[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 157 (Thursday, August 14, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 43548]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-21460]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation


Columbia River System Operation Review; Signing of 1997 Pacific 
Northwest Coordination Agreement, Record of Decision

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of Record of Decision.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as 
amended, Reclamation is issuing this notice to announce the 
availability of a Record of Decision (ROD) which was signed on July 18, 
1997. The ROD documents the decision of the Regional Director of the 
Pacific Northwest Regional Office of the Bureau of Reclamation 
(Reclamation) to sign the 1997 Pacific Northwest Coordination Agreement 
(PNCA). Under this agreement, Reclamation will continue to coordinate 
the power production of its Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) 
projects with other Federal and non-Federal electric utility systems in 
the Columbia River Basin.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD may be requested from: Regional Director, 
Bureau of Reclamation, Attention: Evelyn Dunbar, Lower Columbia Area 
Office, 825 NE Multnomah Street, Suite 1110, Portland OR 87232-2145; 
telephone (503) 872-2795.
    Copies of the ROD are available for inspection and review at the 
following Reclamation offices:
 Commissioner's Office, 1849 C Street NW, Room 7627, 
Washington, DC
 Pacific Northwest Regional Office, 1150 North Curtis Road, 
Boise, Idaho
 Upper Columbia Area Office, 1917 Marsh Road, Yakima, 
Washington
 Grand Coulee Power Office, Grand Coulee, Washington
 Hungry Horse Field Office, Hungry Horse, Montana

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Evelyn Dunbar at (502) 872-2795.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The System Operations Review Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), signed in January 1996, required 
a decision to be made on whether to continue coordinating hydropower 
production with non-Federal parties and, if so, to select a preferred 
alternative to replace the existing PNCA. Reclamation believes that a 
renewed coordination agreement is needed in order to maintain mutually 
beneficial arrangements among the Federal and non-Federal project 
operators to achieve Columbia River treaty benefits and to return the 
Canadian entitlement. The preferred alternative, as described in the 
FEIS, is reflected in the 1997 Pacific Northwest Coordination Agreement 
(1997 PNCA) that has been developed and negotiated by Reclamation and 
the other parties to the existing PNCA. For the purposes of the ROD, 
Reclamation's FCRPS projects include Grand Coulee Dam and Hungry Horse 
Dam.

    Dated: July 31, 1997.
John W. Keys, III,
Regional Director, Pacific Northwest Region.
[FR Doc. 97-21460 Filed 8-13-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-94-M