whether an EA or EIS is issued by the
Commission and/or any other participating federal agencies.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ The Glacier Bay National Park Boundary Adjustment Act of
1998 designates the National Park Service (NPS) ad a joint lead
agency with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in the
preparation of any environmental document under NEPA for this
project. FERC and NPS have initiated discussions to address how this
joint lead designation would be coordinated.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The times and locations of the scoping meeting are:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Evening scoping meeting Morning scoping meeting
------------------------------------------------------------------------
May 6, 1999, 7:00 p.m. Multipurpose Room, May 7, 1999, 1:00 p.m., King
Gustavus School, Gustavus, Alaska. Conference Room, Alaska
Dept. of Fish & Game, 802
Third Street, Douglas
Alaska.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
All interested individuals, organizations, and agencies are invited
and encouraged to attend any or all of the meetings to assist in
identifying and clarifying the scope of environmental issued that
should be analyzed in the EA.
Scoping Meeting Procedures
These scoping meetings will be conducted consistent with the
procedures used at Commission scoping meetings. Commission staff will
attend the meetings on May 6 and 7, 1999. These meetings would serve to
address the Commission's scoping requirements under NEPA if the
applicant is subsequently approved to use the ALP. Regardless of
whether the applicant's request to use the ALP is approved, the
Commission may reconvene scoping during the post-filing period if it is
needed.
Commenting Deadline
Both scoping meetings will be recorded and the transcripts will
become part of the formal record of the proceedings for this project.
Those who choose not to speak during the scoping meetings may instead
submit written comments on the project. written comments should be
mailed to: Mr. Richard Levitt, Gustavus Electric Company, P.O. Box 102,
Gustavus, AK 99826.
All correspondence should be postmarked no later than July 7, 1999.
Comments should show the following caption on the first page: Scoping
Comments, Kahtaheena River (Falls Creek) Project, Project No. 11659.
Site Visit
GEC has scheduled a tour of the proposed project site on Thursday,
May 6, 1999. This site visit will require
[[Page 19986]]
hiking approximately 5 to 6 miles over rugged terrain and it is
expected to take approximately 6 hours to complete. Those wishing to
attend the site visit must notify Richard Levitt of GEC at (907) 697-
2299 by April 30, 1999. Site visit participants should meet at Gustavus
Dray Gas Station in Gustavus at 8:30 a.m. or at the end of Rink Creek
Road at 9:00 a.m.
For further information please contact Richard Levitt of GEC at
(907) 697-2299 or Bob Easton of the Commission at (202) 219-2782.
David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-10220 Filed 4-22-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M
