[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 101 (Thursday, May 23, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 45657]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-11375]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 1971-079]


Idaho Power Company; Notice of Revised Procedural Schedule for 
the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Hells Canyon 
Project

    On July 29, 2003, Idaho Power Company (Idaho Power) filed an 
application for a new license to continue to operate and maintain the 
Hells Canyon Project No. 1971.\1\ On August 31, 2007, the Commission 
issued a final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Hells 
Canyon Project. On December 30, 2019, Idaho Power filed an Offer of 
Settlement (settlement) with the Commission for the Hells Canyon 
Project.\2\ The settlement, which was executed on April 22, 2019, 
includes, among other items, spring Chinook salmon and summer steelhead 
fish passage measures. In addition, the Oregon and Idaho Departments of 
Environmental Quality each issued a water quality certification under 
section 401 of the Clean Water Act for the Hells Canyon Project on May 
24, 2019.
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    \1\ The current license expired on July 31, 2005, and the 
project is operating under an annual license.
    \2\ On January 7, 2020, the Commission issued notice of the 
offer of settlement's filing.
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    On July 8, 2020, Idaho Power supplemented the final license 
application for the project with additional information on its 
proposal, including an analysis of the new and revised fish-related 
protection, mitigation, and enhancement measures proposed under the 
settlement, and updated information on project resources. Additionally, 
Idaho Power filed on October 14, 2020, draft biological assessments for 
species managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National 
Marine Fisheries Service, which included an analysis of the effects of 
the new and revised measures on fish and wildlife listed under the 
Endangered Species Act.
    On June 13, 2022, Commission staff issued a notice of intent to 
prepare a draft and final EIS to assess the new and revised fish-
related protection, mitigation, and enhancement measures proposed under 
the settlement, the Oregon and Idaho water quality certifications, and 
the draft biological assessments. The notice of intent included a 
schedule for preparing a draft and final supplemental EIS.
    By notice issued October 12, 2023, Commission staff revised the 
procedural schedule for issuing the draft and final supplemental EIS. 
The revised date for issuing the draft supplemental EIS was to be 
February 2024. By this notice, Commission staff is updating the 
procedural schedule for completing the draft and final supplemental 
EIS. Further revisions to the schedule may be made as appropriate.

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                 Milestone                           Target date
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Issue Draft EIS...........................  July 2024.
Comments on Draft EIS due.................  September 2024.
Commission issues Final EIS...............  February 2024.
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    Any questions regarding this notice may be directed to Aaron 
Liberty at (202) 502-6862 or [email protected].

    Dated: May 17, 2024.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-11375 Filed 5-22-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P