[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 139 (Thursday, July 21, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-17741]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: July 21, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Project No. 10867-001, IN; Notice of Environmental Assessment Scoping

 

Holliday Historic Restoration Associates, Ltd.;

July 15, 1994.
    On January 10, 1994, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 
(Commission) issued a notice indicating that staff is ready to conduct 
an environmental analysis (REA Notice) for the proposed Holliday 
Hydroelectric Plant, located on the West Fork of the White River in 
Noblesville Township, Hamilton County, Indiana. The REA Notice also 
requested comments from Federal, state, and local resource agencies, 
licensees and developers, and any other interested groups (the 
parties). Parties were given until March 10, 1994, to file comments.
    The purpose of this notice is to advise all parties as to the 
proposed scope of the staff's environmental analysis and to seek 
additional information pertinent to this analysis. The proposed scope 
of analysis as presented herein is based on the information filed with 
the Commission by Holliday Historic Restoration Associates, Ltd. (the 
Applicant), comments received from the parties thus far, and the 
staff's independent analysis.

Proposed Action

    The Applicant proposes to rehabilitate a retired hydroelectric 
facility owned by Public Service Company of Indiana, Inc. (PSI). The 
facility is located on the West Fork of the White River, a tributary of 
the Wabash River, in central Indiana, and used as a source of cooling 
water for an adjacent coal-fired, steam-electric generating plant owned 
and operated by PSI. (From 1950 to 1965, the hydroelectric facility, 
then known as the unlicensed Noblesville Project, was operated by PSI 
to provide energy for use at PSI's adjacent coal-fired, steam-electric 
generating plant.) The Applicant intends to use revenues from the 
rehabilitated project to restore the historic powerhouse and open it to 
the public for historic tours.
    The proposed project would include the following features: (1) an 
existing concrete dam, 350 feet long and 10 feet high; (2) an existing 
11-acre impoundment, with a normal water surface elevation of 764 feet 
mean sea level; and (3) an existing 25-foot by 50-foot powerhouse that 
would contain two new turbine-generator units having a total generating 
capacity of 450 kilowatts.
    In addition to the proposed two new turbine-generator units, the 
Applicant proposes to renovate an existing upstream fish passage 
facility (concrete flume) and install two new angled trashracks (with 
3/4-inch clear bar spacing) above the project intakes, and provide a 
downstream fish passage facility.
    To enhance public recreation, the Applicant proposes to develop a 
new parking area and picnic facilities on the west bank upstream from 
the dam, as well as a footbridge across the PSI inlet area, connecting 
to an existing canoe portage around the dam. Other improvements to the 
area would include the construction of safety fencing and other safety 
measures. As indicated earlier, historical tours of the powerhouse 
would be conducted on weekends for the public.
    The Applicant proposes measures relating to project operation to 
protect and enhance environmental resources in the project area. A 40-
cubic feet per second (cfs) minimum flow over the project dam is 
proposed to protect water quality and fishery resources in the 
downstream pool area and side channel. The project would be operated in 
a run-of-river mode, with only minor fluctuations in the headpond 
elevation to account for natural variations in river flow. In the 
operational plan for the Holliday Project, the Applicant also proposes 
to implement a plan to verify run-of-river operation and a seasonal 
water quality monitoring program for the impoundment.

Project Alternatives

    The staff will consider alternatives, including enhancement 
measures not proposed by the Applicant. The staff will review and 
consider alternative recommendations for additional resource 
protection, or enhancement measures that may be appropriate to include 
in an original minor license. Modifications could include 
recommendations by the agencies, the general public, and the staff.
    In addition to these alternatives, the staff will evaluate the no-
action alternative, which maintains the existing environment or status 
quo at the facility. Under this alternative the project impoundment 
would continue to provide cooling water for the adjacent coal-fired, 
steam-electric generating plant, as at present. We use this alternative 
to set baseline environmental conditions for comparison with other 
alternatives.

Scope of the Environmental Assessment

    The geographic scope of analysis defines the physical limits or 
boundaries of the proposed action's effects on the resources. Since the 
proposed action affects each resource differently, the geographic scope 
for each resource varies. We have identified no affects of operating 
the Holliday Project that, when coupled with other activities on the 
West Fork of the White River, would affect environmental resources in a 
cumulative manner. Therefore, for water quality, fish and wildlife 
resources, cultural resources, recreation, and all other resources we 
will focus our analysis on the project area and the West Fork of the 
White River, unless persuaded by comments during the scoping process.
    The temporal scope includes a discussion of the past, present, and 
future actions and their effects on water quality, fish and wildlife 
resources, cultural resources, recreation, and other resources. Based 
on the license term, the temporal scope will look 30 to 50 years into 
the future, concentrating on the effect on the resource from reasonably 
foreseeable future actions. The historical discussion will, by 
necessity, be limited to the amount of available information for each 
resource.

