[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 200 (Friday, October 16, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55594-55595]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-27768]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 2233-000]
Portland General Electric Company, Portland, OR; Smurfit
Newsprint Corporation, Oregon City, OR; Notice of Portland General
Electric Company and Smurfit Newsprint Corporation's Request To Use
Alternative Procedures in Filing a License Application
October 9, 1998.
By letter dated September 1, 1998, Portland General Electric
Company (PGE) of Portland, Oregon, and Smurfit Newsprint Corporation of
Oregon City, Oregon, co-licensee, have asked to use an alternative
procedure in filing an application for a new license for their
Willamette Falls Project No. 2233.\1\ PGE, acting on behalf of itself
and Smurfit, has demonstrated that they have made a reasonable effort
to contact the resource agencies, Indian tribes, non-governmental
organizations (NGOs), and others who may be affected by their proposal,
and has submitted a communication protocol governing how participants
in the proposed process may communicate with each other. PGE has also
submitted evidence of support for their proposal, and it appears that a
consensus exists that the use of an alternative procedure is
appropriate in this case.
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\1\ The project consists of an 8-foot-high dam along the crest
of Williamette Falls on the Willamette River. PG&E operates the 16-
megawatt T.W. Sullivan powerhouse, located on the west side of the
falls. Co-licensee, Smurfit Newsprint Corporation, operates a 1.5-
megawatt powerhouse on the east side of the falls. The project is
not located on any Federal land.
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The purpose of this notice is to invite any additional comments on
PGE's request to use the alternative procedure, as required under the
final rule for Regulations for the Licensing of Hydroelectric
Projects.\2\ Additional notices seeking comments on the specific
project proposal, interventions and protests, and recommended terms and
conditions will be issued at a later date.
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\2\ 81 FERC 61,103 (1997).
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The alternative procedure being requested here combines the
prefiling
[[Page 55595]]
consultation process with the environmental review process, allowing
the applicant to file an Applicant-Prepared Environmental Assessment
(APEA) in lieu of Exhibit E of the license application. This differs
from the traditional process, in which the applicant consults with
agencies, Indian tribes, and NGOs during preparation of the application
for the license and before filing it, but the Commission staff performs
the environmental review after the application is filed. The
alternative procedure is intended to simplify and expedite the
licensing process by combining the prefiling consultation and
environmental review processes into a single process, to facilitate
greater participation, and to improve communication and cooperation
among the participants. The alternative procedure can be tailored to
the particular project under consideration.
APEA Process and the Williamette Falls Project Schedule
PGE has begun working collaboratively with the various interested
entities to identify issues that will need to be addressed and studies
that will need to be conducted in relicensing the project. An initial
information package will be disseminated to all interested parties in
December 1998. Site visits of the project will be conducted in March
1999. Identification of issues and issuance of Scoping Document 1 will
occur in December 1999. A Public Scoping Meeting will be held January
2000. Notice of the scoping meeting will be published at least 30 days
prior to the meeting.
Studies will be conducted beginning April 1999, and continue
through 2001. Opportunities for requesting additional studies will be
noticed at least 30 days prior to any study request deadline. A draft
license application with preliminary APEA would be distributed for
comment in December 2001. The final license application and APEA must
be filed with the Commission on or before December 31, 2002, two years
before the expiration date on the existing license. A more detailed
schedule and project description was distributed by PGE on September 1,
1998, to all parties expressing interest in the proceeding. Copies of
the schedule and project description may be obtained from Portland
General Electric, Hydro Licensing and Water Rights Office, 121 S.W.
Salmon Street, Portland, OR 97204.
Comments
Interested parties have 30 days from the date of this notice to
file with the Commission, any comments on PGE's proposal to use the
alternative procedures to file an application for the Williamette Falls
Hydroelectric Project.
Filing Requirements
Any comments must be filed by providing an original and 8 copies as
required by the Commission's regulations to: Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, Office of the Secretary, Dockets--Room 1A, 888 First
Street, NE, Washington, DC 20426.
All comment filings must bear the heading ``Comments on the
Alternative Procedure,'' and include the project name and number
(Williamette Falls Hydroelectric Project No. 2233). For further
information, please contact John Blair at (202) 219-2845.
Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-27768 Filed 10-15-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M