[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 200 (Friday, October 16, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55594-55595]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-27768]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 2233-000]


Portland General Electric Company, Portland, OR; Smurfit 
Newsprint Corporation, Oregon City, OR; Notice of Portland General 
Electric Company and Smurfit Newsprint Corporation's Request To Use 
Alternative Procedures in Filing a License Application

October 9, 1998.
    By letter dated September 1, 1998, Portland General Electric 
Company (PGE) of Portland, Oregon, and Smurfit Newsprint Corporation of 
Oregon City, Oregon, co-licensee, have asked to use an alternative 
procedure in filing an application for a new license for their 
Willamette Falls Project No. 2233.\1\ PGE, acting on behalf of itself 
and Smurfit, has demonstrated that they have 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The project consists of an 8-foot-high dam along the crest 
of Williamette Falls on the Willamette River. PG&E operates the 16-
megawatt T.W. Sullivan powerhouse, located on the west side of the 
falls. Co-licensee, Smurfit Newsprint Corporation, operates a 1.5-
megawatt powerhouse on the east side of the falls. The project is 
not located on any Federal land.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ 81 FERC 61,103 (1997).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The alternative procedure being requested here combines the 
prefiling

[[Page 55595]]

consultation process with the environmental review process, allowing 
the applicant to file an Applicant-Prepared Environmental Assessment 
(APEA) 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.

APEA Process and the Williamette Falls 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 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 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 APEA would be distributed for 
comment in December 2001. The final license application and APEA must 
be filed with the Commission on or before December 31, 2002, 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 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 Williamette Falls 
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 
(Williamette Falls Hydroelectric Project No. 2233). For further 
information, please contact John Blair at (202) 219-2845.
Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-27768 Filed 10-15-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M