[Federal Register: May 12, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 92)]
[Notices]               
[Page 26981-26983]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12my08-29]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 12966-001]

 
Lake Powell Hydroelectric System; Notice of Intent To File 
License Application, Filing of Pre-Application Document, Commencement 
of Licensing Proceeding, and Scoping; Request for Comments on the Pad 
and Scoping Document, and Identification of Issues and Associated Study 
Requests

May 5, 2008.
    a. Type of Filing: Notice of Intent to File License Application for 
an Original License and Commencing Licensing Proceeding.
    b. Project No.: 12966-001.
    c. Dated Filed: March 3, 2008.
    d. Submitted By: Utah Board of Natural Resources.
    e. Name of Project: Lake Powell Hydroelectric System.
    f. Location: On federal, state, and private lands in Kane, 
Washington and Iron counties, Utah; and in Coconino and Mohave 
counties, Arizona.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: 18 CFR Part 5 of the Commission's 
Regulations.
    h. Applicant Contact: Eric Millis, P.E., Utah Division of Water 
Resources, 1594 W. North Temple, P.O. Box 14620, Salt Lake City, UT 
84118-6201, 801-538-7235.
    i. FERC Contact: Jim Fargo at 202-502-6095 or e-mail at 
james.fargo@ferc.gov.
    j. We are asking federal, state, local, and tribal agencies with 
jurisdiction and/or special expertise with respect to environmental 
issues to cooperate with us in the preparation of the environmental 
document. Agencies who would like to request cooperating status should 
follow the instructions for filing comments described in paragraph o 
below. Cooperating agencies should note the Commission's policy that 
agencies that cooperate in the preparation of the environmental

[[Page 26982]]

document cannot also intervene. See, 94 FERC ] 61,076 (2001).
    k. With this notice, we are initiating informal consultation with: 
(a) the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and/or NOAA Fisheries under 
section 7 of the Endangered Species Act and the joint agency 
regulations thereunder at 50 CFR, Part 402 and (b) the State Historic 
Preservation Officer, as required by Section 106, National Historic 
Preservation Act, and the implementing regulations of the Advisory 
Council on Historic Preservation at 36 CFR 800.2.
    l. With this notice, we are designating the Utah Board of Water 
Resources as the Commission's non-federal representative for carrying 
out informal consultation, pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered 
Species Act and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
    m. Utah Board of Water Resources filed a Pre-Application Document 
(PAD; including a proposed process plan and schedule) with the 
Commission, pursuant to 18 CFR 5.6 of the Commission's regulations.
    n. A copy of the PAD is available for review at the Commission in 
the Public Reference Room or may be viewed on the Commission's Web site 
(http://www.ferc.gov), using the ``eLibrary'' link. Enter the docket 
number, excluding the last three digits in the docket number field to 
access the document. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support at 
FERCONlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free at 1-866-208-3676, or for TTY, 
(202) 502-8659. A copy is also available for inspection and 
reproduction at the address in paragraph h.
    Register online at http://ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm to be notified 
via e-mail of new filing and issuances related to this or other pending 
projects. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support.
    o. With this notice, we are soliciting comments on the PAD and 
Scoping Document 1 (SD1), as well as study requests. All comments on 
the PAD and SD1, and study requests should be sent to the address above 
in paragraph h. In addition, all comments on the PAD and SD1, study 
requests, requests for cooperating agency status, and all 
communications to and from Commission staff related to the merits of 
the potential application (original and eight copies) must be filed 
with the Commission at the following address: Kimberly D. Bose, 
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., 
Washington, DC 20426. All filings with the Commission must include on 
the first page, the project name (Lake Powell Hydroelectric System) and 
number (P-12966-001), and bear the heading ``Comments on Pre-
Application Document,'' ``Study Requests,'' ``Comments on Scoping 
Document 1,'' ``Request for Cooperating Agency Status,'' or 
``Communications to and from Commission Staff.'' Any individual or 
entity interested in submitting study requests, commenting on the PAD 
or SD1, and any agency requesting cooperating status must do so by July 
3, 2008.
    Comments on the PAD and SD1, study requests, requests for 
cooperating agency status, and other permissible forms of 
communications with the Commission may be filed electronically via the 
Internet in lieu of paper. The Commission strongly encourages 
electronic filings. See 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions 
on the Commission's Web site (http://www.ferc.gov) under the ``e-
filing'' link.
    p. Our intent is to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 
for which the planned meetings will satisfy the NEPA scoping 
requirements.

