[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 51 (Tuesday, March 17, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13042-13043]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-6796]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 2077-000 NH/VT]


New England Power Company; Notice of New England Power Company's 
Request to Use Alternative Procedures in Filing a License Application

March 11, 1998.
    On March 9, 1998, the existing licensee, New England Power Company 
(New England Power), filed a request to use alternative procedures for 
submitting an application for new

[[Page 13043]]

license for the existing Fifteen Mile Falls Hydroelectric Project No. 
2077. The project is located on the Connecticut River, in Grafton 
County, New Hampshire, and Caledonia and Essex Counties, Vermont, and 
consists of the 10.56-MW McIndoes Development, 140.4-MW Comerford 
Development, and 140.4-MW Moore Development. New England Power has 
demonstrated that it has made an effort to contact all resource 
agencies, Indian tribes, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and 
others affected by the proposal, and that a consensus exists that the 
use of alternative procedures is appropriate in this case.
    New England Power has submitted a communications protocol that is 
supported by most interested entities. New England Power has also 
executed a settlement agreement with state and federal resource 
agencies and NGOs, which is attached to its request for use of 
alternative procedures.
    The purpose of this notice is to invite any additional comments on 
New England Power's request to use the alternative procedures, pursuant 
to Section 4.34(i) of the Commission's regulations.\1\ Additional 
notices seeking comments on the specific project proposal, 
interventions and protests, and recommended terms and conditions will 
be issued at a later date.
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    \1\ Order No. 596, Regulations for the Licensing of 
Hydroelectric Projects, 81 FERC para. 61,103 (1997).
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    The alternative procedures being requested here combine the 
prefiling consultation process with the environmental review process, 
allowing the applicant to complete and file an Environmental Assessment 
(EA) in lieu of Exhibit E of the license application. This differs from 
the traditional process, in which the applicant consults with agencies, 
Indian tribes, and NGOs during preparation of the application for the 
license and before filing it, but the Commission staff performs the 
environmental review after the application is filed. The alternative 
procedures are intended to simplify and expedite the licensing process 
by combining the prefiling consultation and environmental review 
processes into a single process, to facilitate greater participation, 
and to improve communication and cooperation among the participants.
Applicant Prepared EA Process and Fifteen Mile Falls Project Schedule
    New England Power has distributed an Initial Consultation Document 
for the proposed project to stated and federal resource agencies, 
Indian tribes, and NGOs. New England Power has been engaged in 
settlement discussions, and met with the participants on February 12, 
1998, for final approval by the participants. New England Power has 
submitted a proposed schedule for the APEA process that leads to the 
filing of a new license application by March 1999. New England Power 
has scheduled a presentation to the Commission staff at the Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE, Washington, DC, on 
March 19, 1998, in the afternoon.

Comments

    Interested parties have 30 days from the date of this notice to 
file with the Commission, any comments on New England Power's proposal 
to use the alternative procedures to file an application for the 
Fifteen Mile Falls Hydroelectric Project.

Filing Requirements

    The comments must be filed by providing an original and 8 copies as 
required by the Commission's regulations to: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, Office of the Secretary, Dockets--Room 1A, 888 First 
Street, NE, Washington, DC 20426.
    All comment filings must bear the heading ``Comments on the 
Alternative Procedures,'' and include the project name and number 
(Fifteen Mile Falls Hydroelectric Project No. 2077).
    For further information on this process or on the presentation, 
please contact William Guey-Lee of the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission at 202-219-2938 or E-mail at [email protected].
Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-6796 Filed 3-16-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M