[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 134 (Wednesday, July 12, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 43001]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-17549]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission


Notice of AmerenUE Request To Use Alternative Procedures in 
Preparing a License Application

July 6, 2000.
    Take notice that the following request to use alternative 
procedures to prepare a license application has been filed with the 
Commission:
    a. Type of Application: Request to use alternative procedures to 
prepare a new license application.
    b. Project No.: FERC No. 459.
    c. Date filed: June 14, 2000.
    d. Applicant: Union Electric Company (d/b/a AmerenUE).
    e. Name of Project: Osage Project.
    f. Location: On the Osage River, in Benton, Camden, Miller and 
Morgan Counties, central Missouri. The project occupies federal lands.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791(a)-825(r).
    h. Applicant Contact: Alan Sullivan, Licensing Project Manager, 
AmerenUE, 617 River Road, Elden, MO 65020, (573) 365-9329.
    i. FERC Contact: Any questions on this notice should be addressed 
to Allan Creamer at (202) 219-0365.
    j. Deadline for Comments: 30 days from the date of this notice.
    All documents (original and eight copies) should be filed with: 
David P. Boergers, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 
First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20426.
    The Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure require all 
interveners filing documents with the Commission to serve a copy of 
that document on each person whose name appears on the official service 
list for the project. Further, if an intervener files comments or 
documents with the Commission relating to the merits of an issue that 
may affect the responsibilities of a particular resource agency, they 
must also serve a copy of the document on that resource agency.
    k. Description of the Project: The peaking project consists of an 
2,583-foot-long, 148-foot-high concrete dam; a 92-mile-long, 55,000-
acre impoundment at a full pool elevation of 660 feet mean sea level; a 
powerhouse containing eight main and two in-house generating units, 
having a total installed capacity of 176,200 kilowatts; and appurtenant 
facilities. The project generates approximately 675,000 megawatt-hours 
of electricity annually.
    l. AmerenUE has demonstrated that it has made an effort to contact 
all federal and state resources agencies, non-governmental 
organizations (NGO), and others affected by the project. AmerenUE has 
also demonstrated that a consensus exists that the use of alternative 
procedures is appropriate in this case. AmerenUE has submitted a 
communications protocol that is supported by the stakeholders.
    The purpose of this notice is to invite any additional comments on 
AmerenUE's request to use the alternative procedures, pursuant to 
Section 4.34(i) of the Commission's regulations. Additional notices 
seeking comments on the specific project proposal, interventions and 
protests, and recommended terms and conditions will be issued at a 
later date. AmerenUE will complete and file a preliminary Environmental 
Assessment, in lieu of Exhibit E of the license application. This 
differs from the traditional process, in which an applicant consults 
with agencies, Indian tribes, NGOs, and other parties during 
preparation of the license application and before filing the 
application, but the Commission staff performs the environmental review 
after the application is filed. The alternative procedures are intended 
to simplify and expedite the licensing process by combining the pre-
filing consultation and environmental review processes into a single 
process, to facilitate greater participation, and to improve 
communication and cooperation among the participants.
    AmerenUE has met with federal and state resources agencies, NGOs, 
elected officials, flood control and downstream interests, 
environmental groups, business and economic development organizations, 
the boating industry, and members of the public regarding the Osage 
Project. AmerenUE intends to file 6-month progress reports during the 
alternative procedures process that leads to the filling of a license 
application by February 28, 2004.

David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-17549 Filed 7-11-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M