Scoping Meetings

    Commission staff will hold three scoping meetings in the vicinity 
of the project at the time and place noted below. We invite all 
interested individuals, organizations, and agencies to attend one or 
both of the meetings, and to assist staff in identifying particular 
study needs, as well as the scope of environmental issues to be 
addressed in the environmental document. The times and locations of 
these meetings are as follows:
    Tuesday, June 10, 2008--5 p.m. to 9 p.m.--Kanab Middle School, 690 
Cowboy Way, Kanab, Utah.
    Wednesday, June 11, 2008--5 p.m. to 9 p.m.--Dixie Center, 1835 
Convention Center Drive, St. George, Utah.
    Thursday, June 12, 2008--5 p.m. to 9 p.m.--Festival Hall Conference 
Center, 105 North 100 East, Cedar City, Utah.
    Scoping Document 1 (SD1), which outlines the subject areas to be 
addressed in the environmental document, was mailed to the individuals 
and entities on the Commission's mailing list. Copies of SD1 will be 
available at the scoping meetings, or may be viewed on the Web at 
http://www.ferc.gov, using the ``eLibrary'' link. Follow the directions 
for accessing information in paragraph n. Based on all oral and written 
comments, a Scoping Document 2 (SD2) will be issued. SD2 will include a 
revised process plan and schedule, as well as a list of issues, 
identified through the scoping process.

Site Visit

    On June 9 and 10, 2008, Commission staff will visit the site of the 
proposed Lake Powell Pipeline. We will view the proposed pipeline route 
and possibly alternative routes that have been considered for the 
project. Staff will tour these proposed project areas by automobile and 
on foot. Representatives of the Utah Board of Natural Resources will 
accompany the Commission staff.
    Interested parties may attend the site visit. Those planning to 
attend must provide their own transportation. If you are interested in 
attending the site visit, or would like more information about the 
visit, please contact Harold Sersland at (801) 310-0089. Those 
attending the site visit on Monday, June 9, should meet at 8 a.m. at 
the Sand Hollow Reservoir State Park entrance pay station (please bring 
your own food and water for the day). The plan on Monday is tour Sand 
Hollow Hydro Site 7 and Hurricane Cliffs Hydro Sites 5 and 6, and then 
follow the proposed pipeline route until south of the Kaibab Indian 
Reservation, ending at about 5 p.m.
    Those taking the site visit on Tuesday, June 10, should meet at 8 
a.m. at the BLM Interpretive Center in east Kanab on U.S. 89, (again 
please bring own food and water for the day). The trip will start near 
the proposed Hydro Site 2 and end at Glen Canyon National Recreation 
Area at Lake Powell around 2 p.m.

Meeting Objectives

    At the scoping meetings, staff will: (1) Initiate scoping of the 
issues; (2) review and discuss existing conditions and resource 
management objectives; (3) review and discuss existing information and 
identify preliminary information and study needs; (4) review and 
discuss the process plan and schedule for pre-filing activity that 
incorporates the time frames provided for in Part 5 of the Commission's 
regulations and, to the extent possible, maximizes coordination of 
federal, state, and tribal permitting and certification processes; and 
(5) discuss the appropriateness of any federal or state agency or 
Indian tribe acting as a cooperating agency for development of an 
environmental document.
    Meeting participants should come prepared to discuss their issues 
and/or concerns. Please review the PAD in preparation for the scoping 
meetings. Directions on how to obtain a copy of the PAD and SD1 are 
included in item n. of this document.

Meeting Procedures

    The meetings will have a stenographer available to record

[[Page 26983]]

participants' issues, which will become part of the formal record of 
the Commission proceeding on the project.

Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8-10456 Filed 5-9-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717-01-P