[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 24 (Friday, February 4, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-2504]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: February 4, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Project No. 2496]

 

Eugene Water & Electric Board; Notice of Intent to Prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement and Conduct Public Scoping Meetings

January 27, 1994.
    The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has received an 
application for a new license for the Leaburg-Walterville Hydroelectric 
Project, FERC No. 2496. The hydropower project is located on the 
McKenzie River in Oregon.
    The FERC staff has determined that licensing this project would 
constitute a major federal action significantly affecting the quality 
of the human environment. Therefore, the staff intends to prepare an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) on the hydroelectric project in 
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act.
    The staff's EIS will objectively consider both site specific and 
cumulative environmental impacts of the project and reasonable 
alternatives, and will include an economic, financial and engineering 
analysis.
    The draft EIS will be issued and circulated for review by all the 
interested parties. All comments filed on the draft will be analyzed by 
the staff and considered in a final EIS. The staff's conclusions and 
recommendations will then be presented for consideration by the 
Commission in reaching a licensing decision.

Scoping Meeting

    A project site visit for FERC staff, agencies and all other 
interested parties is scheduled for Tuesday, February 15, 1994. The 
site visit will commence at 9 a.m. at Water Board Park located adjacent 
to the Leaburg Dam, just off of Highway 126. The site visit will likely 
extend into the afternoon. The site visit will provide an opportunity 
for interested parties to observe environmental conditions in the 
project area. All those interested are encouraged to attend.
    The FERC staff will conduct two scoping meetings. The evening 
scoping meeting is primarily for public input while the morning meeting 
will focus on resource agency concerns. All interested individuals, 
organizations, and agencies are invited to attend either or both 
sessions to assist the staff in identifying the scope of environmental 
issues that should be analyzed in the EIS.
    On the evening of Wednesday, February 16, 1994, we will hold the 
first scoping meeting, primarily for the public, from 7-10 p.m. at the 
Thurston High School Auditorium in Springfield, Oregon. The high school 
is located just off Highway 126, at 333 North 58th Street.
    The second scoping meeting, primarily for resource agencies, will 
be from 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m. the following morning, Thursday, February 17, 
1994, at the Springfield Chamber of Commerce, Freight Room. The 
Springfield Chamber of Commerce is located on South A Street, between 
Mill Street and Pioneer Parkway West.
    To help focus discussions, a preliminary EIS scoping document 
(Scoping Document 1) outlining subject areas to be addressed at the 
meetings will be distributed by mail to parties on the FERC service 
list. Copies of Scoping Document 1 will also be available at the 
scoping meetings.

Objectives

    At the scoping meetings the staff will:
     Identify reasonable alternative measures that should be 
evaluated in the EIS;
     Identify significant environmental issues related to the 
proposed project;
     Determine the depth of analysis for issues addressed in 
the EIS; and
     Identify resource issues that are not important and that 
do not require detailed analysis.

Procedures

    The meetings will be recorded by a stenographer and all statements 
(oral and written) thereby become a part of the formal record of the 
Commission proceedings on the Leaburg-Walterville Project. Individuals 
presenting statements at the meeting will be asked to clearly identify 
themselves for the record.
    Individuals, organizations, and agencies with environmental 
expertise and concerns are encouraged to attend either or both of the 
meetings and to assist the staff in defining and clarifying the issues 
to be addressed in the EIS.
    Concerned parties are encouraged to offer us verbal guidance during 
public meetings. Speaking time allowed for individuals will be 
determined before each meeting, based on the number of persons wishing 
to speak and the approximate amount of time available for the session, 
but all speakers will be provided at least five minutes to present 
their views.
    People choosing not to speak, but wishing to express an opinion, as 
well as speakers unable to summarize their positions within their 
allotted time, may submit written statements at the meeting for 
inclusion in the public record.
    Written scoping comments may also be filed with the Secretary, 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 825 North Capitol Street NE., 
Washington, DC 20426, until March 18, 1994. Filings by the applicant 
and intervenors should contain an original and eight copies. Other 
interested parties may file original comments without copies, but 
failure to file an original and eight copies may result in appropriate 
staff not receiving the benefit of your comments in a timely manner. 
See 18 CFR 4.34(h).
    All correspondence should clearly show the following caption on the 
first page:

Leaburg-Walterville Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. 2496, Oregon

    All those attending the meeting are urged to refrain from making 
any communication concerning the merits of the application(s) to any 
member of the Commission staff or the Commission's contractor outside 
of the established process for developing the record as stated above. 
Any such communications will be entered by staff into the record of the 
proceeding.
    Further, interested persons are reminded of the Commission's Rules 
of Practice and Procedure, requiring participants (as defined in 18 CFR 
385.2010) filing documents with the Commission, to serve a copy of the 
document on each person whose name is on the official service list for 
this proceeding. See 18 CFR 4.34(b).
    For further information please contact Edward R. Meyer at (202) 
208-7998.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 94-2504 Filed 2-3-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P