[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 130 (Friday, July 8, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39505-39506]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-3608]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 12484-000]


Metro Hydroelectric Company; Notice of Intent To File License 
Application, Filing of Pre-Application Document, Commencement of 
Licensing Proceeding, Scoping Meetings and Study Request Workshop, 
Solicitation of Comments on the Pad and Scoping Document, and 
Identification of Issues and Associated Study Requests

July 1, 2005.
    a. Type of Filing: Notice of Intent To File License Application for 
an Original License and Pre-Application Document; Commencing Licensing 
Proceeding.
    b. Project No.: 12484-000.
    c. Date Filed: May 5, 2005.
    d. Submitted by: Metro Hydroelectric Company (MHC).
    e. Name of Project: Metro Hydroelectric Project.
    f. Location: The proposed Metro Hydroelectric Project would be 
located on the Cuyahoga River in Summit County, Ohio. The project would 
not affect Federal lands.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: 18 CFR part 5 of the Commission's 
Regulations.
    h. Potential Applicant Contact: M. Clifford Phillips, Metro 
Hydroelectric Company, LLC, 150 North Miller Road, Suite 450 C, 
Fairlawn, Ohio 44333, (330) 869-8451.
    i. FERC Contact: Timothy Konnert (202) 502-6359 or via e-mail at 
[email protected].
    j. We are asking Federal, State, local, and tribal agencies with 
jurisdiction and/or special expertise with respect to environmental 
issues to cooperate with us in the preparation of the environmental 
document. Agencies who would like to request cooperating status should 
follow the instructions for filing comments described in paragraph o 
below. Cooperating agencies should note the Commission's policy that 
agencies that cooperate in the preparation of the environmental 
document cannot also intervene. See, 94 FERC ] 61,076 (2001).
    k. With this notice, we are initiating informal consultation with: 
(a) The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and/or NOAA Fisheries under 
section 7 of the Endangered Species Act and the joint agency 
regulations thereunder at 50 CFR part 402 and (b) the State Historic 
Preservation Officer, as required by section 106, National Historical 
Preservation Act, and the implementing regulations of the Advisory 
Council on Historic Preservation at 36 CFR 800.2.
    l. With this notice, we are designating Metro Hydroelectric Company 
as the Commission's non-federal representative for carrying out 
informal consultation, pursuant to section 7 of the Endangered Species 
Act and section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
    m. Metro Hydroelectric Company filed a Pre-Application Document 
(PAD), including a proposed process plan and schedule with the 
Commission, pursuant to 18 CFR 5.6 of the Commission's regulations. The 
Commission issued Scoping Document 1 on July 1, 2005.
    n. Copies of the PAD and Scoping Document 1 (SD1) are available for 
review at the Commission in the Public Reference Room or may be viewed 
on the Commission's Web site (http://www.ferc.gov), using the 
``eLibrary'' link. Enter the docket number, excluding the last three 
digits in the docket number field to access the document. For 
assistance, contact FERC Online Support at [email protected] 
or toll free at 1-866-208-3676, or for TTY, (202) 502-8659. A copy is 
also available for inspection and reproduction at the address in 
paragraph h.
    Register online at http://ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm to be notified 
via e-mail of new filing and issuances related to this or other pending 
projects. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support.
    o. With this notice, we are soliciting comments on the PAD and SD1 
as well as study requests. All comments on the PAD and SD1, and study 
requests should be sent to the address above in paragraph h. In 
addition, all comments on the PAD and SD1, study requests, requests for 
cooperating agency status, and all communications to Commission staff 
related to the merits of the potential application (original and eight 
copies) must be filed with the Commission at the following address: 
Magalie R. Salas, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 
First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426. All filings with the 
Commission must include on the first page, the project name (Metro 
Hydroelectric Project) and number (P-12484-000), and bear the heading 
``Comments on Pre-Application Document,'' ``Study Requests,'' 
``Comments on Scoping Document 1,'' ``Request for Cooperating Agency 
Status,'' or ``Communications to and from Commission Staff.'' Any 
individual or entity interested in submitting study requests, 
commenting on the PAD or SD1, and any agency requesting cooperating 
status must do so by August 27, 2005.
    Comments on the PAD and SD1, study requests, requests for 
cooperating agency status, and other permissible forms of 
communications with the Commission may be filed electronically via the 
Internet in lieu of paper. The Commission strongly encourages 
electronic filings. See 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions 
on the Commission's Web site (http://www.ferc.gov) under the ``e-
filing'' link.
    p. At this time, Commission staff intends to prepare a single 
Environmental Assessment for the project, in accordance with the 
National Environmental Policy Act.

