[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 19 (Monday, January 30, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5677-5678]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-2184]



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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Project No. 1988]


Pacific Gas & Electric Company; Public Scoping Meeting

January 24, 1995.
    The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission), has received 
an application for a new license (relicense) for the existing project 
operated by the Pacific Gas & Electronic Company (PG&E), on the North 
Fork Kings River in east central California in or near Fresno. The 
project includes two developments: Haas and Kings River.
    Upon review of the application, supplemental filings and intervenor 
submittals, the Commission staff concludes that, given the location and 
interaction of the project with other projects nearby, staff will 
prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) that describes and evaluates 
the probable impacts of the applicant's proposals and alternatives for 
the project.
    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 issues related to the 
operation of the existing project;
     Determine the depth of analysis for issues that will be 
discussed in the EA; and
     Identify resource issues that are of lesser importance 
and, consequently, do not require detailed analysis in the EA.

Site Visit

    A site visit by Commission staff is planned for February 28, 1995, 
weather permitting, to familiarize staff with project facilities, other 
projects in the area, and the environmental setting. The visit will 
begin at 9:00 AM at the Kings River powerhouse. Anyone wishing to 
accompany Commission staff is invited to attend.

Scoping Meetings

    Commission staff will conduct two public meetings for the Haas-
Kings River Project. All interested individuals, organizations, and 
agencies are invited [[Page 5678]] to attend either or both of the 
planned meetings and help staff identify the scope of environmental 
issues that should and should not be analyzed in the Haas-Kings River 
EA.
    Two scoping meetings will be held on March 1, 1995, in the Clovis 
City Council Chambers. The Chambers are located at 1033 Fifth Street, 
Clovis, California. The first meeting will be held from 9:00 AM to 
12:00 PM and will be oriented toward resource agency concerns. The 
second meeting will be held in the evening from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM and 
will be oriented toward public participation.

Procedures

    The meetings, which will be recorded by a stenographer, will become 
part of the formal record of the Commission's proceeding on the Haas-
Kings River Project. Individuals presenting statements at the meetings 
will be asked to sign in before the meeting starts and to identify 
themselves for the record.
    Concerned parties are encouraged to speak during the public 
meeting. 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. All 
speakers will be provided at least 5 minutes to present their views.

Objectives of the Scoping Meetings

    At the scoping meetings, the staff will:
     Summarize the environmental issues tentatively identified 
for analysis in the EA;
     Identify resource issues that are of lesser 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 project. The types of information sought include the 
following:
     Data, reports, and resource plans that characterize the 
baseline physical, biological, or social environments in the vicinity 
of the projects; and
     Information and data that helps staff identify or evaluate 
significant environmental issues.
    Scoping information and associated comments should be submitted to 
the Commission no later than March 31, 1995. Written comments should be 
provided at the scoping meeting or mailed to the Commission, as 
follows: Lois Cashell, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 
825 North Capitol Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20426.
    All findings sent to the Secretary of the Commission 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. See 18 CFR 4.34(h).
    All correspondence should clearly show the following caption on the 
first page:
    FERC Project No. 1988: Haas-Kings River
    Intervenors and interceders (as defined in 18 CFR 385.2010) who 
file documents with the Commission are reminded of the Commission's 
Rules 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 official service list for this proceeding. See 18 CFR 4.34(b).
    For further information, please contact Frankie Green at (202) 501-
7704.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 95-2184 Filed 1-27-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M