[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 244 (Tuesday, December 23, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Page 60093]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-23709]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 2545-205]


Avista Corporation; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental 
Assessment

    On July 3, 2024, Avista Corporation filed an application for non-
capacity amendment at the Spokane River Hydroelectric Project No. 2545. 
The dam is located on the Spokane River in Spokane, Lincoln, and 
Stevens counties, Washington, and in Kootenai and Benewah counties, 
Idaho.
    To rehabilitate the spillway at the North Channel Dam, the licensee 
proposed to replace all existing gates. The North Channel Dam is L-
shaped, and its primary spillway structure currently consists of one 
100-foot-long rolling sector gate, seven 21-foot-long Tainter gates, 
and one 12-foot-long Tainter gate. The proposed rehabilitation involves 
replacing the existing spillway gates within the same footprint without 
any significant change in elevation, surface area, or capacity. The 
project would not alter the project boundary, reservoir levels, down-
ramping rate, or minimum flow requirements. The project would also 
continue to operate under the terms of its current license and 
applicable Water Quality Certification. The licensee states that no 
resource agencies have objected to the proposed rehabilitation, and no 
long-term effects to project operations or environmental resources are 
anticipated. Temporary impacts would be limited to ground disturbance 
in construction areas and a temporary suspension of aesthetic spills 
during construction.
    On June 18, 2025, Commission staff issued a public notice for the 
proposed amendment, accepted the application for filing, and solicited 
comments, motions to intervene, and protests. The public comment period 
closed on July 18, 2025. On July 17, 2025, the Idaho Governor's Office 
of Energy & Mineral Resources filed a response to the Commission's 
notice.
    This notice identifies Commission staff's intention to prepare an 
environmental assessment (EA) under the National Environmental Policy 
Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) for the project.\1\ Commission staff plans 
to issue an EA by April 10, 2026. Revisions to the schedule may be made 
as appropriate. The EA will be issued for a 30-day comment period. 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\ The unique identification number for documents relating to 
this environmental review is EAXX-019-20-000-1762338353.
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    For public inquiries and assistance with making filings such as 
interventions, comments, or requests for rehearing, contact the Office 
of Public Participation at (202) 502-6595 or [email protected].
    Any questions regarding this notice may be directed to Woohee Choi 
at 202-502-6336 or [email protected].

(Authority: 18 CFR 2.1.)

     Dated: December 18, 2025.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2025-23709 Filed 12-22-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P