[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 157 (Thursday, August 14, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 43548]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-21460]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation
Columbia River System Operation Review; Signing of 1997 Pacific
Northwest Coordination Agreement, Record of Decision
AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability of Record of Decision.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as
amended, Reclamation is issuing this notice to announce the
availability of a Record of Decision (ROD) which was signed on July 18,
1997. The ROD documents the decision of the Regional Director of the
Pacific Northwest Regional Office of the Bureau of Reclamation
(Reclamation) to sign the 1997 Pacific Northwest Coordination Agreement
(PNCA). Under this agreement, Reclamation will continue to coordinate
the power production of its Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS)
projects with other Federal and non-Federal electric utility systems in
the Columbia River Basin.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD may be requested from: Regional Director,
Bureau of Reclamation, Attention: Evelyn Dunbar, Lower Columbia Area
Office, 825 NE Multnomah Street, Suite 1110, Portland OR 87232-2145;
telephone (503) 872-2795.
Copies of the ROD are available for inspection and review at the
following Reclamation offices:
Commissioner's Office, 1849 C Street NW, Room 7627,
Washington, DC
Pacific Northwest Regional Office, 1150 North Curtis Road,
Boise, Idaho
Upper Columbia Area Office, 1917 Marsh Road, Yakima,
Washington
Grand Coulee Power Office, Grand Coulee, Washington
Hungry Horse Field Office, Hungry Horse, Montana
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Evelyn Dunbar at (502) 872-2795.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The System Operations Review Final
Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), signed in January 1996, required
a decision to be made on whether to continue coordinating hydropower
production with non-Federal parties and, if so, to select a preferred
alternative to replace the existing PNCA. Reclamation believes that a
renewed coordination agreement is needed in order to maintain mutually
beneficial arrangements among the Federal and non-Federal project
operators to achieve Columbia River treaty benefits and to return the
Canadian entitlement. The preferred alternative, as described in the
FEIS, is reflected in the 1997 Pacific Northwest Coordination Agreement
(1997 PNCA) that has been developed and negotiated by Reclamation and
the other parties to the existing PNCA. For the purposes of the ROD,
Reclamation's FCRPS projects include Grand Coulee Dam and Hungry Horse
Dam.
Dated: July 31, 1997.
John W. Keys, III,
Regional Director, Pacific Northwest Region.
[FR Doc. 97-21460 Filed 8-13-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-94-M
