[Federal Register: April 15, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 72)]
[Notices]
[Page 18192]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15ap02-63]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 7000-015]
Newton Falls Holdings, LLC; Notice of Public Scoping and Site
Visit for the Newton Falls Hydroelectric Project
April 8, 2002.
Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act and procedures of
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Commission staff intends
to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) that evaluates the
environmental impacts of issuing a new license for the constructed and
operating Newton Falls Hydroelectric Project, No. 7000-015, located on
the Oswegatchie River in St. Lawrence County, New York. The subject
project does not include federal land.
The EA will consider both site-specific and cumulative
environmental effects, if any, of the licensee's proposed actions and
reasonable alternatives. Preparation of staff's EA will be supported by
a scoping process to ensure identification and analysis of all
pertinent issues.
At this time, the Commission staff does not anticipate holding
formal public or agency scoping meetings. Rather, the Commission staff
will issue a Scoping Document: (1) outlining staff's preliminary
evaluation of subject areas to be addressed in the EA; and (2)
requesting concerned resource agencies, Native American tribes, non-
governmental organizations, and individuals to provide staff with
information on project area environmental resources and recreational
access needs, and to recommend site-specific issues and concerns that
should be evaluated in the EA.
Before issuing the scoping document, Commission staff will hold a
site visit of the Newton Falls Hydroelectric Project with
representatives of the current licensee and Reliant Energy, the
proposed new owner of the project. The site visit will take place: (1)
on Monday, May 6, 2002, from 3 p.m. to about 6 p.m.; and (2) on
Tuesday, May 7, 2002, from 8:30 a.m. until approximately 11:30 A.M. The
purpose of the site visit is to enable Commission staff responsible for
preparing the environmental assessment to view the area's existing
resources and the project's constructed facilities.
Officials of state and federal resource agencies and
representatives of concerned non-governmental organizations are invited
to participate at the site visit. Persons planning to attend should
notify Mr. Tom Skutnik of Reliant Energy by telephone at (315) 413-2789
or by E-mail at: tskutnik@reliant.com. All participants will meet at
the Newton Falls mill parking area located off County Road 60 in Newton
Falls, New York.
If you have any questions concerning this matter, please telephone
the Commission's Environmental Coordinator for the Newton Falls Project
at (202) 219-2780 or contact him by E-mail at james.haimes@ferc.gov.
Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 02-9038 Filed 4-12-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P