[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 193 (Tuesday, October 6, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 53653]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-26670]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 477]


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 Bull Run Project No. 
477.\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 22-megawatt Bull Run project consists of a 57-foot-high 
diversion dam on the Sandy River and a 18-foot-high diversion dam on 
the Little Sandy River. A powerhouse is located on the Bull Run 
River near the confluence with the Sandy River. The Bull Run 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 Bull Run Project 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 
December 1998. Site visits of the project will be conducted in March 
1999. Identification of issues and issuance of Scoping Document 1 will 
occur 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 2001. 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 November 2001. The final license application and EIS must be 
filed with the Commission on or before November 16, 2002, two years 
before the expiration date of 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 SW 
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 Bull Run 
Hydroelectric Project.

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 name and number (Bull 
Run Hydroelectric Project No. 477). For further information, please 
contact John Blair at (202) 219-2845.
David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-26670 Filed 10-5-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M