[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 163 (Friday, August 22, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 44660]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-22318]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 1218]


Georgia Power Company; Notice of Availability of Study Results 
and Request for Additional Studies

August 18, 1997.
    Georgia Power Company is currently engaged in the process of 
obtaining from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) a 
new license for the Flint River Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 1218). 
The current license for the project is due to expire on September 30, 
2001. The project is located on the Flint River, near the City of 
Albany, in Dougherty and Lee Counties, Georgia. Under the Commission's 
regulations, an application for license for the project must be filed 
by September 30, 1999. Georgia Power Company is managing relicensing 
activities in cooperation with a team of federal and state resource 
agencies, conservation groups, and local governments (the Consultation 
Team).
    Pursuant to the Energy Policy Act of 1992, and the Commission's 
regulations, Georgia Power Company intends to prepare a Draft 
Environmental Assessment (DEA) as part of the license application, to 
be filed with the Commission, for the project. A public scoping meeting 
was held on September 12, 1995, to identify the scope of environmental 
issues that should be analyzed in the DEA.
    Based on information contained in Scoping Document I, and following 
receipt of additional informational from resource agencies and other 
interested parties, Georgia Power Company prepared and circulated 
Scoping Document II. Study plans, designed to address the environmental 
concerns raised during the scoping process, were subsequently prepared 
by Georgia Power Company and their environmental consultant. The study 
plans were then finalized, and studies were undertaken from late Spring 
1996 through late Spring 1997. During the field studies, Georgia Power 
Company and their environmental consultant worked closely with the 
participating agencies to coordinate and refine the studies. During the 
period from August 15, 1997 until October 14, 1997, these study reports 
will be available for public review in Georgia Power Company's public 
library at its offices at 333 Piedmont Avenue in Atlanta Georgia. The 
study reports will also be available in the Commission's Public 
Reference Room at 888 First Street, NE., in Washington, DC. The public 
is invited to review these documents and to file comments on the 
adequacy of these studies in addressing issues raised during the 
scoping process. Comments on these studies and requests for any 
additional studies are due by October 14, 1997.
    Because Section 4.32(b)(7) of the Commission's Regulations has been 
previously waived, 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 must file a request for a study with the 
Secretary of the Commission at 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 
20426 by October 14, 1997, and serve a copy of the request on Mr. Mike 
Phillips, Georgia Power Company, Bin 20020, 333 Piedmont Avenue, 
Atlanta, GA 30308.
Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-22318 Filed 8-21-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M