[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 121 (Monday, June 24, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52452-52453]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-13721]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 1971-135]


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

    On October 6 and 7, 2022, and supplemented October 21, 2022, March 
17, 2023, April 10, 2023, and July 17, 2023, Idaho Power Company filed 
an application for a non-capacity amendment of its license for the 
Hells Canyon Project No. 1971. The project is located on the Snake 
River in Adams and Washington counties, Idaho, and in Baker, Wallowa, 
and Malheur counties, Oregon. Federal lands administered by the U.S. 
Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management (Payette and Wallowa-
Whitman National Forests and Hells Canyon National Recreational Area) 
are included within the project boundary.
    The licensee proposes to perform maintenance work on the turbines 
and generators at the Oxbow Development of the project. The work would 
increase the authorized installed capacity of the project from 
1,222,300 kilowatts (kW) to 1,252,065 kW. To facilitate the turbine and 
generator maintenance work, the licensee is also proposing to: (1) 
extend the existing erection deck to the east; and (2) provide an area 
for additional parking and a job trailer. The deck extension would be 
approximately 100 feet by 84 feet and would necessitate relocating the 
septic drain field for the Oxbow power plant and increasing the amount 
of security fencing. The total disturbance area to the east of the 
existing erection deck would be approximately 0.75 acre. The licensee 
planned to commence construction of the erection deck in 2023 and begin 
the maintenance work on the first unit in 2025. The licensee would take 
a single unit off-line periodically between September 2025 and 
September 2029. The licensee is not proposing any changes to project 
operations nor has the licensee proposed variances to license 
conditions to complete the work. None of the work for the turbine and

[[Page 52453]]

generator maintenance would involve in-water work and the licensee 
would use best management practices for all construction work.
    On April 10, 2023, the Commission issued a public notice for the 
proposed amendment. On April 28, May 1, May 5, May 9, May 10, and May 
10, 2023, the State of Oregon by and through the Oregon Department of 
Environmental Quality, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon 
Water Resources Department, National Marine Fisheries Service, the 
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, and the State 
of Idaho,\1\ respectively, filed notices of intervention. On May 11, 
2023, the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission and Upper Snake 
River Tribes Foundation, Inc. filed untimely motions to intervene, 
which were granted on March 7, 2024. On May 11, 2023, the U.S. 
Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs filed comments. On 
October 24, 2023, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service filed a letter 
with the Commission concurring with Commission staff's determination 
that the proposed action may affect but is not likely to adversely 
affect bull trout or bull trout critical habitat.
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    \1\ On behalf of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, the 
Idaho Water Resources Board, and the Idaho Department of 
Environmental Quality.
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    This notice identifies Commission staff's intention to prepare an 
environmental assessment (EA) for the project. The planned schedule for 
the completion of the EA is October 30, 2024.\2\ Revisions to the 
schedule may be made as appropriate. The EA will be issued and made 
available for review 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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    \2\ 42 U.S.C. 4336a(g)(1)(B) requires lead federal agencies to 
complete EAs within 1 year of the agency's decision to prepare an 
EA. This notice establishes the Commission's intent to prepare an EA 
for the project; therefore, the EA must be issued within 1 year of 
the issuance date of this notice.
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    With this notice, 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 that wish to 
cooperate in the preparation of the environmental assessment to contact 
staff for further instructions. 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 Jeremy 
Jessup at 202-502-6779 or [email protected].

    Dated: June 14, 2024.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-13721 Filed 6-21-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P