[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 192 (Monday, October 5, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 53404]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-26538]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 346-MN]


Minnesota Power, Inc.; Notice of Minnesota Power, Inc's Request 
for Waiver and To Use Alternative Procedures in Filing a License 
Application

September 29, 1998.
    On September 21, 1998, the existing licensee, Minnesota Power, Inc. 
(Minnesota Power), filed a request to waive certain Commission 
regulations and to use alternative procedures for submitting an 
application for new license for the existing Blanchard Hydroelectric 
Project No. 346. The project is located on the Mississippi River, in 
Morrison County, Minnesota, and consists of 750-foot-long, 45-foot-high 
concrete gravity dam with an integral powerhouse, and 1,152-acre 
reservoir, three generating units with a total installed capacity of 18 
MW, and appurtenant facilities.
    Minnesota Power has demonstrated that it has made an effort to 
contact all resource agencies, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), 
and other affected by the proposal, and that a consensus exists that 
the use of alternative procedures is appropriate in this case. Further, 
waiving the Commission's regulations will be automatic upon approval of 
the alternative procedures stipulated in Order No. 596.\1\
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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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    Minnesota Power has submitted a communications protocol that is 
supported by the interested entities.
    The purpose of this notice is to invite any additional comments on 
Minnesota Power's request to use the alternative procedures, pursuant 
to Section 4.34(i) of the Commission's regulations. Additional notices 
seeking comments on the specific project proposal, interventions and 
protests, and recommended terms and conditions will be issued at a 
later date.
    The alternative procedures being requested here combine the 
prefiling consultation process with the environmental review process, 
allowing Minnesota Power 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 an 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 Blanchard Project Schedule

    Minnesota Power has met with state and federal resource agencies, 
and NGOs regarding the Blanchard Hydroelectric Project. Minnesota Power 
has submitted a proposed schedule for the alternative procedures that 
leads to the filing of a license application by August 2001.

Comments

    Interested parties have 30 days from the date of this notice to 
file with the Commission, any comments on Minnesota Power's proposal to 
use the alternative procedures to file an application for the Blanchard 
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, N.E., Washington, DC 20426.
    All comment filings must bear the heading ``Comments on the 
Alternative Procedures,'' and include the project name and number 
(Blanchard Hydroelectric Project No. 346).
    For further information on this process,please call Tom Dean of the 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission at 202-219-2778.
Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-26538 Filed 10-2-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M