[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 118 (Tuesday, June 20, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32148-32149]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-14970]



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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Project Nos. 2525-004, 2592-005, 2522-002, 2546-001, 2560-001, 2581-
002]


Wisconsin Public Service Corp.; Notice of Intent To Prepare a 
Multiple-Project Environmental Impact Statement and To Conduct Site 
Visits and Public Scoping Meetings

June 14, 1995.
    The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) has received 
applications for new or subsequent license (relicense) from the 
Wisconsin [[Page 32149]] Public Service Corporation (WPSC) for the 
following six existing hydropower projects owned and operated by WPSC 
on the Peshtigo River in Marinette County, Wisconsin: the Caldron Falls 
Project, FERC No. 2525; the High Falls Project, FERC No. 2595; the 
Johnson Falls Project, FERC No. 2522; the Sandstone Rapids Project, 
FERC No. 2546; the Potato Rapids Project, FERC No. 2560; and the 
Peshtigo Project, FERC No. 2581.
    After reviewing the applications, supplemental filings, and 
intervenor submittals, the Commission staff has concluded that 
relicensing these six projects would constitute a major federal action 
significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. Moreover, 
given the location and interaction of the six projects, staff will 
prepare one multiple-project Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that 
describes and evaluates the probable impacts of the applicant's 
proposed and alternative operating procedures, environmental 
enhancement measures, and additional river access facilities for all 
six projects.
    The staff's EIS will consider both site specific and cumulative 
environmental impacts of relicensing the six projects and will include 
economic and financial analyses.
    A draft EIS will be issued and circulated for review by all 
interested parties. All comments filed on the draft EIS will be 
analyzed by the FERC staff and considered in a final EIS.
    One element of the EIS process is scoping and a site visit. These 
activities are initiated early to:
     Identify reasonable alternative operational procedures and 
environmental enhancement measures that should be evaluated in the EIS;
     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 EIS; and
     Identify resource issues that are of lessor importance 
and, consequently, do not require detailed analysis in the EIS.

Site Visits

    A site visit to each of the six projects will be held over a two-
day period: Tuesday, July 11, 1995, and Wednesday, July 12, 1995. The 
purpose of these visits 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 
representatives of WPSC and the Commission.
    For details concerning the site visits, please contact Greg Egtvedt 
of WPSC in Greenbay, Wisconsin at (414) 433-5713.

Scoping Meetings

    The FERC staff will conduct two scoping meetings: the evening 
meeting is designed to obtain input from the general public, while the 
morning meeting will focus on resource agency concerns. All interested 
individuals, organizations, agencies, and Indian Tribes are invited to 
attend either or both meetings in order to assist staff in identifying 
the scope of environmental issues that should be analyzed in the 
multiple-project EIS.
    To help focus discussions, a preliminary EIS scoping document 
outlining subject areas to be addressed at the meeting will be 
distributed by mail to persons and entities on the FERC mailing lists 
for the six Peshtigo River projects. Copies of the preliminary scoping 
document also will be made available at the scoping meetings.
    The evening meeting for the general public will be held from 7:00 
P.M. until 10:00 P.M. on Wednesday, July 12, 1995, in the Best Western 
Riverfront Inn, located at 1821 Riverside Avenue in Marinette, 
Wisconsin.
    The agency meeting will be held at the same location from 9:00 A.M. 
until 12:00 Noon on Thursday, July 13, 1995.
Scoping Meeting Procedures

    Both meetings, which will be recorded by a stenographer, will 
become part of the formal record of the Commission's proceeding on the 
Peshtigo River 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 meetings 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 EIS;
     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 statement from experts and the public on issues 
that should be analyzed in the EIS.

Information Requested

    Federal and state resource agencies, Indian tribes, local 
government officials, interested groups, area residents, and concerned 
individuals are requested to provide any information they believe will 
assist the Commission staff to evaluate the environmental impacts 
associated with relicensing the six projects. The types of information 
sought included the following:
     Data, reports, and resource plans that characterize the 
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 July 31, 1995. Written comments should be 
provided at the scoping meetings or mailed to the Commission, as 
follows: Lois D. Cashell, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, 825 North Capitol St., NE., 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 show the following caption on the first 
page:

Project No. 2525-004: Caldron Falls Project
Project No. 2595-005: High Falls Project
Project No. 2522-002 Johnson Falls Project
Project No. 2546-001: Sandstone Rapids Project
Project No. 2560-001: Potato Rapids Project
Project No. 2581-002: Peshtigo Project

    Intervenors and interceders (as defined in 18 CFR 385.2010) who 
file documents with the Commission are reminded of the Commission's 
Rules or 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 Jim Haimes in Washington, 
DC at (202) 219-2780.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 95-14970 Filed 6-19-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M