[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 168 (Wednesday, August 31, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-21462]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: August 31, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Project Nos. 2251-MI; 2579-IN]

 

Indiana Michigan Power Co.; Public Scoping Meetings

August 25, 1994.
    The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) has received 
applications for new license (relicense) for the following two existing 
hydropower projects operated by the Indiana Michigan Power Company on 
the mainstem St. Joseph River: (1) the Buchanan Project (FERC No. 2551) 
located in Berrien County, Michigan; and (2) the Twin Branch Project 
(FERC No. 2579) located in St. Joseph County, Indiana.
    Upon review of the applications, supplemental filings, and 
intervenor submittals, the Commission staff has concluded that, given 
the locations and existing status of the projects, staff will prepare 
one Environmental Assessment (EA) that describes and evaluates the 
probable impacts of the applicant's proposed and alternative operating 
strategies, environmental enhancement measures, and improve public 
recreational access and facilities for both projects.
    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 and public recreational 
access issues related to the operation of the projects;
     Determine the depth of analysis for issues that will be 
discussed in the EA; and
     Identify resource issues that are of lessor importance 
and, consequently, do not require detailed analysis in the EA.

Scoping Meetings

    Staff will hold two meetings. An evening scoping meeting is 
designed primarily for receiving public input, whereas an agency 
meeting will focus on federal, state, and local government concerns. We 
invite all interested agencies, tribes, organizations, and individuals 
to attend either or both meetings and to assist staff in identifying 
the scope of environmental issues that should be analyzed in the EA.
    The evening meeting for the general public will be held from 6:30 
p.m. until 9 p.m. on Tuesday, September 20, 1994, at the Bittersweet 
Branch of the Mishawaka--Penn Public Library, located at 602 
Bittersweet Road in Mishawaka, Indiana.
    The agency-oriented meeting will be held from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. 
on Wednesday, September 21, 1994, in the Commission Chamber of Buchanan 
City Hall, located at 302 N. Redbud Trail in Buchanan, Michigan.

Procedures

    Both meetings, which will be recorded by a stenographer, will 
become part of the formal record of the Commission's proceeding on the 
Buchanan and Twin Branch Projects. Individuals presenting statements at 
the meetings will be asked to sign in before the meetings start and 
identify themselves for the record.
    Concerned parties are encouraged to offer us verbal guidance during 
the public meetings. Speaking time allowed for individuals at the 
evening public meeting will be determined before that 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.

Scoping Meeting Objectives

    At the scoping meetings, the staff will:
     Summarize the environmental issues tentatively identified 
for analysis in the multiple-project 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 resource 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 Buchanan and Twin Branch Projects. The types of 
information sought include the following:
     Data, reports, and resource plans that characterize 
existing (baseline) physical, biological, or social environments in the 
vicinity of the projects;
     Information and data that helps staff identify or evaluate 
significant environmental and recreational issues; and
     Information from any EA, environmental impact statement or 
study (completed, in progress, or planned) relevant to the Buchanan and 
Twin Branch relicensing.
    Scoping information and associated comments should be submitted to 
the Commission no later than September 30, 1994. Written comments 
should be provided at the scoping meetings or mailed to the Commission 
at the following address: Lois Cashell, Secretary, Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, 825 North Capitol St., NE., Washington, DC 
20426.
    All correspondence should clearly show the following caption on the 
first page of each submittal:

Buchanan Project, FERC No. 2552
Twin Branch Project, FERC No. 2579

    Intervenors are reminded of the Commission's Rule 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 service 
listed for the Buchanan and Twin Branch Projects.
    For further information, please contact Jim Haimes of the 
Commission's Division of Project Review in Washington, DC at (202) 219-
2780.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 94-21462 Filed 8-30-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M