[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 24 (Monday, February 5, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7701-7702]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-02192]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 2705-037]


Seattle City Light; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental 
Assessment and Notice of Revised Schedule

    On January 28, 2022, and supplemented on February 14 and December 
12, 2022, and April 10 and October 24, 2023, Seattle City Light filed 
an application for surrender of license for the Newhalem Creek 
Hydroelectric Project No. 2705. The project is located on Newhalem 
Creek in Whatcom County, Washington. The project occupies Federal lands 
within the Ross Lake National Recreation Area managed by the National 
Park Service.
    The licensee proposes to surrender the project due to the following 
issues: leaks in the power tunnel; maintenance needs at the headworks 
and powerhouse; and safety concerns along the access road due to an 
active landslide. The licensee proposes to: remove the diversion dam 
and associated headworks structures, tailrace fish barrier, and certain 
overhead transmission lines; seal the rock shaft and power tunnel; 
decommission the access road and powerhouse; and leave the powerhouse, 
tailrace, and penstock in place.
    Based on the additional information needed to complete our analysis 
filed on October 24, 2023, this notice revises the schedule identified 
in Scoping Document 1, issued on August 29, 2022, in consultation with 
Seattle City Light. Commission staff's revised schedule for completion 
of the Environmental Assessment (EA) is by April 30, 2024.\1\ Based on 
the project record, Commission staff plans to issue an EA to be made 
available for review and comment by all interested parties. All 
comments filed on the EA will be reviewed by staff and considered in 
the Commission's final decision on the proceeding.
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    \1\ 42 U.S.C. 4336a(g) requires lead Federal agencies to 
complete EAs within 1 year of the agency's decision to prepare an 
EA, unless the schedule is extended in consultation with the 
applicant.
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    With this notice and revised schedule, the Commission is inviting 
Federal, State, local, and Tribal agencies with jurisdiction and/or 
special expertise with respect to environmental issues affected by the 
proposal to cooperate in the preparation of the EA planned to be issued 
April 30, 2024. Agencies wishing to cooperate, or further discuss the 
benefits, responsibilities, and obligations of the cooperating agency 
role, should contact staff listed at the bottom of this notice by 
February 19, 2024. Cooperating agencies should note the Commission's 
policy that agencies that cooperate in the preparation of any 
environmental document cannot also intervene. See 94 FERC ] 61,076 
(2001).
    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 to 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 questions regarding this notice may be directed to Diana 
Shannon at 202-502-6136 or [email protected].


[[Page 7702]]


    Dated: January 30, 2024.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-02192 Filed 2-2-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P