[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 26 (Friday, February 7, 1997)] [Notices] [Page 5823] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-3061] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY [Project No. 2232-321] Duke Power Company; Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment February 3, 1997. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (Commission's) regulations, 18 CFR Part 380 (Order No. 486, 52 FR 47897), the Office of Hydropower Licensing (OHL) has reviewed Duke Power Company's application for granting an increase in water withdrawal from the Catawba-Wateree Project to the Lugoff-Elgin Water Authority (Lugoff- Elgin) of Kershaw County, South Carolina, located on Lake Wateree in the Santee River Basin. The proposal would grant permission to Lugoff- Elgin to: (1) increase its water withdrawal from Lake Wateree from an existing 3 million gallons per day (mgd) to up to 10 mgd; (2) replace one existing water intake pump with two 60 horsepower pumps; and (3) construct a new 12-inch water line within the project boundary to replace the existing 10-inch water intake line. The proposed expansion of the pumping facility would increase the existing plant capacity from 3.0 mgd to 4.0 mgd initially. However, Lugoff-Elgin requests authority to increase water withdrawals up to 10 mgd over the next 20 years based on estimates of the demand in the service area. The staff of OHL's Division of Licensing and Compliance has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed action. In the EA, the Commission's staff has analyzed the environmental impacts of the proposed project and has concluded that approval of the licensee's proposal would not constitute a major federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. Copies of the EA are available for review in the Public Reference Branch, Room 2A of the Commission's offices at 888 First Street, NE., Washington, D.C. 20426 or by calling the Commission's Public Reference Room at (202) 208-1371. Lois D. Cashell, Secretary. [FR Doc. 97-3061 Filed 2-6-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-M