[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 193 (Tuesday, October 6, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53652-53653]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-26669]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project Nos. 135, 2195]


Portland General Electric Company, Portland, Oregon; Notice of 
Portland General Electric Company's Request To Use Alternative 
Procedures in Filing a License Application

September 30, 1998.
    By letter dated September 1, 1998, Portland General Electric 
Company (PGE) of Portland, Oregon asked to use an alternative procedure 
in filing an application for a new license for its Oak Grove Project 
No. 135 and North Fork Project No. 2195.\1\ PGE has demonstrated that 
they made a reasonable effort to contact the resource agencies, Indian 
tribes, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and others who may be 
affected by their proposal, and has submitted a communication protocol 
governing how participants in the proposed process may communicate with 
each other. PGE has also submitted evidence of support for their 
proposal, and it appears that a consensus exists that the use of an 
alternative procedure is appropriate in this case.
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    \1\ The 44-megawatt Oak Grove project consists of a 100-foot-
high dam at the lower end of Timothy Lake, and a 68-foot-high 
diversion dam below Lake Harriet--both on the Oak Grove Fork of the 
Clackamas River. The Powerhouse is located on the Clackamas River. 
The Oak Grove project is located on U.S. Forest Service land. The 
121-megawatt North Fork Project is comprised of three developments 
on the Clackamas River: a 206-foot-high dam with the powerhouse 
located at the lower end of North Fork Reservoir; a 47-foot-high dam 
with the powerhouse located at the lower end of Faraday Lake; and a 
85-foot-high dam with powerhouse located at the lower end of 
Estacada Lake. The North Fork project is located on U.S. Forest 
Service land and Bureau of Land Management land.
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    The purpose of this notice is to invite any additional comments on 
PGE's request to use the alternative procedure, as required under the 
final rule for Regulations for the Licensing of Hydroelectric 
Projects.\2\ 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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    \2\ 81 FERC 61,103 (1997).
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    The alternative procedure being requested here combines the 
prefiling consultation process with the environmental review process, 
allowing the applicant to file a Third Party Contractor prepared 
Environmental Impact Statement (TPC-EIS) 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 procedure is 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. The alternative procedure can be 
tailored to the particular project under consideration.

TPC-EIS Process and the Oak Grove and North Fork Projects Schedule

    PGE has begun working collaboratively with the various interested 
entities to identify issues that will need to be addressed and studies 
that will need to be conducted in relicensing the project. An initial 
information package will be disseminated to all interested parties in 
February 1999. Site visits of the project will be conducted in May 
1999. Identification of issues and issuance of Scoping Document 1 will 
occur in December 1999. A Public Scoping Meeting will be held January 
2000. Notice of the scoping meeting will be published at least 30 days 
prior to the meeting.
    Studies will be conducted beginning April 1999, and continue 
through 2003. Opportunities for requesting additional studies will be 
noticed at least 30 days prior to any study request deadline. A draft 
license application with preliminary EIS would be distributed for 
comment in August 2003. The final license application and EIS must be 
filed with the Commission on or before August 31, 2004, two years 
before the expiration date on the existing license. A more detailed 
schedule and project description was distributed by PGE on September 1, 
1998, to all parties expressing interest in the proceeding. Copies of 
the schedule and project description may be obtained from Portland 
General Electric, Hydro Licensing and Water Rights Office, 121

[[Page 53653]]

S.W. Salmon Street, Portland, OR 97204.

Comments

    Interested parties have 30 days from the date of this notice to 
file with the Commission, any comments on PGE's proposal to use the 
alternative procedures to file an application for the Oak Grove and 
North Fork Hydroelectric Projects.

Filing Requirements

    Any 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 Procedure,'' and include the project names and numbers (Oak 
Grove hydroelectric Project No. 135 and North Fork Hydroelectric 
Project No. 2195). For further information, please contact John Blair 
at (202) 219-2845.
David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-26669 Filed 10-5-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M