[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 84 (Wednesday, May 1, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18530-18531]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-08791]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 12635-002]


Moriah Hydro Corporation; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement

    On February 13, 2015, Moriah Hydro Corporation filed an application 
for an original major license to construct and operate its proposed 
240-megawatt Mineville Energy Storage Project No.

[[Page 18531]]

12635 (Mineville Project or project). The project would be located in a 
decommissioned subterranean mine complex \1\ in the town of Moriah, 
Essex County, New York. No federal lands would be occupied by the 
project works or located within the project boundary.
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    \1\ The existing mine complex comprises the interconnected Old 
Bed Mine, Harmony Mine, and 21 Mine and pit.
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    In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and the 
Commission's regulations, Commission staff held public scoping meetings 
for the proposed Mineville Project on December 7, 2016, in Warrensburg, 
New York, and on December 8, 2016, in Port Henry, New York. Commission 
staff originally intended to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) 
to analyze project effects.\2\ However, during preparation of the EA 
and review of the project record, staff has determined that the 
Mineville Project may constitute a major federal action significantly 
affecting the quality of the human environment. Therefore, staff now 
intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that 
addresses the licensing of the Mineville Project.
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    \2\ See November 4, 2016, Notice of Scoping Meetings and 
Environmental Site Review and Soliciting Scoping Comments.
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    A draft EIS will be issued and circulated for review by all 
interested parties. All comments filed on the draft EIS will be 
analyzed by the staff and considered in the final EIS. The staff's 
conclusions and recommendations will be available for the Commission's 
consideration in reaching its final licensing decision.
    The application will be processed according to the following 
schedule. Revisions to the schedule may be made as appropriate.

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                Milestone                           Target date
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Issue draft EIS.........................  June 2019.
Draft EIS public meeting................  July 2019.
Comments on draft EIS due...............  August 2019.
Commission issues final EIS.............  February 2020.
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    This notice informs all interested individuals, organizations, and 
agencies with environmental expertise and concerns, that: (1) The 
Commission staff has decided to prepare an EIS addressing the licensing 
of the Mineville Project; and (2) the prior scoping conducted on this 
project by Commission staff and comments filed with the Commission on 
the application will be taken into account in the EIS.
    Any questions regarding this notice may be directed to Chris 
Millard (202) 502-8256 or [email protected].

    Dated: April 25, 2019.
 Kimberly D. Bose,
 Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-08791 Filed 4-30-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P