[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 134 (Thursday, July 13, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39680-39681]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-10988]



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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 12058-002]


Baker County; 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 27, 2006.
    a. Type of Filing: Notice of Intent to File License Application for 
an original License and Pre-Application Document.
    b. Project No.: 12058-002.
    c. Dated Filed: April 27, 2006.
    d. Submitted By: Baker County.
    e. Name of Project: Mason Dam Hydroelectric Project.
    f. Location: The proposed Mason Dam Hydroelectric Project would be 
located on the Powder River in Baker County, Oregon. The proposed 
project would likely occupy lands of the United States within the 
jurisdiction of the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Reclamation.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: 18 CFR part 5 of the Commission's 
Regulations.
    h. Potential Applicant Contact: Fred Warner Jr., County Commission 
Chair, 1995 3rd Street, Baker City, OR, 97814, (541) 523-8200.
    i. FERC Contact: Kenneth Hogan (202) 502-8434 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 n 
below.
    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 there under 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. Baker County 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.
    m. 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, of for TTY, (202) 502-8659. A copy is 
also available for inspection and reproduction at the address in 
paragraph n.
    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.
    n. 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 (Mason Dam 
Hydroelectric Project) and number (P-12058-002), 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 25, 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 ``e-
filing'' link.
    o. At this time, Commission staff intends to prepare an 
Environmental Assessment for the project, in accordance with the 
National Environmental Policy Act. However, there is the possibility 
that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be required. 
Nevertheless, the scoping meetings will satisfy the NEPA scoping 
requirements, irrespective of whether an EA or EIS is issued by the 
Commission.

Scoping Meetings

    We will hold a daytime and night time scoping meeting at the times 
and places noted below. 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 time and location of these meetings are as follows:

    Date and Time: Wednesday, July 26, 2006, 1 p.m. (PDT).
    Location: Baker County's Extension Building, 2610 Grove Street, 
Baker City, Oregon.
    Date and Time: Wednesday, July 26, 2006, 7 p.m. (PDT).
    Location: Baker County's Extension Building, 2610 Grove Street, 
Baker City, Oregon.
    For Directions: Please call Robin Nudd, of Baker County Board of 
Commissioners at (541) 523-8200.
    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 ``eLibrary'' link. Follow the 
directions for accessing information in paragraph p. Depending on the 
extent of comments received, a Scoping Document 2 (SD2) may or may not 
be issued.

Site Visit

    The potential applicant and Commission staff will conduct a site 
visit of the proposed project on Tuesday, July 25, 2006, starting at 1 
p.m. All participants should meet at the Baker County Courthouse, 
located at 1995 3rd Street, Baker City, Oregon, 97184. All participants 
are responsible for their own transportation. Anyone with questions 
about the site visit should contact Ms. Robin Nudd of Baker County 
Board of Commissioners at (541) 523-8200 on or before July 4, 2006.

Scoping Meeting Objectives

    At the scoping meeting, staff will: (1) Present the proposed list 
of issues to be addressed in the EA; (2) review and discuss existing 
conditions and resource

[[Page 39681]]

agency management objectives; (3) review and discuss existing 
information and identify preliminary information and potential 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 meeting. Directions on how to obtain a copy 
of the PAD and SD1 are included in item m of this document.

Scoping Meeting Procedures

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

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6-10988 Filed 7-12-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P