[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 236 (Thursday, December 7, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76636-76637]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-31129]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission


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

December 1, 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.: 2100.
    c. Date filed: November 22, 2000.
    d. Applicant: California Department of Water Resources (DWR).
    e. Name of Project: Oroville Project (Feather River Project).
    f. Location: On the Feather River, in Butte County, California. The 
project occupies federal lands within the Plumas and Lassen National 
Forests.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791(a)-825(r).
    h. Applicant Contact: Viju Patel, Executive Manager, Power Systems 
at (916) 653-5913 or Rick Ramirez, State Water Project Analysis Office 
at (916) 653-1095.
    i. FERC Contact: James Fargo at (202) 219-2848; e-mail 
[email protected]
    j. Deadline for Comments: January 8, 2001.
    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. Comments and protests may be 
filed electronically via the internet in lieu of paper. See, 18 CFR 
385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the Commission's web site 
at http://www.ferc.fed.us/efi/doorbell.htm.
    k. The Oroville facilities consist of the existing Oroville Dam and 
Reservoir, the Edward Hyatt Powerplant, Thermalito Powerplant, 
Thermalito Diversion Dam Powerplant, Thermalito Forebay and Afterbay, 
and associated recreational and fish and wildlife facilities. The 
project has a total installed capacity of 762,000 kilowatts.
    l. DWR has shown that it has made an effort to contact most federal 
and state resources agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGO), and 
others affected by the project. DWR has also shown that a consensus 
exists that the use of alternative procedures is appropriate in this 
case. DWR has submitted a proposed communications protocol that is 
supported by many of the stakeholders.
    The purpose of this notice is to invite any additional comments on 
DWR'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. 
DWR 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 process into a single process, to 
facilitate greater participation, and to improve communication and 
cooperation among the participants.
    DWR 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

[[Page 76637]]

Oroville Project. DWR intends to file 6-month progress reports during 
the alternative procedures process that leads to the filing of a 
license application by January 31, 2005.

David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-31129 Filed 12-6-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M