[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 87 (Monday, May 5, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 24591]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-9807]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 2230-036]


City and Borough of Sitka, AK; Notice of Request To Use 
Alternative Procedures in Preparing a License Amendment Application

April 28, 2008.
    Take notice that the following request to use alternative 
procedures to prepare a license amendment application has been filed 
with the Commission.
    a. Type of Application: Request to use alternative procedures to 
prepare a license amendment application.
    b. Project No.: 2230-036.
    c. Date Filed: March 11, 2008.
    d. Applicant: City and Borough of Sitka, Alaska.
    e. Name of Project: Blue Lake Project.
    f. Location: On Sawmill Creek, in Borough of Sitka, Alaska. The 
project occupies 1,628.1 acres of federal lands within Tongass National 
Forest.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C 791(a)-825(r).
    h. Applicant Contact: Charlie Walls, Utility Director, City and 
Borough of Sitka Electric Department, 105 Jarvis St., Sitka, Alaska 
99835, (907) 747-1870, [email protected].
    i. FERC Contact: William Guey-Lee, 202-502-6064, 
[email protected]
    j. Deadline for Comments: May 28, 2008.
    All documents (original and eight copies) should be filed with: 
Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 
First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426.
    Comments 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.
    k. The existing project generally consists of a 211-foot-high, 256-
foot-long concrete arch dam, impounding the 1,225 acre Blue Lake 
reservoir; a 7,110 foot-long power conduit; and a powerhouse containing 
two 3,000 kilowatt units. The applicant proposes to add a third 
generating unit near the existing powerhouse, and raise the existing 
dam by as much as 83 feet.
    l. A copy of the request to use alternative procedures is available 
for review at the Commission in the Public Reference Room or may be 
viewed on the Commission's Web site at 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 item h 
above.
    You may also register online at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp to be notified via e-mail of new filings and 
issuances related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, 
contact FERC Online Support.
    m. Applicant has demonstrated that it has made an effort to contact 
all federal and state resources agencies, non-governmental 
organizations (NGO), and others affected by the project. Applicant has 
also demonstrated that a consensus exists that the use of alternative 
procedures is appropriate in this case. Applicant has submitted a 
communications protocol that is supported by the stakeholders.
    The purpose of this notice is to invite any additional comments on 
Applicant's request to use the alternative procedures, pursuant to 
section 4.34(i) of the Commission's regulations. Additional notices 
seeking comments on the specific project proposal, interventions and 
protests, and recommended terms and conditions will be issued at a 
later date. Applicant will complete and file a preliminary 
Environmental Assessment, in lieu of Exhibit E of the application. This 
differs from the traditional process, in which an applicant consults 
with agencies, Indian tribes, NGOs, and other parties during 
preparation of the license application and before filing the 
application, but the Commission staff performs the environmental review 
after the application is filed. The alternative procedures are intended 
to simplify and expedite the licensing process by combining the pre-
filing consultation and environmental review processes into a single 
process, to facilitate greater participation, and to improve 
communication and cooperation among the participants.
    Applicant has met with federal and state resource agencies, NGO's, 
elected officials, environmental groups, and members of the public 
regarding the Blue Lake amendment project. Applicant intends to conduct 
the alternative licensing procedures process to file a license 
amendment application by May 2009.

Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8-9807 Filed 5-2-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P