[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 230 (Friday, November 28, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72474-72475]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-28290]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 2305-020]


Sabine River Authority of Texas; Sabine River Authority, State of 
Louisiana; Notice of Intent To File License Application, Filing of Pre-
Application Document, Commencement of Licensing Proceeding, and 
Scoping; Request for Comments on the Pad and Scoping Document, and 
Identification of Issues and Associated Study Requests

November 21, 2008.
    a. Type of Filing: Notice of Intent to File License Application for 
a New License and Commencing Licensing Proceeding.
    b. Project No.: 2305-020.
    c. Dated Filed: September 22, 2008.
    d. Submitted by: Sabine River Authority of Texas and Sabine River 
Authority, State of Louisiana (Sabine River Authorities).
    e. Name of Project: Toledo Bend Hydroelectric.
    f. Location: On the Sabine River, affecting lands and waters in 
Panola, Shelby, Sabine, and Newton Counties, Texas, and De Soto, 
Sabine, and Vernon Parishes, Louisiana. The project occupies about 
3,600 acres of United States lands under the jurisdiction of the Forest 
Service.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: 18 CFR Part 5 of the Commission's 
Regulations.
    h. Potential Applicants Contact:
Mr. Melvin T. Swoboda, Licensing Manager, Toledo Bend Project Joint 
Operation, P.O. Box 579, Orange, Texas 77631-0579, 409-746-2192; 
[email protected].
Mr. Jerry L. Clark, General Manager, Sabine River Authority of Texas, 
P.O. Box 579, Orange, Texas 77631-0579, 409-746-2192; [email protected].
Mr. James Pratt, Executive Director, Sabine River Authority, State of 
Louisiana, 15091 Texas Highway, Many, Louisiana 71449-5718, 318-256-
4112; [email protected].

    i. FERC Contacts: Alan Mitchnick at (202) 502-6074 or e-mail at 
[email protected]; or Lesley Kordella at (202) 502-6406 or 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 the Sabine River 
Authorities 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. The Sabine River Authorities 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.
    n. A copy of the PAD is 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 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 
Scoping Document 1 (SD1), as well as study requests. The Commission 
issued SD1 on November 14, 2008. 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: Kimberly D. Bose, 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 (Toledo Bend Hydroelectric Project) and number (P-2305-020), 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 January 20, 2009.
    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.
    In addition, there is a ``Quick Comment'' option available, which 
is an easy method for interested persons to submit text only comments 
on a project. The Quick-Comment User Guide can be viewed at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling/quick-comment-guide.pdf. Quick Comment 
does not require a FERC eRegistration account; however, you will be 
asked to provide a valid email address. All comments submitted under 
either eFiling or the Quick Comment option are placed in the public 
record for the specified docket.
    p. Scoping Meetings: Commission staff will hold two scoping 
meetings in the vicinity of the project at the time and place noted 
below. The daytime meeting will focus on resource agency, Indian 
tribes, and non-governmental organization concerns, while the

[[Page 72475]]

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: Tuesday, December 16, 2008.
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Cypress Bend Conference Center, 2000 Cypress Bend Parkway, 
Many, Louisiana 71449.
Phone: (877) 519-1500.

Evening Scoping Meeting

Date: Tuesday, December 16, 2008.
    Time: 7 p.m.
    Location: Same as daytime meeting.
    Scoping Document 1 (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. Based on all oral and written 
comments, a Scoping Document 2 (SD2) may be issued. SD2 may include a 
revised process plan and schedule, as well as a list of issues, 
identified through the scoping process.

Meeting Objectives

    At the scoping meetings, staff will: (1) Initiate scoping of the 
issues; (2) review and discuss existing conditions and resource 
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 the appropriateness of 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.

Meeting Procedures

    The meetings will be recorded by a stenographer and will become 
part of the formal record of the Commission proceeding on the project.
    q. Site Visit: The potential applicants and Commission staff will 
conduct a site visit (bus tour) of key facilities of the project on 
Wednesday, December 17, 2008, starting at 8 a.m. Those wishing to 
participate should meet at the Cypress Bend Conference Center (see 
section ``p'' above). To appropriately accommodate persons interested 
in attending the site tour, participants should contact Bambi Granger 
by December 5, 2008 [e-mail, [email protected] or phone, (409) 746-
2192].

Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8-28290 Filed 11-26-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P