[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 197 (Friday, October 13, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 70965]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-22692]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 2146-111; Project No. 82-000; Project No. 618-000]


Notice of Availability of the Final Supplemental Environmental 
Impact Statement for the Alabama Power Company Coosa River 
Hydroelectric Project

    In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (Commission) 
regulations, 18 CFR part 380, the Office of Energy Projects has 
reviewed the application for a single new license to continue to 
operate and maintain three separately licensed projects and has 
prepared a final supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS).\1\ 
The single new license would combine the Coosa Hydroelectric Project 
(FERC No. 2146), which consists of the Weiss, H. Neely Henry, Logan 
Martin, Lay, and Bouldin developments, the Mitchell Dam Hydroelectric 
Project (FERC No. 82), and the Jordan Dam Hydroelectric Project (FERC 
No. 618) into one 969.9-megawatt project, the Coosa River Hydroelectric 
Project (Coosa River Project) No. 2146. The projects are located on the 
Coosa River, in the states of Alabama and Georgia, and occupy about 
508.31 acres of federal land administered by the U.S. Bureau of Land 
Management and 5.75 acres of federal land administered by the U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 
participated as a cooperating agency to prepare the final SEIS.
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    \1\ The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) issued a final 
rule on April 20, 2022, revising its regulations for implementing 
NEPA (see National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Regulations 
Revisions, 87 FR 23,453-70). The rule became effective on May 20, 
2022. However, because the NEPA review of this project was in 
process at that time, the final SEIS was prepared pursuant to CEQ's 
1978 regulations.
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    The final SEIS has been prepared to address the July 6, 2018 
opinion issued by the United States Court of Appeals for the District 
of Columbia (court) regarding the Commission's environmental review of 
the Coosa River Hydroelectric Project and supplements the final 
environmental assessment (FEA), issued December 31, 2009, for the 
project. The final SEIS focuses on the following issues identified by 
the court as needing further analysis and expands upon the analysis 
contained within the FEA for these issues: (1) dissolved oxygen; (2) 
fish entrainment and turbine mortality; (3) federally listed threatened 
and endangered species; and (4) cumulative effects. The final SEIS 
describes staff's analysis of the applicant's proposal and the 
alternatives for relicensing the project. The final SEIS documents the 
views of governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, 
affected Indian tribes, the public, the license applicant, and 
Commission staff.
    The Commission provides all interested persons an opportunity to 
view and/or print the final SEIS via the internet through the 
Commission's Home Page (http://www.ferc.gov/), using the ``eLibrary'' 
link. Enter the docket number (P-2146), 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 (866) 208-3676, or for TTY, (202) 502-8659.
    You may also register online at https://ferconline.ferc.gov/FERCOnline.aspx to be notified via email of new filings and issuances 
related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC 
Online Support.
    The Commission's Office of Public Participation (OPP) supports 
meaningful public engagement and participation in Commission 
proceedings. OPP can help members of the public, including landowners, 
environmental justice communities, Tribal members and others, access 
publicly available information and navigate Commission processes. For 
public inquiries and assistance with making filings such as 
interventions, comments, or requests for rehearing, the public is 
encouraged to contact OPP at (202) 502-6595 or [email protected].
    Any question regarding this notice may be directed to Aaron Liberty 
at (202) 502-6862 or at [email protected].

    Dated: October 6, 2023.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-22692 Filed 10-12-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P