[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 16 (Tuesday, January 27, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4824-4825]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-1637]


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SUSQUEHANNA RIVER BASIN COMMISSION


Notice of Actions Taken at December 4, 2008, Meeting

AGENCY: Susquehanna River Basin Commission.

ACTION: Notice of Commission actions.

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SUMMARY: At its regular business meeting on December 4, 2008, in Bel 
Air, Maryland, the Commission held a public hearing as part of its 
regular business meeting. At the public hearing, the Commission: (1) 
Approved and tabled certain water resources projects; (2) denied a 
request for extension of an emergency certificate issued on October 30, 
2008; and (3) adopted a revised fee schedule to take effect on January 
1, 2009. Details concerning these and other matters addressed at the 
public hearing and business meeting are contained in the Supplementary 
Information section of this notice.

DATES: December 4, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Susquehanna River Basin Commission, 1721 N. Front Street, 
Harrisburg, PA 17102-2391.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard A. Cairo, General Counsel, 
telephone: (717) 238-0423, ext. 306; fax: (717) 238-2436; e-mail: 
[email protected]; or Stephanie L. Richardson, Secretary to the 
Commission, telephone: (717) 238-0423, ext. 304; fax: (717) 238-2436; 
e-mail: [email protected]. Regular mail inquiries may be sent to the 
above address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In addition to the public hearing and its 
related action items identified below, the following items were also 
presented or acted on at the business meeting: (1) A special 
presentation titled ``Water for Maryland's Future: What We Must Do 
Today'' by Maryland Member Dr. Robert Summers; (2) a report on the 
present hydrologic conditions of the basin indicating below normal 
levels of precipitation and stream flow across the basin; (3) adoption 
of a revised Comprehensive Plan for management of the Susquehanna 
Basin's water resources; (4) adoption of a final rulemaking action 
regarding gas well development in the Marcellus and Utica shale 
formations; (5) adoption of a resolution emphasizing the importance of 
the basin's stream gaging network and urging federal funding for the 
Susquehanna Flood Forecast and Warning System in the amount of $2.4 
million; (6) approval/ratification of several grants and contracts 
related to water resources management; (7) acceptance of the Fiscal 
Year 2008 Annual Independent Audit Report; (8) approval of an 
expenditure of $500,000 from the Commission's Water Management Fund for 
the completion of the Whitney Point Lake Section 1135 Project 
Modification; and (9) approval of an expenditure of $65,000 for the 
replacement of the Commission's three main computer servers. The 
Commission also heard counsel's report on legal matters affecting the 
Commission.
    The Commission also convened a public hearing and took the 
following actions:

Public Hearing--Projects Approved

    1. Project Sponsor and Facility: Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC (for 
operations in Chemung and Tioga Counties, N.Y., and Bradford, Sullivan, 
Susquehanna, Tioga, Wayne, and Wyoming Counties, Pa.). Consumptive 
water use of up to 7.500 mgd from various surface water sources and the 
following previously approved public water suppliers: Towanda Municipal 
Authority, Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc.--Susquehanna Division, Canton 
Borough Authority, and Borough of Troy.
    2. Project Sponsor and Facility: Chief Oil & Gas LLC (for 
operations in Clearfield County, Pa.). Consumptive water use of up to 
5.000 mgd from various surface water sources and the following public 
water suppliers: BCI Municipal Authority and Jersey Shore Joint Water 
Authority.
    3. Project Sponsor and Facility: Chief Oil & Gas LLC (Clearfield 
Creek), Boggs Township, Clearfield County, Pa. Surface water withdrawal 
of up to 2.000 mgd.
    4. Project Sponsor and Facility: Chief Oil & Gas LLC (Pine Creek), 
Cummings Township, Lycoming County, Pa. Surface water withdrawal of up 
to 0.099 mgd.
    5. Project Sponsor and Facility: Citrus Energy (for operations in 
Wyoming County, Pa.). Consumptive water use of up to 5.000 mgd from 
various surface water sources.
    6. Project Sponsor and Facility: Citrus Energy (North Branch 
Susquehanna River), Washington Township, Wyoming County, Pa. Surface 
water withdrawal of up to 0.499 mgd.
    7. Project Sponsor and Facility: Dillsburg Area Authority, Franklin 
Township, York County, Pa. Groundwater withdrawal of 0.022 mgd from 
Well 1.
    8. Project Sponsor and Facility: Dillsburg Area Authority, Franklin 
Township, York County, Pa. Groundwater withdrawal of 0.101 mgd from 
Well 3.
    9. Project Sponsor and Facility: EXCO-North Coast Energy, Inc. 
(unnamed tributary to Sandy Run), Burnside Township, Centre County, Pa. 
Surface water withdrawal of up to 0.300 mgd.
    10. Project Sponsor and Facility: Fortuna Energy Inc. (Towanda 
Creek), Franklin Township, Bradford County, Pa. Surface water 
withdrawal of up to 0.250 mgd.
    11. Project Sponsor and Facility: J-W Operating Company (for 
operations in Cameron, Clearfield, and Elk Counties, Pa.). Consumptive 
water use of up to 4.500 mgd from various surface water sources and the 
following public water supplier: Emporium Water Company.
    12. Project Sponsor: J-W Operating Company (Driftwood Branch--
Sinnemahoning Creek), Lumber Township, Cameron County, Pa. Surface 
water withdrawal of up to 0.245 mgd.
    13. Project Sponsor: KBK-HR Associates LLC. Project Facility: Honey 
Run Golf Club, Dover Township, York County, Pa. Consumptive water use 
of up to 0.382 mgd.
    14. Project Sponsor: KBK-HR Associates LLC. Project Facility: Honey 
Run Golf Club, Dover Township, York County, Pa. Surface water 
withdrawal of up to 0.382 mgd from Honey Run.
    15. Project Sponsor: KBK-HR Associates LLC. Project Facility: Honey 
Run Golf Club, Dover Township, York County, Pa. Surface water 
withdrawal of up to 1.440 mgd from Little Conewago Creek.
    16. Project Sponsor and Facility: New Oxford Foods, LLC, New Oxford 
Borough, Adams County, Pa. Consumptive water use of up to 0.380 mgd and 
groundwater withdrawal of 0.035 mgd from Well 1.
    17. Project Sponsor and Facility: Rex Energy Corporation (Upper 
Little Surveyor Run), Girard Township, Clearfield County, Pa. Surface 
water withdrawal of up to 0.400 mgd.
    18. Project Sponsor and Facility: Rex Energy Corporation (Lower 
Little Surveyor Run), Girard Township,

