[Federal Register: October 6, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 193)] [Notices] [Page 53652-53653] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr06oc98-59] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Project Nos. 135, 2195] Portland General Electric Company, Portland, Oregon; Notice of Portland General Electric Company's Request To Use Alternative Procedures in Filing a License Application September 30, 1998. By letter dated September 1, 1998, Portland General Electric Company (PGE) of Portland, Oregon asked to use an alternative procedure in filing an application for a new license for its Oak Grove Project No. 135 and North Fork Project No. 2195.\1\ PGE has demonstrated that they made a reasonable effort to contact the resource agencies, Indian tribes, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and others who may be affected by their proposal, and has submitted a communication protocol governing how participants in the proposed process may communicate with each other. PGE has also submitted evidence of support for their proposal, and it appears that a consensus exists that the use of an alternative procedure is appropriate in this case. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ The 44-megawatt Oak Grove project consists of a 100-foot- high dam at the lower end of Timothy Lake, and a 68-foot-high diversion dam below Lake Harriet--both on the Oak Grove Fork of the Clackamas River. The Powerhouse is located on the Clackamas River. The Oak Grove project is located on U.S. Forest Service land. The 121-megawatt North Fork Project is comprised of three developments on the Clackamas River: a 206-foot-high dam with the powerhouse located at the lower end of North Fork Reservoir; a 47-foot-high dam with the powerhouse located at the lower end of Faraday Lake; and a 85-foot-high dam with powerhouse located at the lower end of Estacada Lake. The North Fork project is located on U.S. Forest Service land and Bureau of Land Management land. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The purpose of this notice is to invite any additional comments on PGE's request to use the alternative procedure, as required under the final rule for Regulations for the Licensing of Hydroelectric Projects.\2\ Additional notices seeking comments on the specific project proposal, interventions and protests, and recommended terms and conditions will be issued at a later date. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \2\ 81 FERC 61,103 (1997). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The alternative procedure being requested here combines the prefiling consultation process with the environmental review process, allowing the applicant to file a Third Party Contractor prepared Environmental Impact Statement (TPC-EIS) in lieu of Exhibit E of the license application. This differs from the traditional process, in which the applicant consults with agencies, Indian tribes, and NGOs during preparation of the application for the license and before filing it, but the Commission staff performs the environmental review after the application is filed. The alternative procedure is intended to simplify and expedite the licensing process by combining the prefiling consultation and environmental review processes into a single process, to facilitate greater participation, and to improve communication and cooperation among the participants. The alternative procedure can be tailored to the particular project under consideration. TPC-EIS Process and the Oak Grove and North Fork Projects Schedule PGE has begun working collaboratively with the various interested entities to identify issues that will need to be addressed and studies that will need to be conducted in relicensing the project. An initial information package will be disseminated to all interested parties in February 1999. Site visits of the project will be conducted in May 1999. Identification of issues and issuance of Scoping Document 1 will occur in December 1999. A Public Scoping Meeting will be held January 2000. Notice of the scoping meeting will be published at least 30 days prior to the meeting. Studies will be conducted beginning April 1999, and continue through 2003. Opportunities for requesting additional studies will be noticed at least 30 days prior to any study request deadline. A draft license application with preliminary EIS would be distributed for comment in August 2003. The final license application and EIS must be filed with the Commission on or before August 31, 2004, two years before the expiration date on the existing license. A more detailed schedule and project description was distributed by PGE on September 1, 1998, to all parties expressing interest in the proceeding. Copies of the schedule and project description may be obtained from Portland General Electric, Hydro Licensing and Water Rights Office, 121 [[Page 53653]] S.W. Salmon Street, Portland, OR 97204. Comments Interested parties have 30 days from the date of this notice to file with the Commission, any comments on PGE's proposal to use the alternative procedures to file an application for the Oak Grove and North Fork Hydroelectric Projects. Filing Requirements Any comments must be filed by providing an original and 8 copies as required by the Commission's regulations to: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Office of the Secretary, Dockets--Room 1A, 888 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20426. All comment filings must bear the heading ``Comments on the Alternative Procedure,'' and include the project names and numbers (Oak Grove hydroelectric Project No. 135 and North Fork Hydroelectric Project No. 2195). For further information, please contact John Blair at (202) 219-2845. David P. Boergers, Secretary. [FR Doc. 98-26669 Filed 10-5-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-M