[Federal Register: May 29, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 102)]
[Notices]
[Page 29495-29496]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29my07-42]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 2558-025]
Vermont Marble Power Division of Omya Inc.; Notice of Intent To
File License Application, Filing of Pre-Application Document,
Commencement of Licensing Proceeding, Scoping Meetings, Solicitation of
Comments on the Pad and Scoping Document, and Identification of Issues
and Associated Study Requests
May 21, 2007.
a. Type of Filing: Notice of Intent to File License Application for
a new License and Pre-Application Document.
b. Project No.: 2558-025.
c. Dated Filed: March 29, 2007.
d. Submitted By: Vermont Marble Power Division of Omya Inc.
e. Name of Project: Otter Creek Hydroelectric Project.
f. Location: The Otter Creek Hydroelectric Project is located on
Otter Creek in Addison and Rutland Counties, Vermont.
g. Filed Pursuant to: 18 CFR Part 5 of the Commission's
Regulations.
h. Applicant Contact: Todd Allard, Operations Engineer, Vermont
Marble Power Division of Omya Inc., 61 Main Street, Proctor, VT, 05765,
(802) 770-7138.
i. FERC Contact: Aaron Liberty (202) 502-6862 or via e-mail at
aaron.liberty@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 n
below.
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 there under at 50 CFR Part 402; and (b) the State Historic
Preservation Officer, as required by section 106, National Historical
Preservation Act, and the implementing regulations of the Advisory
Council on Historic Preservation at 36 CFR 800.2.
l. Vermont Marble Power Division of Omya Inc. 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.
m. Copies of the PAD and Scoping Document 1 (SD1) are 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.
n. With this notice, we are soliciting comments on the PAD and 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 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 (Otter
Creek Hydroelectric Project) and number (P-2558-025), 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 27, 2007.
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.
o. At this time, Commission staff intends to prepare an
Environmental Assessment for the project, in accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act. However,
[[Page 29496]]
there is the possibility that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
will be required. Nevertheless, the scoping meetings will satisfy the
NEPA scoping requirements, irrespective of whether an EA or EIS is
issued by the Commission.
Scoping Meetings
We will hold a daytime and night time scoping meeting at the times
and places 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 time and location of these meetings are as follows:
Daytime Scoping Meeting
Date and Time: Wednesday, June 6, 2007, 9:30 a.m. (EST)
Location: Middlebury Inn, 14 Courthouse Square, Middlebury, VT
05753-0798.
Evening Scoping Meeting
Date and Time: Wednesday, June 6, 2007, 7 p.m. (EST)
Location: Vermont Marble Power's ``Shop Building'', 84 Deere Lane,
Pittsford\1\, VT 05763.
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\1\ Vermont Marble Power's ``Shop Building'' is located in
Pittsford, VT. However, for purposes of on-line mapping, this street
address is often listed as being in Proctor, VT, 05765.
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For Directions: Please call Todd Allard, of Vermont Marble Power
Division of Omya Inc. at (802) 770-7138.
Scoping Document 1 (SD1), which outlines the subject areas to be
addressed in the environmental document, has been 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 m. Depending on the
extent of comments received, a Scoping Document 2 (SD2) may or may not
be issued.
Site Visit
The applicant and Commission staff will conduct a site visit of the
proposed project on Tuesday, June 5, 2007, starting at 9:30 a.m. All
participants should meet at Vermont Marble Power Division of Omya Inc.,
located at 61 Main Street, Proctor, Vermont, 05765. All participants
are responsible for their own transportation. Anyone with questions
about the site visit should contact Mr. Todd Allard at (802) 770-7138
on or before June 5, 2007.
Scoping Meeting Objectives
At the scoping meeting, staff will: (1) Present the proposed list
of issues to be addressed in the EA; (2) review and discuss existing
conditions and resource agency management objectives; (3) review and
discuss existing information and identify preliminary information and
potential 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 requests by 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 Pre-Application Document in
preparation for the scoping meeting. Directions on how to obtain a copy
of the PAD and SD1 are included in item m of this document.
Scoping Meeting Procedures
The scoping meeting will be recorded by a stenographer and will
become part of the formal Commission record on the project.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E7-10181 Filed 5-25-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P