2023-07200. FFP Project 101, LLC; Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Goldendale Energy Storage Project

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (Commission) regulations, 18 CFR part 380, the Office of Energy Projects has reviewed the application for license for the Goldendale Energy Storage Project (FERC No. 14861) and has prepared a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the project.^[1] The closed-loop pumped storage project would be located approximately 8 miles southeast of the City of Goldendale, Klickitat County, Washington, with transmission facilities extending into Sherman County, Oregon. The project would occupy 18.1 acres of lands owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and administered by the Bonneville Power Administration. The Corps participated as a cooperating agency to prepare the EIS.

The draft EIS contains staff's analysis of the applicant's proposal and the alternatives for licensing the Goldendale Energy Storage Project. The draft EIS documents the views of governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, affected Native-American tribes, the public, the license applicant, and Commission staff.

At this time, the Commission has suspended access to the Commission's Public Reference Room due to the proclamation declaring a National Emergency concerning the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID–19) issued by the President on March 13, 2020. The draft EIS also may be viewed on the Commission's website at http://www.ferc.gov under the eLibrary link. Enter the docket number excluding the last three digits in the docket number field to access the document. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support at [e-mail], (866) 208–3676 (toll free), or (202) 502–8659 (TTY).

You may also register online at https://ferconline.ferc.gov/​FERCOnline.aspx to be notified via email of new filings and issuances related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support.

All comments must be filed by June 6, 2023.

The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file comments, recommendations, terms and conditions, and prescriptions using the Commission's eFiling system at https://ferconline.ferc.gov/​eFiling.aspx. Commenters can submit brief comments up to 6,000 characters, without prior registration, using the eComment system at https://ferconline.ferc.gov/​QuickComment.aspx. You must include your name and contact information at the end of your comments. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at [e-mail], (866) 208–3676 (toll free), or (202) 502–8659 (TTY). In lieu of electronic filing, you may submit a paper copy. Submissions sent via the U.S. Postal Service must be addressed to: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426. Submissions sent via any other carrier must be addressed to: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852. The first page of any filing should include docket number P–14861–002.

Anyone may intervene in this proceeding based on this draft EIS (18 CFR 380.10). You must file your request to intervene as specified above.^[2] You do not need intervenor status to have your comments considered.

In addition to or in lieu of sending written comments, you are invited to attend a public meeting that will be held to receive comments on the draft EIS. Commission staff will hold two public meetings for the purpose of receiving comments on the draft EIS. At the meetings, resource agency personnel and other interested persons will have the opportunity to provide oral and written comments and recommendations regarding the draft EIS. The meetings will be recorded by a court reporter, and all statements (verbal and written) will become part of the Commission's public record for the project. All interested individuals and entities will be invited to attend one or both of the public meetings. A notice detailing the exact date, time, and location of the public meetings will be forthcoming.

For further information, please contact Michael Tust at (202) 502–6522 or at [e-mail].

Dated: March 31, 2023.

Kimberly D. Bose,

Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) issued a final rule on April 20, 2022, revising the regulations under 40 CFR 1502, 1507, and 1508 that Federal agencies use to implement NEPA (see National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Regulations Revisions,87 FR 23453). The final rule became effective May 20, 2022. Accordingly, Commission staff prepared this EIS in accordance with CEQ's new regulations.

2.  Interventions may also be filed electronically via the internet in lieu of paper. See the previous discussion on filing comments electronically.