[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 172 (Thursday, September 7, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 61585]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-19291]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 11810-004]


City of Augusta, Georgia; Notice of Meeting To Discuss Augusta 
Canal Biological Opinion

    On April 25, 2023, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) 
filed its draft Biological Opinion (BO) with the Commission on the 
licensing of the Augusta Canal Project No. 11810, which included NMFS's 
reasonable and prudent measures for the protection of the endangered 
shortnose sturgeon and the South Atlantic Distinct Population Segment 
of Atlantic sturgeon. On June 16, 2023, the City of Augusta, Georgia 
filed comments on the draft BO.
    On September 29, 2023, Commission staff will hold a technical 
conference to discuss with NMFS the biological rationale for Reasonable 
and Prudent Measure No. 1, which would require flow into Augusta Canal 
be capped at 3,500 cubic feet per second. Staff also intends to discuss 
additional information needs with the City of Augusta for the proposed 
Augusta Canal Project No. 11810. The specific items to be discussed 
during the technical conference are included in Attachment A. The 
conference will be held via teleconference from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 
Eastern Daylight Time.
    All local, State, and Federal agencies, Native American Tribes, and 
other interested parties are invited to attend; however participation 
during the meeting will be limited to Commission staff, NMFS personnel, 
and the City of Augusta representatives. Discussion at the meeting will 
be limited to those items listed in Attachment A. There will be no 
transcript of the conference, but a summary of the meeting will be 
prepared for the project record. If you are interested in attending 
and/or participating in the conference, you must contact David Gandy at 
(202) 502-8560, or [email protected] by September 26, 2023 to 
receive specific instructions on how to attend. Questions concerning 
the meeting, the FERC process, or the consultation process should be 
directed to Allan Creamer at (202) 502-8365, or [email protected].

    Dated: August 31, 2023.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.

Attachment A

Additional Information To Be Discussed During the Technical Conference

    1. What is the design capacity of the Augusta Canal and its normal 
operating capacity?
    2. Since issuance of the final environmental assessment on 
September 22, 2006, what, if any, work that has been undertaken to 
increase the capacity of the Augusta Canal?
    3. What is the amount of water currently withdrawn from the Augusta 
Canal for hydroelectric generation, public water supply (consumptive 
use), recreation, and any other use, as well as the manner of each 
withdrawal?
    4. How much of the water that is drawn into the Augusta Canal is 
returned to the Savannah River and Augusta Shoals, and what is the 
point of reentry (for each non-consumptive use)?
    5. Please provide a specific, quantitative description of what 
effects implementing RPM (Reasonable and Prudent Measure) No. 1 and RPM 
No. 3 would have on the City of Augusta's ability to provide the flows 
needed to meet the existing and projected water needs from the Augusta 
Canal.

[FR Doc. 2023-19291 Filed 9-6-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P