2023-21048. Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment

On June 30, 2022, the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (Montana DNRC) filed an application for a new major license for the 9.66-megawatt Broadwater Hydroelectric Project (Broadwater Project; FERC No. 2853). The Broadwater Project is located on the Missouri River near the town of Toston in Broadwater County, Montana. The project includes Federal lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management.

In accordance with the Commission's regulations, on July 7, 2023, Commission staff issued a notice that the project was ready for environmental analysis (REA Notice). Based on the information in the record, including comments filed on the REA Notice, staff does not anticipate that licensing the project would constitute a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. Therefore, staff intends to prepare a draft and final Environmental Assessment (EA) on the application to relicense the Broadwater Project.

The EA will be issued and circulated for review by all interested parties. All comments filed on the EA will be analyzed by staff and considered in the Commission's final licensing decision.

The Commission's Office of Public Participation (OPP) supports meaningful public engagement and participation in Commission proceedings. OPP can help members of the public, including landowners, environmental justice communities, Tribal members and others, access publicly available information and navigate Commission processes. For public inquiries and assistance with making filings such as interventions, comments, or requests for rehearing, the public is encouraged to contact OPP at (202) 502–6595 or [e-mail].

The application will be processed according to the following schedule. Revisions to the schedule may be made as appropriate.

Milestone	Target date
Commission issues draft EA	March 2024.
Comments on draft EA	April 2024.
Commission issues final EA	July 2024.1
1  The Council on Environmental Quality's (CEQ) regulations under 40 CFR 1501.10(b)(1) (2022) require that EAs be completed within 1 year of the Federal action agency's decision to prepare an EA. See National Environmental Policy Act, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., as amended by section 107(g)(1)(B)(iii) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, Public Law 118–5, 4336a, 137 Stat. 42.

Any questions regarding this notice may be directed to Ingrid Brofman at (202) 502–8347, or [e-mail].

Dated: September 20, 2023.

Kimberly D. Bose,

Secretary.