[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 40 (Tuesday, March 1, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-4638]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: March 1, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Project No. 2306]

 

Citizens Utilities Companies; Public Scoping Meetings

February 23, 1994.
    The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) has received 
an application for relicense of the existing Clyde River Project No. 
2306. This project is located on the Clyde River in northern Vermont, 
near the town of Newport. The project is operated by Citizens Utilities 
Companies.
    Upon review of the application, supplemental filings, and 
intervenor submittals, the Commission staff has concluded that they 
will prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) that describes and 
evaluates the probable impacts of the applicant's proposal and 
alternatives for the project.
    One element of the EA process is scoping. Scoping activities are 
initiated early to:
     Identify reasonable alternative operational procedures and 
environmental enhancement measures that should be evaluated in the EA;
     Identify significant environmental issues related to the 
operation of the existing project;
     Determine the depth of analysis for issues that will be 
discussed in the EA; and
     Identify resource issues that are of lesser importance 
and, consequently, do not require detailed analysis in the EA.

Scoping Meetings

    Commission staff will conduct two scoping meetings for the Clyde 
River Project. All interested individuals, organizations, and agencies 
are invited to attend the meetings and help staff identify the scope of 
environmental issues that should and should not be analyzed in the 
Clyde River Project EA.
    The first scoping meeting for the Clyde River Project will be 
conducted on March 9, 1994, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the auditorium of 
the North Country Union High School on Veterans Avenue in Newport, 
Vermont. The second scoping meeting will be conducted on March 10, 
1994, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the auditorium of the Grand Isle School 
located at 224 U.S. Route 2, in Grand Isle, Vermont.

Procedures

    The meetings, which will be recorded by a stenographer, will become 
part of the formal record of the Commission's proceeding on the Clyde 
River Project. Individuals presenting statements at the meetings will 
be asked to sign in before the meetings start and to identify 
themselves for the record.
    Concerned parties are encouraged to offer us verbal guidance during 
the public meeting. Speaking time allowed for individuals will be 
determined before the meetings, based on the number of persons wishing 
to speak and the approximate amount of time available for the sessions, 
but all speakers will be provided at least five minutes to present 
their views.

Objectives of the Scoping Meetings

    At the scoping meetings, the staff will:
     Summarize the environmental issues tentatively identified 
for analysis in the EA;
     Identify resource issues that are of lessor importance 
and, therefore, do not require detailed analysis;
     Solicit from the meeting participants all available 
information, especially quantifiable data, concerning significant local 
resources; and
     Encourage statements from experts and the public on issues 
that should be analyzed in the EA.

Information Requested

    Federal and state resources agencies, local government officials, 
interested groups, area residents, and concerned individuals are 
requested to provide any information they believe will assist the 
Commission staff to analyze the environmental impacts associated with 
relicensing the project. The types of information sought include the 
following:
     Data, reports, and resource plans that characterize the 
baseline physical, biological, or social environments in the vicinity 
of the project;
     Information and data that helps staff identify or evaluate 
significant environmental issues; and
     Evidence that would support a conclusion that the project 
does not or would not contribute to adverse cumulative effects on 
resources within the river basin.
    Scoping information and associated comments should be submitted to 
the Commission no later than April 1, 1994. Written comments should be 
provided at the scoping meeting or mailed to the Commission, as 
follows: Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 825 North 
Capitol Street NE., Washington, DC 20426.
    All correspondence should clearly show the following caption on the 
first page: Clyde River Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. 2306.
    All filings sent to the Secretary of the Commission should contain 
an original and eight copies. 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).
    Intervenors are reminded of the Commission's Rules of Practice and 
Procedure requiring them to serve a copy of all documents filed with 
the Commission on each person whose name is listed on the project's 
service list.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 94-4638 Filed 2-28-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P