[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 194 (Friday, October 7, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-24926]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: October 7, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Western Area Power Administration

 

Replacement Resources Process, Grand Canyon Protection Act of 
1992

AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of public consultation meetings.

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SUMMARY: On August 8, 1994, Western Area Power Administration (Western) 
published a notice in the Federal Register (59 FR 40357-40359) 
announcing its intent to initiate a public consultation process to 
identify methods of replacing lost Glen Canyon Dam power and to report 
the findings to Congress, as required by the Grand Canyon Protection 
Act (GCP Act) of 1992. (Title XVIII of Pub. L. 102-575). Section 1809 
of the GCP Act requires the Secretary of Energy to consult with 
representatives of the Colorado River Storage Project power customers, 
environmental organizations, seven Colorado River Basin States, and the 
Secretary of the Interior to identify methods to replace the lost power 
from Glen Canyon Dam.
    The Secretary of Energy, acting through Western, has the 
responsibility of marketing power generated from Glen Canyon Dam, 
including power acquired by Western to replace the power lost at Glen 
Canyon Dam.
    Western now announces that four consultation meetings have been 
scheduled to provide full opportunity for public participation. Western 
has developed an information packet outlining the replacement resources 
process and the required report as a starting point for discussions 
with customers, other stakeholders, and the public. Western is seeking 
feedback on: (1) The proposed outline of the process, (2) the proposed 
content of the report, and (3) the potential methods to acquire the 
most cost-effective alternative firm power replacement resources needed 
to meet Western's firm contract obligations.
    The information packet will be distributed to identified 
stakeholders and other publics on Western's mailing list. To receive 
this packet or have your name or organization added to the mailing 
list, call or write Jeffrey McCoy at the address below.

DATES: Public information meetings will be held as follows. All 
meetings are scheduled from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. local time.

November 7, 1994
    Salt Lake City, Utah, Doubletree Hotel, 215 West South Temple.
November 8, 1994
    Albuquerque, New Mexico, Best Western--Fred Harvey Hotel, 2910 
Yale Boulevard SW.
November 14, 1994
    Phoenix, Arizona, Western Area Power Administration, Phoenix 
Area Office, 615 South 43rd Avenue.
November 18, 1994
    Denver, Colorado, Stapleton Plaza Hotel, 3333 Quebec Street.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The GCP Act was enacted to protect 
environmental resources in Grand Canyon National Park and Glen Canyon 
National Recreation Area below Glen Canyon Dam. Operation of Glen 
Canyon Dam has been modified on an interim basis pending completion of 
the Glen Canyon Dam environmental impact statement to assure the 
protection of these resources. Identifying feasible replacement power 
resources will require assessment by Western of the magnitude and 
timing of the power lost at Glen Canyon Dam and the cost for replacing 
it. Western's customers will then decide if they desire Western to 
replace any or all of the lost Glen Canyon Dam resource. Such 
acquisitions might be made by Western on behalf of firm power customers 
on a pass-through cost basis.
    Western will use an integrated resource planning approach to 
acquire long-term replacement resources at the lowest possible cost. 
Western will consider a variety of resource options, both supply-side 
and demand-side, as well as renewable resources.
    A Replacement Resource Methods Report to Congress detailing 
Western's findings is to be completed no later than 2 years after 
implementation of long-term operational criteria at Glen Canyon Dam. 
Notices of dates and locations of future consultation opportunities 
will be published in the Federal Register and provided to interested 
stakeholders.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jeffrey J. McCoy, Resources and 
Marketing Studies, Western Area Power Administration, P.O. Box 11606, 
Salt Lake City, UT 84147-0606, (801) 524-5399 or (801) 524-5493.

ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE: Western will comply with the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 through an appropriate level of 
environmental analysis on the impacts of implementing selected 
replacement resource methods. Western is just beginning the process of 
identifying methods to replace lost Glen Canyon Dam hydropower. 
Environmental impacts will be a factor in that process.

DETERMINATION UNDER EXECUTIVE ORDER 12866: DOE has determined this is 
not a significant regulatory action because it does not meet the 
criteria of Executive Order 12866, 58 FR 51735. Western has an 
exemption from centralized regulatory review under Executive Order 
12866; accordingly, no clearance of this notice by the Office of 
Management and Budget is required.

    Issued at Golden, Colorado, September 29, 1994.
William H. Clagett,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 94-24926 Filed 10-6-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P