[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 62 (Friday, March 30, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 17422]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-7850]



[[Page 17422]]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. EL01-47-000]


Hydroelectric Power Component--Removing Obstacles to Increased 
Electric Generation and Natural Gas Supply in the Western United Sates; 
Notice of Public Meetings

March 26, 2001.
    In light of the recent and potential future severe electric energy 
shortages in the western states, the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission (Commission) issued a March 14, 2001 Order Removing 
Obstacles To increased Electric Generation and Natural Gas Supply in 
The Western United States. In this Order, the Commission announces 
certain actions it is taking within its regulatory authorities under 
the Federal Power Act to help increase electric generation supply at 
non-Federal hydroelectric projects in the Western United States. The 
Commission set forth a number of proposals that would be taken into 
consideration until December 31, 2001.
    The Commission urges all non-Federal hydroelectric licensees in the 
Western Systems Coordinating Council to immediately examine their 
projects and propose any efficiency modifications that may increase 
generation. The licensees are asked to detail to the Commission any 
environmental impacts, including impacts from changes to discretionary 
operations, that could occur if there are changes resulting from 
proposed efficiency modifications.
    Where operations of hydroelectric facilities would affect flow-
dependent environmental resources, the Commission's licenses include 
operating constraints, such as requirements for minimum stream flow, 
minimum reservoir fluctuation, run-of-river operating mode, ramping 
rates, and flood control. While these operating constraints act to 
reduce the energy production, peaking capacity, and other power 
benefits, they also serve to protect resources including resident and 
anadromous fish, water quality, recreation, municipal and industrial 
water supplies, and agricultural resources. Modification of these 
operational constraints has the potential to increase generation from 
existing hydroelectric facilities and provide additional power during 
peak-load periods.
    Any proposal to increase generation would need to be reviewed to 
minimize impacts to environmental resources and the level of 
inconvenience that users of hydropower facilities may experience. 
Before making changes to specific project licenses, the Commission 
would need to work closely with licensees, resource agencies and other 
to identify opportunities for increased power generation while 
minimizing impacts.
    In order to explore ways to expedite review of the licensees' 
proposals for increased generation, Commission staff will conduct two 
public meetings in Oregon and California. These meetings will take 
place at the following dates and locations:

Meeting Dates and Addresses.

(1) Monday, April 9, 2001, at Airport Holiday Inn, 8439 NE Columbia 
Boulevard, Portland, Oregon
(2) Tuesday, April 10, 2001, at Vagabond Executive, 2030 Arden Way, 
Sacramento, California

    Both meetings will commence at 9 a.m. The objective of each meeting 
would be to develop methods for expeditiously processing proposals to 
increase power generation consistent with environmental protection.
    For further information, please contact Lon Crow at the Commission, 
202-219-2651.

David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-7850 Filed 3-29-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M