[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 123 (Friday, June 26, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34869-34870]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-17033]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 2659-011]


PacifiCorp; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental 
Assessment and Conduct Public Scoping Meetings and a Site Visit

June 22, 1998.
    The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is reviewing 
the hydropower application for a new license for the 6-megawatt 
Powerdale Hydroelectric Project, No. 2659-011. The project, owned and 
operated by PacifiCorp, is located on the Hood River, near the town of 
Hood River, in Hood River County, Oregon.
    The Commission staff intends to prepare an Environmental Assessment 
(EA) for the project in accordance with the National Environmental 
Policy Act. In the EA, we will consider reasonable alternatives to 
PacifiCorp's proposed action, and analyze both site-specific and 
cumulative environmental impacts of the project, as well as economic 
and engineering impacts.
    A draft EA will be issued and circulated to those on the mailing 
list for this project. All comments filed on the draft EA will be 
analyzed by the staff and considered in a final EA. The staff's 
conclusions and recommendations presented in the final EA will then be 
presented to the Commission to assist in making a licensing decision.

Scoping

    We are asking agencies, Indian tribes, non-governmental 
organizations, and individuals to help us identify the scope of 
environmental issues that should be analyzed in the EA, and to provide 
us with information that may be useful in preparing the EA.
    To help focus comments on the environmental issues, a scoping 
document outlining subject areas to be addressed in the EA will be 
mailed to those on the mailing list for the project. Those not on the 
mailing list may request a copy of the scoping document from the 
Project Coordinator, whose telephone number is listed below.
    Those with comments or information pertaining to this project 
should file it with the Commission at the following address by August 
24, 1998: David P. Boergers, Acting Secretary, Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426.
    All filings should clearly show the following on the first page: 
Powerdale Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. 2659-011.
    Intervenors are reminded of the Commission's Rules of Practice and 
Procedure which require all intervenors filing documents with the 
Commission to serve a copy of that document on each person whose name 
appears on the official service list for the project. Further, if an 
intervenor files comments or documents with the Commission relating to 
the merits of an issue that may affect the responsibilities of a 
particular resource agency, they must also serve a copy of the document 
on that resource agency.

[[Page 34870]]

    In addition to asking for written comments, we are holding two 
scoping meetings to solicit any verbal input and comments you may wish 
to offer on the scope of the EA. An agency scoping meeting will begin 
at 9:00 a.m. on July 22, 1998, at the Hood River Inn, 1108 East Marina 
Way, Hood River, OR 97031. A public scoping meeting will begin at 7:00 
p.m. on July 22, 1998, at the Hood River Inn, 1108 East Marina Way, 
Hood River, OR 97031. The public and agencies may attend either 
meeting. There will also be a visit to the project site on July 23, 
1998, to become more familiar with the project area. More information 
about these meetings and site visit is available in the scoping 
document.
    Any questions regarding those notice may be directed to Mr. Bob 
Easton, Project Coordinator, at (202) 219-2782.
David P. Boergers,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-17033 Filed 6-25-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M