[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 249 (Friday, December 29, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 90179]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-28758]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 2514-209]


Appalachian Power Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment

    On February 28, 2022, as supplemented,\1\ Appalachian Power Company 
filed an application for a new major license for the 26.1-megawatt, 
two-development Byllesby-Buck Hydroelectric Project (Byllesby-Buck 
Project or project; FERC No. 2514). The Byllesby-Buck Project is 
located on the New River, near the city of Galax, in Carroll County, 
Virginia.
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    \1\ The final license application filed February 28, 2022 was 
supplemented on February 28, 2023.
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    In accordance with the Commission's regulations, on October 13, 
2023, Commission staff issued a notice that the project was ready for 
environmental analysis (REA notice). Based on the information in the 
record, including comments filed on the REA notice, staff does not 
anticipate that licensing the project would constitute a major Federal 
action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. 
Therefore, staff intends to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) on 
the application to license the Byllesby-Buck Project.
    The EA will be issued and circulated for review by all interested 
parties. All comments filed on the EA will be analyzed by staff and 
considered in the Commission's final licensing decision.
    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].
    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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Commission issues EA......................  June 2024.\2\
Comments on EA............................  July 2024.
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    Any questions regarding this notice may be directed to Jody 
Callihan at (202) 502-8278 or [email protected].
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    \2\ The Council on Environmental Quality's (CEQ) regulations 
under 40 CFR 1501.10(b)(1) (2022) require that EAs be completed 
within 1 year of the Federal action agency's decision to prepare an 
EA. See National Environmental Policy Act, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., 
as amended by section 107(g)(1)(B)(iii) of the Fiscal Responsibility 
Act of 2023, Public Law 118-5, sec. 4336a, 137 Stat. 42.

    Dated: December 22, 2023.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-28758 Filed 12-28-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P