94-17965. Northern States Power Co., et al.; Intention to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and Conduct Public Scoping Meetings  

  • [Federal Register Volume 59, Number 141 (Monday, July 25, 1994)]
    [Unknown Section]
    [Page 0]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 94-17965]
    
    
    [[Page Unknown]]
    
    [Federal Register: July 25, 1994]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
    [Project Nos. 2390-003, 2395-003, 2421-003, 2473-002, 2475-006, and 
    2640-010 Flambeau River, WI
    
     
    
    Northern States Power Co., et al.; Intention to Prepare an 
    Environmental Impact Statement and Conduct Public Scoping Meetings
    
    July 19, 1994.
        The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has received 
    applications for six new licenses for the continued operation of the 
    Big Falls Water Power Project No. 2390; the Pixley Project No. 2395, 
    the Lower Hydro Project No. 2421, 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. The projects are located in 
    Rusk, Price, and Ashland Counties, Wisconsin.
        The FERC staff has determined that licensing these projects would 
    constitute a major federal action significantly affecting the quality 
    of the human environment. Therefore, the staff intends to prepare an 
    environmental impact statement (EIS) on the hydroelectric projects in 
    accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act. The staff's EIS 
    will objectively consider both sites Specific and cumulative 
    environmental effects of the projects and reasonable alternatives, and 
    will include an economic, financial and engineering analysis.
        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 staff and considered in a final EIS. The staff's 
    conclusions and recommendations will then be presented for the 
    consideration of the Commission in reaching its final licensing 
    decisions.
    
    Scoping Meetings
    
        FERC staff will conduct two scoping meetings. The evening scoping 
    meeting is primarily for public input while the day-time meeting will 
    focus on resource agency and non-governmental organization (NGO) 
    concerns. All interested individuals, organizations, and agencies are 
    invited to attend and assist the staff in identifying the scope of 
    environmental issues that should be analyzed in the EIS.
        To help focus discussion, a preliminary scoping document outlining 
    subject areas to be addressed at the meeting will be distributed by 
    mail to interested parties on the FERC mailing list. Copies of the 
    preliminary scoping document will also be available at the scoping 
    meetings.
        The public scoping meeting which will be conducted by staff will be 
    held at 7:00 p.m. on August 16, 1994, at the Park Falls Public Library, 
    410 Division Street, Park Falls, Wisconsin. The agency meeting will be 
    held at 9:00 a.m. on August 17, 1994, at the Wisconsin Department of 
    Natural Resources Office at 875 South 4th Avenue, Park Falls, 
    Wisconsin.
    
    Objectives
    
        At the scoping meetings, the staff will: (1) Summarize the 
    environmental issues tentatively identified for analysis in the planned 
    EIS; (2) solicit from the meeting participants all available 
    information, especially quantifiable data, on the resources at issue, 
    (3) encourage statements from experts and the public on issues that 
    should be analyzed in the EIS, including viewpoints in opposition to, 
    or in support of, the staff's preliminary views, (4) determine the 
    relative depth of analysis for issues to be addressed in the EIS, and 
    (5) identify resource issues that are not important and do not require 
    detailed analysis.
    
    Procedures
    
        The meetings will be recorded by a stenographer and will become 
    part of the formal record of the Commission proceeding on the Flambeau 
    River Projects under consideration. Individuals presenting statements 
    at the meetings will be asked to sign in before the meeting starts and 
    to clearly identify themselves for the record.
        Individuals, organizations, and agencies with environmental 
    expertise and concerns are encouraged to attend the meetings and to 
    assist the staff in defining and clarifying the issues to be addressed 
    in the EIS.
        Participants wishing to make oral comments in the public meeting 
    are asked to keep them to five minutes to allow everyone the 
    opportunity to speak.
        Persons choosing not to speak at the meetings, but who have views 
    on the issues, may submit written statements for inclusion in the 
    public record at the meeting. In addition, written scoping comments may 
    be filed with the Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 825 
    North Capitol Street, NE, Washington, DC 20426. All correspondence 
    should clearly show one or more of the following captions on the first 
    page: Big Falls Project No. 2390-003; Pixley Project No. 2395-003; 
    Lower Project No. 2421-003; Crowley Project No. 2473-002; Thornapple 
    Project No. 2475-006; and, Upper Project No. 2640-010.
        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.
        Further, parties are reminded of the Commission's Rules of practice 
    and Procedure, which require parties filing documents with the 
    commission, to serve a copy of the document on each person whose name 
    is on the official service list, including agents of the applicants.
    
        For further information, please contact Julie Bernt at (202) 
    219-2814.
    Lois D. Cashell,
    Secretary.
    [FR Doc. 94-17965 Filed 7-22-94; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 6717-01-M
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
07/25/1994
Department:
Energy Department
Entry Type:
Uncategorized Document
Document Number:
94-17965
Pages:
0-0 (1 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Federal Register: July 25, 1994