[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 77 (Friday, April 19, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 17263-17264]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-9572]



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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

18 CFR Part 35

[Docket Nos. RM95-8-000 and RM94-7-001]


Promoting Wholesale Competition Through Open Access Non-
Discriminatory Transmission Services by Public Utilities; Recovery of 
Stranded Costs by Public Utilities and Transmitting Utilities; 
Availability of Final Environmental Impact Statement

April 12, 1996.
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule; availability of final environmental impact 
statement.

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SUMMARY: The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has 
prepared a final environmental impact statement (FEIS) for the proposed 
rulemaking published April 7, 1995, providing for open access non-
discriminatory transmission services by public utilities to satisfy the 
requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act. The FEIS also 
addresses the comments received on the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement.

DATES: The FEIS was made available on April 12, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Public Reference Room, 888 First Street NE., Washington, 
D.C. 20426.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Public Reference Room staff at (202) 208-1371.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission (FERC or Commission) has prepared a final environmental 
impact statement (FEIS) for the proposed rulemaking referenced above to 
satisfy the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act. The 
FEIS also addresses the comments received on the Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement (DEIS) issued by the

[[Page 17264]]

Commission on November 17, 1995 (60 FR 58304, November 27, 1995).
    On July 18, 1995, the Commission issued a Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues (NOI).\1\ 
The NOI described proposed cases for examination and established a 
procedure for public comments. Thirty-six comments were received in 
response to the NOI. A public meeting was held on September 8, 1995, in 
Washington, D.C. The most frequently raised issue involves air quality 
impacts, particularly the possible transport of nitrogen oxides 
(NOX) emissions by Midwestern generating plants to airsheds in the 
Northeast and the resulting impacts on ozone non-attainment areas in 
the Northeast.
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    \1\ 60 FR 36752, July 18, 1995. The proposed rule in this 
proceeding was issued March 29, 1995 (60 FR 17662, April 7, 1995).
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    Based on the responses to the NOI, comments on the DEIS, and a 
careful analysis of the major issues, the staff developed a study that 
addresses the key potential environmental impacts of the rulemaking. 
The staff used a modeling approach that includes a detailed 
representation of the transmission grid. The model results and other 
analyses allow the staff to examine a series of other issues, including 
visibility; impacts on land, water and waste; and some potential 
mitigation options. The modeling took into account comments from the 
U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
    The FEIS finds, among other things, that the relative price of coal 
and natural gas has a larger effect on NOX emissions than any 
impacts of the rule. The proposed rules are projected to have only 
slight impacts on NOX emissions, and the impacts are as likely to 
be beneficial as harmful.
    The FEIS has been placed in the public files of the FERC and is 
available for public inspection at: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, Public Reference and Files Maintenance Branch, 888 First 
Street NE., Washington, DC 20426, (202) 208-1371.
    Copies of the FEIS have been mailed to Federal and State agencies 
and individuals who requested copies of the FEIS in response to the NOI 
and the DEIS.
    The FEIS is available to the public on the Commission Posting 
System (CIPS). CIPS is an electronic bulletin board service which 
provides access to the text of formal documents issued by the 
Commission. CIPS is available at no charge to the user and may be 
accessed using a personal computer with a modem by dailing (202) 208-
1397. To access CIPS, set your communications software to 19200, 14400, 
12000, 9600, 7200, 4800, 2400, or 1200 bps, full duplex, no parity, 8 
data bits and 1 stop bit. For further assistance, call the CIPS Hotline 
at (202) 208-2474.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-9572 Filed 4-18-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M