[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 90 (Friday, May 9, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 25596]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-12116]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 2609]


International Paper Company and Curtis/Palmer Hydroelectric 
Company L.P.; Notice of Availability of Study Results and Request for 
Additional Studies

May 5, 1997.
    International Paper Company and Curtis/Palmer Hydroelectric Company 
L.P. are currently engaged in the process of obtaining from the Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission (the Commission) a new operating license 
for the Curtis/Palmer Falls Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 2609). The 
current license for the project is due to expire on April 30, 2000. The 
project is located on the Hudson River in the Village of Corinth and 
the Towns of Corinth, Lake Luzerne and Hadley, in Saratoga and Warren 
Counties, New York. Under the Commission's Regulations, an application 
for licensing for the project must be filed by April 30, 1998. 
International Paper Company is managing relicensing activities in 
cooperation with a team of state and federal resource agencies, 
conservation groups and local governments (the Cooperative Team).
    Pursuant to the Energy Policy Act of 1992 and the Commission's 
regulations, Curtis/Palmer Hydroelectric Company L.P. and International 
Paper Company intend to prepare a Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) 
as part of the license application, to be filed with the Commission for 
the project. Public scoping meetings were held on January 10, 1996 and 
February 8, 1996 to identify the scope of environmental issues and 
alternatives that should be analyzed in the DEA.
    Based on information contained in Scoping Document 1 and comments 
received from resource agencies and other interested parties during the 
scoping meetings and comment period, the Cooperative Team prepared 
study plans to address issues raised during the scoping process and 
published them in Scoping Document 2. Study plans were subsequently 
finalized and studies were undertaken throughout the spring, summer, 
and fall of 1996. The majority of the study reports were completed and 
published as Volume 1 Study Reports. During the period from January 31, 
1997 until March 3, 1997, the Volume I Reports were available for 
public review and comment. Those reports not included in Volume 1 have 
been completed and compiled as Volume 2 Study Reports. The Volume 2 
Reports will be available for public review from May 5, 1997 until June 
6, 1997 at the International Paper Administration Building at the 
Hudson River Mill on Pine Street in Corinth, New York. The Volume 2 
Reports will also be available in the Corinth Town Office at 600 Palmer 
Avenue in Corinth, New York and in the Commissions Public Reference 
Room at 888 First Street N.E. in Washington, D.C. The public is invited 
to review these documents and to file comments on the adequacy of these 
studies in addressing issues raised during scoping. Comments on these 
studies and requests for any additional studies are due by June 6, 
1997.
    Because Section 4.32(b)(7) of the Commission's Regulations has been 
waived as to time framerame for requesting additional studies, we are 
requesting that if any resource agency, Indian tribe, or person 
believes that an additional scientific study should be conducted in 
order to form an adequate factual basis for a complete analysis of the 
project on its merit, the resource agency, Indian tribe, or person file 
a request for any such study with the Secretary of the Commission at 
888 First Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20426 by June 6, 1997 and 
serve a copy of the request on Mr. Robert McK. Hunziker, International 
Paper Company, Two Manhattanville Road, Purchase, NY 10577 and Mr. 
Andrew Sims, Kleinschmidt Associates, 75 Main Street, Pittsfield, ME 
04967. Any comments or recommendations for further study should be 
supported by appropriate documentation.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-12116 Filed 5-8-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M