[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 1, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6081-6082]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-2394]



-----------------------------------------------------------------------


DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Niagara Mohawk Power Corp.; Public Scoping Meeting and Site Visit

[Project No. 2474]
January 26, 1995.
    The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) has received 
an application for a new license (relicense) for the existing project 
operated by the Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation (Niagara Mohawk) on 
the [[Page 6082]] Oswego River in northern New York, in or near Oswego. 
The project includes three developments: Fulton, Minetto and Varick.
    Upon review of the application, supplemental filings and intervenor 
submittals, the Commission staff has concluded that, given the location 
and interaction of the project, 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 projects;
     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.

Scoping Meeting and Site Visit

    Commission staff will conduct two public meetings for the Oswego 
River Project. All interested individuals, organizations, and agencies 
are invited 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 Oswego River EA.
    The evening scoping meeting for the Oswego River Project, primarily 
for the public, will be conducted at 7:00 PM on Monday, March 6, 1995, 
at 103 Lanigan Hall on the SUNY-Oswego campus in Oswego, New York. A 
second meeting, primarily for agencies, will be held on March 7, 1995, 
at 213 Hewitt Union starting at 9:00 AM.
    A site visit to the facilities of each development is tentatively 
scheduled for March 7 in the afternoon. The purpose of this visit is 
for interested persons to observe existing area resources and site 
conditions, learn the locations of proposed new facilities, and discuss 
project operational procedures with representative of Niagara Mohawk 
and the Commission. Details concerning the site visit will be available 
at the scoping meetings.

Procedures

    The meeting, which will be recorded by a stenographer, will become 
part of the formal record of the Commission's proceeding on the Oswego 
River Project. Individuals presenting statements at the meeting will be 
asked to sign in before the meeting starts and to identify themselves 
for the record.
    Concerned parties are encouraged to offer us verbal guidance during 
the public meeting. Speaking time allowed for individuals will be 
determined before the 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 meeting, 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.
     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 April 6, 1995. Written comments should be 
provided at the scoping meeting or mailed to the Commission, as 
follows: Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 825 North 
Capitol Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20426.
    All filings 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 No. 2474: Oswego 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 John McEachern at (202) 
219-3056.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 95-2394 Filed 1-31-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M