Environmental Issues

    A preliminary list of environmental issues identified by the staff 
for coverage in an Environmental Assessment (EA) is presented in this 
section. The list is not intended to be exhaustive or final, but is an 
initial listing of issues that have been raised and appear to be 
important. The staff will review all issues raised during the scoping 
process and make decisions as to the level of analysis needed. If 
preliminary analysis indicates that any issues presented in this 
scoping document have little potential for causing significant adverse 
effects, the issue or issues will be identified and the reasons for not 
providing a more detailed analysis will be given.
    The following issues apply to the Holliday Project:
     effects of the proposed mode of operation on dissolved 
oxygen and water temperature in the project impoundment and downstream 
river reach;
     effects of flow-pattern changes from operating the 
proposed project, and minimum flow needs for the protection of fishery 
resources and water quality in the pool area and side channel 
immediately downstream of the project dam;
     project effects of entrainment and turbine-induced 
mortality on resident fishes;
     fish passage needs at the project dam;
     effects on the historical value of the project dam and 
powerhouse, both determined eligible for inclusion in the National 
Register of Historic Places; and
     effects on public recreational use at the project.
    The EA will assess the project-specific effects on the above 
resources and whether these effects contribute adversely or 
beneficially to the affected environment.

EA Preparation Schedule

    The preliminary schedule for preparing the EA for the Holliday 
Project is: 

------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Milestones                           Target date            
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Scoping.....................  Summer 1994.                       
Draft EA...........................  September 30, 1994.                
Final EA...........................  November 30, 1994.                 
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Request for Comments

    The Commission's scoping objectives are to:
     identify significant environmental issues;
     determine the depth of analysis appropriate to each issue;
     identify the resource issues not requiring detailed 
analysis; and
     identify reasonable project alternatives.
    Federal, state, and local resource agencies, licensees and 
developers, other interested groups, and the general public are invited 
to file with the Commission information that they believe will assist 
the Commission staff in conducting an accurate and thorough analysis of 
the environmental effects of the proposed licensing of the Holliday 
Project. The types of information sought include:
     information, quantified data, or professional opinion that 
may contribute to defining the geographical and temporal scope of the 
analysis and identifying significant environmental issues;
     identification of, and information from, any other 
environmental assessment, environmental impact statement, or similar 
document or study (previous, on-going, or planned) relevant to the 
proposed licensing activity on the West Fork of the White River;
     existing information and any data that would assist in 
describing the past and present actions and effects of the project and 
other developmental activities on water quality, fish and wildlife 
resources, cultural resources, and recreation. For example, fish 
stocking/management histories of the West Fork of the White River, 
historic water quality data and the reasons for improvement or 
degradation of the quality, locations of wastewater treatment outfalls 
or water intakes, or proposals to develop land and water resources 
within the river;
     identification of any Federal, state, or local resource 
plans and future project proposals that encompass the West Fork of the 
White River, with information on when the plans would be implemented, 
if known. For example, proposals to construct or operate water 
treatment facilities, recreation areas, water diversions, or implement 
fishery management programs; and
     documentation that would support a conclusion that the 
proposed project does or does not contribute to cumulative adverse or 
beneficial effects on resources and, therefore, should be excluded from 
further study or included for further consideration of cumulative 
effects. Documentation should include, but not be limited to: how the 
project interacts with other projects on the river and other 
developmental activities; results from studies; resource management 
policies; and reports from Federal, state, and local agencies.
    To be useful in preparing the draft EA, the requested information 
must be filed with the Commission no later than 30 days past the date 
of this notice. Address all communications to: Secretary, Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission, 825 North Capitol Street NE., Washington, 
DC 20426.
    All correspondence must clearly show at the top of the first page 
``Holliday Project, FERC No. 10867.''
    When filing scoping comments, you should submit an original and 8 
copies; this will assure that the staff receives your information. 
Parties to the proceedings (as identified on the official Service List 
for the Holliday Project) must also send copies of their filings, and 
all attachments, to the other parties listed on the official Service 
List. The official Service List is available from the Secretary of the 
Commission at the same address above.
    Any questions concerning the scoping process should be directed to 
Mary Golato (202-219-2804) or Frank Karwoski (202-219-2782) at the 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Office of Hydropower Licensing, 
810 First Street NE., Washington, DC, 20426.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 94-17741 Filed 7-20-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P