[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 62 (Thursday, March 31, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-7711]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: March 31, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
 

Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Energy Planning and Management Program

AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of availability for the draft environmental impact 
statement.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Department of Energy (DOE), 
Western Area Power Administration (Western), has prepared a draft 
environmental impact statement (EIS) for the proposed Energy Planning 
and Management Program (Program). The EIS was prepared in accordance 
with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 
4321-4335; Council on Environmental Quality regulations, 40 CFR parts 
1500-1508; and DOE regulations for compliance with NEPA, 10 CFR part 
1021.
    The proposed Program would require Western's long-term firm 
customers to implement long-term energy planning to help enhance 
efficient electric energy use. The proposed Program could link 
Western's power resource commitments to customer programs for long-term 
energy planning and efficient electric energy use, or Western could 
continue to market power on a project-specific basis in the future.
    Pursuant to section 114 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992, this 
draft EIS analyzes the environmental impacts of integrated resource 
planning by Western's long-term firm power customers. Western may 
extend existing firm power resource commitments pursuant to the 
Program; the impacts of various extension options are also documented 
in the draft EIS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To receive a copy of the draft EIS, 
submit written comments on the draft EIS, or for additional information 
contact:

Robert C. Fullerton, Western Area Power Administration, P.O. Box 3402, 
A6100, Golden, CO 80401-0098, (303) 275-1610.
James D. Davies, Billings Area Office, Western Area Power 
Administration, P.O. Box 35800, Billings, MT 59107-5800, (406) 657-
6532.
Stephen A. Fausett, Loveland Area Office, Western Area Power 
Administration, P.O. Box 3700, Loveland, CO 80539-3003, (303) 490-7201.
J. Tyler Carlson, Phoenix Area Office, Western Area Power 
Administration, P.O. Box 6457, Phoenix, AZ 85005-6457, (602) 352-2453.
James C. Feider, Sacramento Area Office, Western Area Power 
Administration, 1825 Bell Street, suite 105, Sacramento, CA 95825-1097, 
(916) 649-4418.
John Harrington, Salt Lake City Area Office, Western Area Power 
Administration, P.O. Box 11606, Salt Lake City, UT 84147-0606, (801) 
524-6372.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 19, 1991, Western proposed in 
concept an Energy Planning and Management Program (56 FR 16093). The 
goals of the Program were to market Western's long-term firm power 
resource as existing commitments expire, to promote the stable, 
efficient and economical use of electrical generation and conservation 
resources by Western's customers, to encourage long-term energy 
management planning and efficient electric energy use by Western's 
customers, and to do so in an equitable manner consistent with existing 
laws and constraints. On May 1, 1991, Western announced its intention 
to prepare an EIS on the Program due to potentially significant 
environmental and economic issues that may be of interest to the public 
(56 FR 19995).
    Combined public information/environmental scoping meetings on the 
Program were held in seven States in June of 1991. Based on the 
feedback received from these meetings, Western developed alternatives 
to be analyzed in the EIS.
    Alternatives workshops were held in eight cities during March and 
April 1992. The further public input received during these workshops, 
as well as comments previously received, assisted Western in the 
development of the range of alternatives featured in the draft EIS. 
Western's development of an EIS was subsequently reinforced by section 
114 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992, which requires EIS preparation as 
well as Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) development and implementation 
by Western's customers.
    Twelve alternatives are analyzed in the draft EIS, including the no 
action alternative. Resource extensions are featured in several of the 
alternatives, while other alternatives anticipate the marketing of 
power on a project-specific basis. For those alternatives featuring an 
extension of resources, periods of time up to 35 years are analyzed, at 
extension levels varying from 90 to 100 percent. Both integrated 
resource planning for all customers and a special provision for small 
customers are included in the draft EIS. No preferred alternative is 
designated to provide additional time for public involvement and to 
assure that all alternatives are given fair and equitable 
consideration.
    IRP requirements will amend Western's Guidelines and Acceptance 
Criteria for Customer Conservation and Renewable Energy Programs. A 
wide range of technical energy services will continue to be provided to 
Western's customers.
    The IRP proposal does include a penalty provision for noncompliance 
with the IRP requirement.
    Public hearings on the draft EIS will be held on the following 
dates and at the following locations:

April 12, 1994, 1 p.m., Albuquerque Convention Center, 401 Second 
Street NW., Albuquerque, NM.
April 18, 1994, 1 p.m., Quality Inn City Center, 154 West 600 South, 
Salt Lake City, Utah.
April 19, 1994, 1 p.m., Ramkota Convention Center, I-29 and Russell 
Avenue, Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
April 20, 1994, 1 p.m., Holiday Inn NE, 5321 Date Avenue, Sacramento, 
California.
April 22, 1994, 10 a.m., Stapleton Plaza Hotel, 3333 Quebec Street, 
Denver, Colorado.
April 25, 1994, 6 p.m., Phoenix Area Office Conference Room, 615 South 
43rd Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona.
April 28, 1994, 9 a.m., Doublewood Inn, 3333 13th Avenue South, Fargo, 
North Dakota.
May 3, 1994, 6 p.m., Ontario Hilton, 700 North Haven Avenue, Ontario, 
California.

    At the draft EIS hearings, Western will provide a brief 
informational overview on the document's organization and the 
environmental impacts of the Program. Meeting participants will then 
have an opportunity for questions and answers followed by the main 
purpose of the meeting, comments from the public.
    Written comments on the proposed Program and the draft EIS should 
be submitted to Western and post marked by 45 days after publication in 
the Federal Register of the Environmental Protection Agency's notice of 
availability of the draft EIS.
    Section 205(a) of the Integrated Resource Planning Title to the 
Energy Policy Act of 1992 requires the preparation of an EIS in 
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. This EIS 
will fulfill the section 205(a) mandate.

    Issued in Golden, Colorado, March 24, 1994.
William H. Clagett,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 94-7711 Filed 3-30-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P