Federal Register: March 17, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 51)NoticesPage 13042-13043From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

DOCID:fr17mr98-55

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Project No. 2077-000 NH/VTNew England Power Company; Notice of New England Power Company's Request to Use Alternative Procedures in Filing a License Application

March 11, 1998.

On March 9, 1998, the existing licensee, New England Power Company (New England Power), fileda request to use alternative procedures for submitting an application for new

[Page 13043]license for the existing Fifteen Mile Falls Hydroelectric Project No. 2077. The project is located on the Connecticut River, in Grafton County, New Hampshire, and Caledonia and Essex Counties, Vermont, and consists of the 10.56-MW McIndoes Development, 140.4-MW Comerford Development, and 140.4-MW Moore Development. New England Power has demonstrated that it has made an effort to contact all resource agencies, Indian tribes, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and others affected by the proposal, and that a consensus exists that the use of alternative procedures is appropriate in this case.

New England Power has submitted a communications protocol that is supported by most interested entities. New England Power has also executed a settlement agreement with state and federal resource agencies and NGOs, which is attached to its request for use of alternative procedures.

The purpose of this notice is to invite any additional comments on New England Power's request to use the alternative procedures, pursuant to Section 4.34(i) of the Commission's regulations.\1\ Additional notices seeking comments on the specific project proposal, interventions and protests, and recommended terms and conditions will be issued at a later date.

\1\ Order No. 596, Regulations for the Licensing of Hydroelectric Projects, 81 FERC para. 61,103 (1997).

The alternative procedures being requested here combine the prefiling consultation process with the environmental review process, allowing the applicant to complete and file an Environmental Assessment (EA) 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 procedures are 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. Applicant Prepared EA Process and Fifteen Mile Falls Project Schedule

New England Power has distributed an Initial Consultation Document for the proposed project to stated and federal resource agencies, Indian tribes, and NGOs. New England Power has been engaged in settlement discussions, and met with the participants on February 12, 1998, for final approval by the participants. New England Power has submitted a proposed schedule for the APEA process that leads to the filing of a new license application by March 1999. New England Power has scheduled a presentation to the Commission staff at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE, Washington, DC, on March 19, 1998, in the afternoon.

Comments

Interested parties have 30 days from the date of this notice to file with the Commission, any comments on New England Power's proposal to use the alternative procedures to file an application for the Fifteen Mile Falls Hydroelectric Project.

Filing Requirements

The comments must be filedby 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 Procedures,'' and include the project name and number (Fifteen Mile Falls Hydroelectric Project No. 2077).

For further information on this process or on the presentation, please contact William Guey-Lee of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission at 202-219-2938 or E-mail at William.Gueylee@FERC.Fed.US. Linwood A. Watson, Jr., Acting Secretary.

FR Doc. 98-6796Filed3-16-98; 8:45 amBILLING CODE 6717-01-M