[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 119 (Wednesday, June 21, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35648-35649]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-9774]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission


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

June 13, 2006.
    a. Type of Filing: Notice of Intent to File License Application for 
a New License and Commencing Licensing Proceeding.
    b. Project No.: 2985-004.
    c. Dated Filed: April 14, 2006.
    d. Applicant: MeadWestvaco.
    e. Name of Project: Willow Mill Hydroelectric Project.
    f. Location: On the Housatonic River in Berkshire County, 
Massachusetts. The project does not occupy Federal lands.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: 18 CFR Part 5 of the Commission's 
Regulations.
    h. Applicant Contact: Mr. Scott Phelps, MeadWestvaco, 40 Willow 
Street, South Lee, Massachusetts 01260, (413) 243-5963.
    i. FERC Contact: Kristen Murphy, (202) 502-6236, 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 MeadWestvaco 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. MeadWestvaco filed a Pre-Application Document (PAD) pursuant to 
18 CFR 5.6 of the Commission's regulations. The Commission issued 
Scoping Document 1 (SD1) on June 12, 2006.
    n. A copy of the PAD and 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. Copies are 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 and from 
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 (Willow Mill Project) and number (P-2985-004), and bear the 
heading ``Comments on Pre-Application Document,'' ``Study Requests,''

[[Page 35649]]

``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 12, 2006.
    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 
``efiling'' link.
    p. Although our current intent is to prepare an environmental 
assessment (EA), there is the possibility that an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) will be required. Nevertheless, this scoping process 
will satisfy the NEPA scoping requirements, irrespective of whether an 
EA or EIS is issued by the Commission.

Scoping Meetings

    Commission staff will hold two scoping meetings in the vicinity of 
the project 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 these 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:

Evening Scoping Meeting

    Date and Time: Wednesday, July 12, 2006, 7 p.m., EST.
    Location: First Congregational Church of Stockbridge, 4 Main 
Street, Stockbridge, MA 01262. (413) 298-3137.

Daytime Scoping Meeting

    Date and Time: Thursday, July 13, 2006, 10 a.m., EST.
    Location: First Congregational Church of Stockbridge, 4 Main 
Street, Stockbridge, MA 01262. (413) 298-3137.
    For Directions: please call Mr. Scott Phelps at (413) 243-5963.
    SD1, which outlines the subject areas to be addressed in the 
environmental document, was 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 ``eLibrary'' link. Follow the directions for accessing 
information in paragraph n. Depending on the extent of comments 
received, Scoping Document 2 may or may not be issued.

Site Visit

    MeadWestvaco will conduct a site visit of the project on Wednesday, 
July 12, 2006, starting at 3 p.m. All participants should meet at the 
Willow Mill located off Willow Street on the south side of the 
Housatonic River. All participants are responsible for their own 
transportation. Anyone with questions about the site visit should 
contact Mr. Scott Phelps of MeadWestvaco at (413) 243-5963 on or before 
July 7, 2006.

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

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E6-9774 Filed 6-20-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P