Scoping Meetings

    We will hold two scoping meetings at the times and places noted 
below. The daytime meeting will focus on resource agency, Indian 
tribes, and non-governmental organization concerns, while the evening 
meeting is primarily for receiving input from the public. We invite all 
interested individuals, organizations, and agencies to attend one or 
both of the meetings, and to assist staff in identifying particular 
study needs, as well as the scope of environmental issues to be 
addressed in the environmental document. The times and locations of 
these meetings are as follows:

Daytime Scoping Meeting

Date and Time: Wednesday, July 27, 2005, 9:30 a.m. (EST).
Location: Sheraton Suites Akron/Cuyahoga Falls, 1989 Front Street, 
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

Evening Scoping Meeting

Date and Time: Wednesday, July 27, 2005, 6:30 p.m. (EST).
Location: Sheraton Suites Akron/Cuyahoga Falls, 1989 Front Street, 
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.
For Directions: Please call Clifford Phillips at (330) 869-8451.

    Scoping Document 1 (SD1), which outlines the subject areas to be 
addressed in the environmental document, has been mailed to the 
individuals and entities on the Commission's mailing list. Copies of 
SD1 will be available at the scoping meetings, or may be viewed on the 
Web at http://www.ferc.gov, using the

[[Page 39506]]

``eLibrary'' link. Follow the directions for accessing information in 
paragraph n. Depending on the extent of comments received, a Scoping 
Document 2 (SD2) may or may not be issued.

Site Visit

    MHC will conduct a tour of the proposed project on Tuesday, July 
26, 2005, starting at 1:30 p.m. All participants interested in 
attending should meet at the north parking lot for the Gorge Metro Park 
on Front Street. Anyone in need of directions should contact Mr. 
Clifford Phillips of MHC at (330) 869-8451.

Scoping Meeting Objectives

    At the scoping meetings, staff will: (1) Present a proposed list of 
issues to be addressed in the EA; (2) review and discuss existing 
conditions and resource agency management objectives; (3) review and 
discuss existing information and identify preliminary information and 
study needs; (4) review and discuss the process plan and schedule for 
pre-filing activity that incorporates the time frames provided for in 
Part 5 of the Commission's regulations and, to the extent possible, 
maximizes coordination of Federal, State, and tribal permitting and 
certification processes; and (5) discuss requests by any Federal or 
State agency or Indian tribe acting as a cooperating agency for 
development of an environmental document.
    Meeting participants should come prepared to discuss their issues 
and/or concerns. Please review the Pre-Application Document in 
preparation for the scoping meetings. Directions on how to obtain a 
copy of the PAD and SD1 are included in item n. of this document.

Scoping Meeting Procedures

    The scoping meetings will be recorded by a stenographer and will 
become part of the formal Commission record on the project.

Study Request and Process Plan Workshop

    To assist parties in the development of their study requests 
(pertaining to format and the study criteria outlined in the 
Commission's regulation 18 CFR 5.8), and further development of the 
project's process plan, MHC will be hosting a workshop on July 26, 
2005, at the Sheraton Suites Akron/Cuyahoga Falls, 1989 Front Street, 
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. The workshop will begin at 9 a.m. (EST). For 
directions, please contact Clifford Phillips of MHC at (330) 869-8451.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E5-3608 Filed 7-7-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P