[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 73 (Friday, April 15, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-9069]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: April 15, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 2283-ME]

 

Central Maine Power Co.; Notice of Intention to Prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Lower Androscoggin River, 
Conduct Project Site Visits, and Hold Public Scoping Meetings

April 11, 1994.
    The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is reviewing 
the application for a new license for the continued operation of the 
Gulf Island--Deer Rips Project on the Androscoggin River, Maine.
    The Staff has determined that issuance of a new license for the 
Gulf Island--Deer Rips Project would constitute a major federal action 
significantly affecting the quality of the human environment under the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and the Commission's 
regulations. Therefore, the Staff intends to prepare an environmental 
impact statement (EIS) on the lower Androscoggin River before any 
licensing decision by the Commission. The preparation of the EIS will 
continue to be supported by a vigorous and ongoing scoping process to 
ensure the identification and analysis of all pertinent issues.
    The purpose of the scoping process is to identify significant 
issues related to the proposed action and the continued operation of 
the project in the basin and to determine what issues should be covered 
in the EIS. The Staff has prepared a scoping document, entitled 
``Scoping Document I,'' which is being circulated to appropriate 
federal, state, and local resource agencies, developers, Indian tribes, 
non-governmental organizations, and other interested parties. This 
scoping document provides a brief description of the proposed action, 
the potential alternatives, the geographic and temporal scope of a 
cumulative effects analysis, and a preliminary schedule for preparing 
the EIS. Copies of the scoping document will also be available at the 
scoping meetings.
    The EIS will consider both site specific and cumulative 
environmental effects of the proposed action and reasonable 
alternatives, and will include an economic, financial and engineering 
analysis. A draft EIS will be issued and circulated for review by all 
interested parties. All comments filed on the draft EIS will be 
analyzed by the Commission staff and considered in a final EIS.

Project Site Visits

    The applicant and Commission staff will conduct project site visits 
of the Lewiston Falls (FERC No. 2302), Brunswick (FERC No. 2284), and 
Gulf Island--Deer Rips Projects. Commission staff will also conduct 
project site visits of the Worumbo (FERC No. 3428) and Pejebscot (FERC 
No. 4784) Projects. The site visit for the Lewiston Falls Project will 
begin at 8:30 a.m. May 11, 1994, at the Lewiston Falls Powerhouse. The 
site visits for the Worumbo, Pejebscot, and Brunswick Projects will 
start at approximately 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2:30 p.m., respectively, 
at the Worumbo, Pejescot, and Brunswick Powerhouses. The site visit for 
the Gulf Island--Deer Rips Project will begin at 9 a.m. May 12, 1994, 
at the Gulf Island Powerhouse. All interested individuals, 
organizations, and agencies are invited to attend. All participants are 
responsible for their own transportation to the starting point. For 
more details, interested parties should contact Mr. Dave Dominie of 
Central Maine Power Company at (207) 626-9600, extension 2727 prior to 
the site visit date.

Scoping Meetings

    The Commission staff will conduct one evening scoping meeting and 
one morning scoping meeting. All interested individuals, organizations, 
and agencies are invited to attend and assist the staff in identifying 
the scope of environmental issues that should be analyzed in the EIS.
    The evening public scoping meeting will be held on May 11, 1994, 
from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. (or later) at the Quality Inn, 1777 Washington 
Street, Auburn, Maine.
    The morning scoping meeting will be held on May 13, 1994, from 9 
a.m. to 12 p.m., Noon, at the Quality Inn, 1777 Washington Street, 
Auburn, Maine.

Objectives

    At the scoping meetings, the Commission staff will: (1) Summarize 
the environmental issues tentatively identified for analysis in the 
planned EIS; (2) solicit from the meeting participants all available 
information, especially quantified data, on the resources at issue, and 
(3) encourage statements from experts and the public on issues that 
should be analyzed in the EIS.
    Individuals, organizations, and agencies with environmental 
expertise and concerns are encouraged to attend the meetings and to 
assist the staff in defining and clarifying the issues to be addressed 
in the EIS.

Meeting Procedures

    The meetings will be recorded by a stenographer and, thereby, will 
become a part of the formal record of the Commission proceeding on the 
Gulf Island--Deer Rips Project under consideration. Individuals 
presenting statements at the meetings will be asked to identify 
themselves for the record.
    Concerned parties are encouraged to offer staff 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.
    Persons 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 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 May 30, 1994. All filings should contain an 
original and 8 copies. Failure to file an original and 8 copies may 
result in appropriate staff not receiving the benefit of your comments 
in a timely manner.
    All correspondence should clearly show the following captions on 
the first page: Gulf Island--Deer Rips Project, FERC No. 2283.
    All those attending the meeting are urged to refrain from making 
any communications concerning the merits of the application to any 
member of the Commission staff outside of the established process for 
developing the record as stated in the record of the proceeding.
    Further, interested persons are reminded of the Commission's Rules 
of Practice and Procedures, requiring parties or interceder (as defined 
in 18 CFR 385.2010) to serve documents 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 Robert Bell, Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, Office of Hydropower Licensing, 825 North 
Capitol Street, NE., Washington, DC, 20426 (Telephone 202 219-2806), or 
Allan Creamer (Telephone 202 219-0365).
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 94-9069 Filed 4-14-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P