[[Page 4825]]

Clearfield County, Pa. Surface water withdrawal of up to 0.400 mgd.
    19. Project Sponsor: Sunbury Generation LP. Project Facility: 
Sunbury Generation Facility, Monroe Township and Shamokin Dam Borough, 
Snyder County, Pa. Consumptive water use of up to 8.000 mgd and surface 
water withdrawal of up to 354.000 mgd.
    20. Project Sponsor and Facility: Turm Oil, Inc. (for operations in 
Susquehanna County, Pa.). Consumptive water use of up to 5.000 mgd from 
various surface water sources and the following public water suppliers: 
Dushore Water Authority and Towanda Municipal Authority.
    21. Project Sponsor and Facility: Turm Oil, Inc. (Deer Lick Creek), 
Rush Township, Susquehanna County, Pa. Surface water withdrawal of up 
to 0.216 mgd.
    22. Project Sponsor and Facility: Turm Oil, Inc. (East Branch 
Wyalusing Creek), Rush Township, Susquehanna County, Pa. Surface water 
withdrawal of up to 0.216 mgd.
    23. Project Sponsor and Facility: Turm Oil, Inc. (Elk Lake Stream), 
Rush Township, Susquehanna County, Pa. Surface water withdrawal of up 
to 0.216 mgd.
    24. Project Sponsor and Facility: Turm Oil, Inc. (Main Branch 
Wyalusing Creek), Rush Township, Susquehanna County, Pa. Surface water 
withdrawal of up to 0.216 mgd.
    25. Project Sponsor and Facility: Ultra Resources (for operations 
in Tioga and Potter Counties, Pa.). Consumptive water use of up to 
4.990 mgd from a various surface water source.
    26. Project Sponsor and Facility: Ultra Resources (Cowanesque 
River), Deerfield Township, Tioga County, Pa. Surface water withdrawal 
of up to 0.217 mgd.

Public Hearing--Projects Tabled

    1. Project Sponsor and Facility: J-W Operating Company (Abandoned 
Mine Pool), Shippen Township, Cameron County, Pa. Application for 
surface water withdrawal of up to 0.090 mgd.
    2. Project Sponsor and Facility: J-W Operating Company (Sterling 
Run), Lumber Township, Cameron County, Pa. Application for surface 
water withdrawal of up to 0.026 mgd.
    3. Project Sponsor: PPL Holtwood, LLC. Project Facility: Holtwood 
Hydroelectric Station, Martic and Conestoga Townships, Lancaster 
County, and Chanceford and Lower Chanceford Townships, York County, Pa. 
Applications for amendment to existing FERC license (FERC Project No. 
1881) and for redevelopment of the project with modification of its 
operations on the lower Susquehanna River, including the addition of a 
second power station and associated infrastructure.
    4. Project Sponsor and Facility: Ultra Resources (Elk Run), Gaines 
Township, Tioga County, Pa. Application for surface water withdrawal of 
up to 0.020 mgd.
    5. Project Sponsor and Facility: Ultra Resources (Pine Creek), Pike 
Township, Potter County, Pa. Application for surface water withdrawal 
of up to 0.430 mgd.

Public Hearing--Project Withdrawn

    1. Project Sponsor and Facility: EXCO-North Coast Energy, Inc. (for 
operations in Centre County, Pa.). Application for consumptive water 
use of up to 5.000 mgd from various water sources.

Public Hearing--Extension of Emergency Certificate

    The Commission denied a request for an extension of an Emergency 
Certificate previously issued to the following project:
    CAN DO, Inc., Hazle Township, Luzerne County, Pa.--Use of Site 14 
Test Well to serve Humbolt Industrial Park.

Public Hearing--Project Fee Schedule

    The Commission adopted a revised fee schedule to take effect on 
January 1, 2009. As mandated by the Commission in 2005, the revised 
schedule incorporates 10 percent categorical fee increases and a 
Consumer Price Index Adjustment. It also contains new provisions for 
project fees applying to large scale hydroelectric facilities, 
``Approvals by Rule'' issued to gas well development projects, and 
aquatic surveys performed by SRBC staff in connection with project 
approvals.

    Authority: Pub. L. 91-575, 84 Stat. 1509 et seq., 18 CFR Parts 
806, 807, and 808.

    Dated: January 9, 2009.
Thomas W. Beauduy,
Deputy Director.
[FR Doc. E9-1637 Filed 1-26-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7040-01-P