Applications, hearings, determinations, etc.: Public Service Co. of New Hampshire,

[Federal Register: August 26, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 165)]

[Notices]

[Page 52499-52500]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr26au04-33]

[[Page 52499]]

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 7528-004]

Public Service Company of New Hampshire; Notice of Intent To File License Application, Filing of Pre-Application Document, Commencement of Licensing Proceeding, Scoping Meetings, Solicitation of Comments on the Pad and Scoping Document, and Identification of Issues and Associated Study Requests

August 20, 2004.

1. Type of Filing: Notice of Intent to File License Application for a New License and Pre-Application Document; Commencing Licensing Proceeding.

2. Project No.: 7528-004.

3. Dated Filed: August 2, 2004.

4. Submitted By: Public Service Company of New Hampshire (PSNH).

5. Name of Project: Canaan Hydroelectric Project.

6. Location: On the northern Connecticut River in Coos County, New Hampshire and Essex County, Vermont. The project does not occupy any federal lands.

7. Filed Pursuant to: 18 CFR Part 5 of the Commission's Regulations.

8. Potential Applicant Contact: Mr. James J. Kearns, Project Manager, Public Service Company of New Hampshire, 780 North Commercial Street, Manchester, NH 03101; (603) 502-6236.

9. FERC Contact: Kristen Murphy (202) 502-6236 or e-mail at kristen.murphy@ferc.gov.

10. We are asking Federal, State, local, and tribal agencies with jurisdiction and/or special expertise with respect to environmental issues to cooperate with us in the preparation of the environmental document. Agencies who would like to request cooperating status should follow the instructions for filing comments described in paragraph o. below.

11. With this notice, we are initiating informal consultation with: (a) The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and/or NOAA Fisheries under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act and the joint agency regulations thereunder at 50 CFR Part 402 and (b) the State Historic Preservation Officer, as required by section 106, National Historical Preservation Act, and the implementing regulations of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation at 36 CFR 800.2.

12. With this notice, we are designating Public Service Company of New Hampshire as the Commission's non-federal representative for carrying out informal consultation, pursuant to section 7 of the Endangered Species Act and section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.

13. Public Service Company of New Hampshire filed a Pre-Application Document (PAD); including a proposed process plan and schedule with the Commission, pursuant to 18 CFR 5.6 of the Commission's regulations.

14. Copies of the PAD and Scoping Document 1 (SD1) are available for review at the Commission in the Public Reference Room or may be viewed on the Commission's Web site (http://www.ferc.gov), using the

    ``eLibrary'' link. Enter the docket number, excluding the last three digits in the docket number field to access the document. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support at FERCONlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free at 1-866-208-3676, of for TTY, (202) 502-8659. A copy is also available for inspection and reproduction at the address in paragraph h.

    Register online at http://ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm to be notified

    via e-mail of new filing and issuances related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support.

15. With this notice, we are soliciting comments on the PAD and SD1 as well as study requests. All comments on the PAD and SD1, and study requests should be sent to the address above in paragraph h. In addition, all comments on the PAD and SD1, study requests, requests for cooperating agency status, and all communications to Commission staff related to the merits of the potential application (original and eight copies) must be filed with the Commission at the following address: Magalie R. Salas, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426. All filings with the Commission must include on the first page, the project name (Canaan Hydroelectric Project) and number (P-7528-004), and bear the heading ``Comments on Pre-Application Document,'' ``Study Requests,'' ``Comments on Scoping Document 1,'' ``Request for Cooperating Agency Status,'' or ``Communications to and from Commission Staff.'' Any individual or entity interested in submitting study requests, commenting on the PAD or SD1, and any agency requesting cooperating status must do so by October 22, 2004.

    Comments on the PAD and SD1, study requests, requests for cooperating agency status, and other permissible forms of communications with the Commission may be filed electronically via the Internet in lieu of paper. The Commission strongly encourages electronic filings. See 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the Commission's Web site (http://www.ferc.gov) under the ``e-

    filing'' link.

16. At this time, Commission staff intends to prepare a single Environmental Assessment for the project, in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act.

    Scoping Meetings

    We will hold two scoping meetings at the times and places noted below. The daytime meeting will focus on resource agency, Indian tribes, and non-governmental organization concerns, while the evening meeting is primarily for receiving input from the public. We invite all interested individuals, organizations, and agencies to attend one or both of the meetings, and to assist staff in identifying particular study needs, as well as the scope of environmental issues to be addressed in the environmental document. The times and locations of these meetings are as follows:

    Daytime Scoping Meeting

    Date and Time: Monday, September 20, 9:30 a.m. (EST).

    Location: PSNH 5 Rivers Auditorium, PSNH's Energy Park Corporate Headquarters, 780 North Commercial Street, Manchester, New Hampshire.

    For Directions: Please call Mr. James Kearns of PSNH at (603) 634- 2936.

    Evening Scoping Meeting

    Date and Time: Tuesday, September 21, 7:00 p.m. (EST).

    Location: Canaan Schools, Elementary Building Multipurpose Room (cafeteria), 99 School Street, Canaan, Vermont.

    For Directions: Please call the Canaan Schools at (802) 266-8910.

    Scoping Document 1 (SD1), which outlines the subject areas to be addressed in the environmental document, has been mailed to the individuals and entities on the Commission's mailing list. Copies of SD1 will be available at the scoping meetings, or may be viewed on the web at http://www.ferc.gov, using the ``eLibrary'' link. Follow the

    directions for accessing information in paragraph n. Depending on the extent of comments received, a Scoping Document 2 (SD2) may or may not be issued.

    Site Visit

    PSNH will conduct a tour of the project on Tuesday, September 21, 2004, starting at 3 p.m. All participants interested in attending should meet at the Canaan project's powerhouse, located on Powerhouse Road in Canaan,

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    Vermont. Anyone in need of directions to the powerhouse should contact Mr. James Kearns of PSNH at (603) 634-2936.

    Scoping Meeting Objectives

    At the scoping meetings, staff will: (1) Present the proposed list of issues to be addressed in the EA; (2) review and discuss existing conditions and resource agency management objectives; (3) review and discuss existing information and identify preliminary information and study needs; (4) review and discuss the process plan and schedule for pre-filing activity that incorporates the time frames provided for in Part 5 of the Commission's regulations and, to the extent possible, maximizes coordination of federal, state, and tribal permitting and certification processes; and (5) discuss requests by any federal or state agency or Indian tribe acting as a cooperating agency for development of an environmental document.

    Meeting participants should come prepared to discuss their issues and/or concerns. Please review the Pre-Application Document in preparation for the scoping meetings. Directions on how to obtain a copy of the PAD and SD1 are included in item n. of this document.

    Meeting Procedures

    The meetings will be recorded by a stenographer and will become part of the formal Commission record on the project.

    Linda Mitry, Acting Secretary. [FR Doc. E4-1933 Filed 8-25-04; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 6717-01-P