[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 10, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 717]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-304]



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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Project No. 2496-OR]


Eugene Water & Electrical Board; Notice of Intent To Hold Public 
Meeting in Springfield, OR, To Discuss the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS) for the Proposed Relicensing of the Leaburg-
Walterville Hydroelectric Project

January 4, 1996.
    On October 13, 1995, the Commission staff mailed the DEIS to the 
Environmental Protection Agency, resource and land management agencies, 
and interested organizations and individuals. This document evaluates 
the environmental consequences of the proposed relicensing of the 
Leaburg-Walterville Hydroelectric Project at the installed capacity of 
21.5 megawatts. The project is located on the McKenzie River in Lane 
County, Oregon.
    A public meeting, to be recorded by a court reporter, is scheduled 
to be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, January 17, 1996 at the Thurston 
High School auditorium which is located just off Highway 126, at 333 
North 58th Street, Springfield, Oregon. At the meeting, Commission 
Staff will summarize major DEIS findings and recommendations. Resource 
agency personnel and other interested persons will have an opportunity 
to submit oral and written comments on the DEIS for the public record. 
Written comments on the DEIS may also be sent to: The Secretary, 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 1st Street, NE., Washington, 
DC 20426. Comments must be received before January 19, 1996 and should 
be identified by project name and number.
    The DEIS considers recommendations of government agencies, 
nongovernmental organizations, affected Indian tribes, the public, 
Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB), and the Commission's staff. It 
evaluates natural and social resource benefits, the economic costs, and 
the project-specific and cumulative environmental impacts associated 
with relicensing the project.
    To maintain and enhance the project's power generation efficiency 
and capacity, the DEIS recommends raising Leaburg Lake by 1.5 feet, 
installing structures in the McKenzie River near the Walterville 
intake, excavating the Walterville tailrace, and upgrading powerhouse 
generation equipment. The environmental impacts of these actions would 
be minor and could be mitigated by staff recommended measures.
    To enhance highly valued McKenzie River fishery resources, EWEB 
would install a fish screen in the Walterville canal intake and would 
install tailrace barriers in the Leaburg and Walterville tailraces. To 
further improve fish habitat and boating opportunities, enhanced year-
around minimum in-stream flows, including a flow allotment that could 
be used during late-summer low-flow conditions are recommended.
    To enhance recreation access and opportunities along the McKenzie 
River, EWEB proposes trust fund donations to acquire lands along the 
river for access and habitat protection. EWEB also proposes several 
lesser measures to enhance wildlife habitat values and recreation 
opportunities on project lands.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-304 Filed 1-9-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M