[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 207 (Thursday, October 25, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 54007]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-26855]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project Nos. 2576-022 and 2597-019-Connecticut]


Northeast Generation Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement

October 19, 2001.
    On August 31, 1999, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 
(Commission) received an application for a New Major License for the 
Housatonic River Project located on the Housatonic River in Fairfield, 
New Haven, and Litchfield counties, Connecticut. The application for a 
New Major License for the Falls Village Project (P-2576) and the 
Housatonic Project (P-2597) proposes to combine the two projects into a 
single licensed project, the Housatonic River Project. Approximately 74 
acres of land are within project boundaries. The project would include 
five developments with a total installed capacity of 114.9 megawatts.
    Public scoping meetings were held on December 4, 6, and 7, 2000, in 
Falls Village, New Milford, and Hartford, Connecticut, respectively. 
Following scoping and based on preliminary environmental analysis of 
the Housatonic River Project, the Commission staff has determined that 
licensing of the Housatonic River Project could constitute a major 
federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human 
environment. Therefore, the staff intends to prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) for the Housatonic River Project in accordance 
with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The EIS will 
consider both site-specific and cumulative environmental impacts and 
reasonable alternatives to the proposed action.
    Commission staff prepared the Scoping Document 2 (SD2) to provide 
the public with information on: (1) the proposed action and 
alternatives; (2) the environmental analysis process staff will follow 
to prepare the EIS; and (3) a revised list of issues to be addressed in 
the EIS. Copies of the SD2 were distributed to the Commission's service 
and mailing lists for this project. The SD2 may also be viewed on the 
Internet at http://www.ferc.gov, and then using the ``RIMS'' link, 
select ``Docket #'' and follow the instructions (call 202-208-2222 for 
assistance).
    A draft EIS will be issued and circulated for review by all 
interested parties. All comments filed on the draft EIS will be 
analyzed by the Commission staff and considered in the final EIS. The 
staff's conclusions and recommendations will then be presented for the 
consideration of the Commission in reaching its final licensing 
decision.
    This application is not ready for environmental analysis at this 
time, therefore we are not soliciting terms and conditions at this 
time.
    This notice informs all interested individuals, organizations, and 
agencies with environmental expertise and concerns, that: (1) the 
Commission staff has decided to prepare an EIS; and (2) that the 
scoping conducted on the Housatonic River Project for the Environmental 
Assessment (EA) and comments filed with the Commission still apply.
    If you have any questions regarding this notice, please contact 
Jarrad Kosa, FERC Team Leader, at (202) 219-2831.

Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-26855 Filed 10-24-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P