[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 118 (Tuesday, June 20, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32148-32149]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-14970]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Project Nos. 2525-004, 2592-005, 2522-002, 2546-001, 2560-001, 2581-
002]
Wisconsin Public Service Corp.; Notice of Intent To Prepare a
Multiple-Project Environmental Impact Statement and To Conduct Site
Visits and Public Scoping Meetings
June 14, 1995.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) has received
applications for new or subsequent license (relicense) from the
Wisconsin [[Page 32149]] Public Service Corporation (WPSC) for the
following six existing hydropower projects owned and operated by WPSC
on the Peshtigo River in Marinette County, Wisconsin: the Caldron Falls
Project, FERC No. 2525; the High Falls Project, FERC No. 2595; the
Johnson Falls Project, FERC No. 2522; the Sandstone Rapids Project,
FERC No. 2546; the Potato Rapids Project, FERC No. 2560; and the
Peshtigo Project, FERC No. 2581.
After reviewing the applications, supplemental filings, and
intervenor submittals, the Commission staff has concluded that
relicensing these six projects would constitute a major federal action
significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. Moreover,
given the location and interaction of the six projects, staff will
prepare one multiple-project Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that
describes and evaluates the probable impacts of the applicant's
proposed and alternative operating procedures, environmental
enhancement measures, and additional river access facilities for all
six projects.
The staff's EIS will consider both site specific and cumulative
environmental impacts of relicensing the six projects and will include
economic and financial analyses.
A draft EIS will be issued and circulated for review by all
interested parties. All comments filed on the draft EIS will be
analyzed by the FERC staff and considered in a final EIS.
One element of the EIS process is scoping and a site visit. These
activities are initiated early to:
Identify reasonable alternative operational procedures and
environmental enhancement measures that should be evaluated in the EIS;
Identify significant environmental issues related to the
operation of the existing projects;
Determine the depth of analysis for issues that will be
discussed in the EIS; and
Identify resource issues that are of lessor importance
and, consequently, do not require detailed analysis in the EIS.
Site Visits
A site visit to each of the six projects will be held over a two-
day period: Tuesday, July 11, 1995, and Wednesday, July 12, 1995. The
purpose of these visits is for interested persons to observe existing
area resources and site conditions, learn the locations of proposed new
facilities, and discuss project operational procedures with
representatives of WPSC and the Commission.
For details concerning the site visits, please contact Greg Egtvedt
of WPSC in Greenbay, Wisconsin at (414) 433-5713.
Scoping Meetings
The FERC staff will conduct two scoping meetings: the evening
meeting is designed to obtain input from the general public, while the
morning meeting will focus on resource agency concerns. All interested
individuals, organizations, agencies, and Indian Tribes are invited to
attend either or both meetings in order to assist staff in identifying
the scope of environmental issues that should be analyzed in the
multiple-project EIS.
To help focus discussions, a preliminary EIS scoping document
outlining subject areas to be addressed at the meeting will be
distributed by mail to persons and entities on the FERC mailing lists
for the six Peshtigo River projects. Copies of the preliminary scoping
document also will be made available at the scoping meetings.
The evening meeting for the general public will be held from 7:00
P.M. until 10:00 P.M. on Wednesday, July 12, 1995, in the Best Western
Riverfront Inn, located at 1821 Riverside Avenue in Marinette,
Wisconsin.
The agency meeting will be held at the same location from 9:00 A.M.
until 12:00 Noon on Thursday, July 13, 1995.
Scoping Meeting Procedures
Both meetings, which will be recorded by a stenographer, will
become part of the formal record of the Commission's proceeding on the
Peshtigo River projects. Individuals presenting statements at the
meetings will be asked to sign in before the meetings start and
identify themselves for the record.
Concerned parties are encouraged to offer us verbal guidance during
the public meetings. Speaking time allowed for individuals at the
evening public meetings will be determined before that meeting, based
on the number of persons wishing to speak and the approximate amount of
time available for the session, but all speakers will be provided at
least five minutes to present their views.
Scoping Meeting Objectives
At the scoping meetings, the staff will:
Summarize the environmental issues tentatively identified
for analysis in the multiple-project EIS;
Identify resource issues that are of lesser importance
and, therefore, do not require detailed analysis;
Solicit from the meeting participants all available
information, especially quantifiable data, concerning significant local
resources; and
Encourage statement from experts and the public on issues
that should be analyzed in the EIS.
Information Requested
Federal and state resource agencies, Indian tribes, local
government officials, interested groups, area residents, and concerned
individuals are requested to provide any information they believe will
assist the Commission staff to evaluate the environmental impacts
associated with relicensing the six projects. The types of information
sought included the following:
Data, reports, and resource plans that characterize the
physical, biological or social environments in the vicinity of the
projects; and
Information and data that helps staff identify or evaluate
significant environmental issues.
Scoping information and associated comments should be submitted to
the Commission no later than July 31, 1995. Written comments should be
provided at the scoping meetings or mailed to the Commission, as
follows: Lois D. Cashell, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, 825 North Capitol St., NE., Washington, DC 20426.
All filings sent to the Secretary of the Commission should contain
an original and 8 copies. Failure to file an original and 8 copies may
result in appropriate staff not receiving the benefit of your comments
in a timely manner. See 18 CFR 4.34(h).
All correspondence should show the following caption on the first
page:
Project No. 2525-004: Caldron Falls Project
Project No. 2595-005: High Falls Project
Project No. 2522-002 Johnson Falls Project
Project No. 2546-001: Sandstone Rapids Project
Project No. 2560-001: Potato Rapids Project
Project No. 2581-002: Peshtigo Project
Intervenors and interceders (as defined in 18 CFR 385.2010) who
file documents with the Commission are reminded of the Commission's
Rules or Practice and Procedure requiring them to serve a copy of all
documents filed with the Commission on each person whose name is listed
on the official service list for this proceeding. See 18 CFR 4.34(b)
For further information, please contact Jim Haimes in Washington,
DC at (202) 219-2780.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 95-14970 Filed 6-19-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M
