[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 140 (Thursday, July 22, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39497-39498]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-18713]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 201-000 AK]


Petersburg Municipal Power and Light; Notice of Petersburg 
Municipal Power and Light's Request To Use Alternative Procedures in 
Filing a License Application

July 16, 1999.
    On July 7, 1999, the existing licensee, Petersburg Municipal Power 
and Light Petersburg), filed a request to use alternative procedures in 
submitting an application for a new license for the existing Blind 
Slough Hydroelectric Project No. 201. The 2.0-megawatt project is 
located on Crystal Creek, and Mitkof Island, about 16 miles from the 
City of Petersburg, Alaska. Petersburg has demonstrated that it has 
made an effort to contact all resource agencies, Indian Tribes, 
nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and others affected by the 
proposal, and that a consensus exists that the use of alternative 
procedures is appropriate in this case. Petersburg has also submitted a 
communications protocol that is supported by most interested entities.
    The purpose of this notice is to invite comments on Petersburg's 
request to use the alternative procedures, pursuant to Section 4.34(i) 
of the Commission's regulations.\1\ 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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    \1\ Order No. 596, Regulations for the Licensing of 
Hydroelectric Projects, 81 FERC para. 61,103 (1997).
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    The alternative procedures being requested here combine the 
prefiling consultation process with the environmental review process, 
allowing the applicant 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 the applicant consults with agencies, 
Indian tribes, 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 simply and

[[Page 39498]]

expedite the licensing process 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 Blind Slough Project Schedule

    Petersburg has submitted a proposed schedule for the APEA process 
that leads to the filing of a new license application by August 2002. 
Study plans would be developed this summer, with National Environmental 
Policy Act scoping being conducted in the fall. Field-work would be 
conducted over two seasons, summer 2000 and 2001 (if needed), with a 
draft application and draft APEA to be issued for comment in the fall 
of 2001.

Comments

    Interested parties have 30 days from the date of this notice to 
file with the Commission, any comments on Petersburg's proposal to use 
the alternative procedures to file an application for the Blind Slough 
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, NE, Washington, DC 20416.
    All comments filings must bear the heading ``Comments on the 
Alternative Procedures,'' and include the project name and number 
(Blind Slough Hydroelectric Project No. 201).
    For further information on this process, please contact Vince 
Yearick of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission at 202-219-2938 or 
E-mail [email protected].
David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-18713 Filed 7-21-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M