[Federal Register: April 18, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 74)]
[Notices]               
[Page 19884-19885]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18ap06-57]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 2150-033]

 
Puget Sound Energy, Inc., Washington; Notice of Intent To Hold 
Public Meetings for the Baker River Hydroelectric Project

April 11, 2006.
    In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (Commission) 
regulations, 18 CFR part 380 (Order No. 486, 52 FR 47897), the Office 
of Energy Projects has reviewed the application for a license for the 
Baker River Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 2150-033), located on the 
Baker River in Whatcom and Skagit counties, Washington and has prepared 
a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the project. The 
project occupies 5,207 acres of lands within the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie 
National Forest managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
    Copies of the draft EIS are available for review in the 
Commission's Public Reference Branch or may be viewed on the 
Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov under 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 (866) 208-
3676, or for TTY, (202) 502-8659.
    You are invited to attend one or both public meetings we are 
holding to receive comments on the draft EIS. The time and location of 
these meetings are:

    Date: Monday, May 1, 2006.
    Time: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (pst).
    Place: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers District Office in Seattle, 
Washington.
    Address: 4735 E. Marginal Way S., Seattle, Washington.
    Room: Galaxy Meeting Room.

    Date: Tuesday, May 2, 2006.
    Time: 6 p.m.-9 p.m. (pst).
    Place: Best Western Cotton Tree Inn.
    Address: 2300 Market Street, Mt. Vernon, Washington.

    At these meetings, resource agency personnel and other interested 
persons will have the opportunity to provide oral and written comments 
and recommendations regarding the draft EIS. The meetings will be 
recorded by a court reporter, and all statements (verbal and written) 
will become part of the Commission's public record for the project. 
These meetings are posted on

[[Page 19885]]

the Commission's calendar located at: http://www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/EventsADay.aspx?Date=5/1/2006&CalendarID=0
 along with 

other related information.
    Whether, or not you attend one of these meetings, you are invited 
to submit written comments on the draft EIS. Comments should be filed 
with Magalie R. Salas, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 
888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426. All comments must be filed 
by May 30, 2006, and should reference Project No. 2150-033. Comments 
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 instructions on the Commission's Web site at 
http://www.ferc.gov under the e-Library link.

    The Commission staff will consider comments made on the draft EIS 
in preparing a final EIS for the project. Before the Commission makes a 
licensing decision, it will take into account all concerns relevant to 
the public interest. The final EIS will be part of the record from 
which the Commission will make its decision.
    By this notice, we are modifying our processing schedule for 
Puget's license application. The modified schedule is:
    Issue Final Environmental Impact Statement: June 2006.
    Ready for Commission Decision on Application: September 2006.
    For further information, contact Steve Hocking at (202) 502-8753 or 
at steve.hocking@ferc.gov.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6-5730 Filed 4-17-06; 8:45 am]

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