[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 47 (Thursday, March 9, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 12542]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-5685]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 2230-028]


City and Borough of Sitka, Alaska; Notice of Availability of 
Environmental Assessment

March 3, 2000.
    In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (Commission's) 
regulations, the Office of Hydropower Licensing has reviewed the City 
and Borough of Sitka's application filed on November 1, 1999, 
requesting the Commission's authorization to permit the Global Water 
Corporation to construct and operate a new, buried, raw water pipeline 
across project lands, and has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) 
for the proposed action.
    The proposed project would include the following specific elements: 
(1) a tap into the City's existing Pulp Mill Feeder Unit powerhouse 
tailrace structure (diffusion chamber); and (2) a new 20-inch-diameter, 
raw water pipeline that would affect approximately 200 feet of City-
owned project land located adjacent to the existing powerhouse access 
road. The proposed pipeline then would extend across non-project lands 
owned by the State of Alaska situated adjacent to Sawmill Creek Road, 
and would terminate at Silver Bay where a new mooring facility for 
loading bulk water into tanker ships would be constructed.
    After completion, the pipeline would be used to transport 
approximately 11,800 acre-feet per year (10.6 million gallons per day) 
of water from the Blue Lake reservoir to tankers for shipment to 
purchasers. Blue Lake Project, which was licensed in April 1958, 
includes a 205-foot-high, concrete arch dam, 1,225-acre reservoir, 
three powerhouses, and appurtenant facilities, all of which are located 
within the Borough of Sitka, Alaska.
    In the EA, staff indicates that construction of the subject raw 
water pipeline would result in some minor, short-term adverse impacts 
to area soils and wildlife. Further, the document indicates that 
licensee's proposed water withdrawals from Blue Lake reservoir would 
not result in any major, long-term adverse environmental impacts 
provided that the order approving the proposed project prohibits water 
withdrawals when: (1) the elevation of Blue Lake reservoir is at or 
below the licensee's established rule curve values; and (2) the 
withdrawals would interfere with the provision of minimum flows in 
Sawmill Creek, which are required by Article 401 of the existing 
license. The EA concludes that approval of the proposed amendment of 
license with the aforementioned conditions does not constitute a major 
federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human 
environment.
    The EA has been attached to and made part of an Order Approving 
Non-Project Use of Project Lands and Waters, issued February 23, 2000, 
for the Blue Lake Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. 2230-028. See 90 FERC 
para. 62,132. Also, the EA is available for inspection at the 
Commission's Public Reference Room, Room 2A, 888 First Street, NE, 
Washington, DC 20426, or by calling (202) 208-1371. Further, the 
document may be viewed on the Web at www.ferc.fed.us/online/rims.htm. 
Call (202) 208-2222 for assistance.
    For further information, please contact Jim Haimes at (202) 219-
2780.


Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-5685 Filed 3-8-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M