[Federal Register: March 8, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 45)]
[Notices]
[Page 11600-11601]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08mr06-57]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 12555-001]
Mahoning Creek Hydroelectric Company; 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
February 28, 2006.
a. Type of Filing: Notice of Intent to File License Application for
an Original License and Pre-Application Document; Commencing Licensing
Proceeding.
b. Project No.: 12555-001.
c. Date Filed: January 27, 2005.
d. Submitted By: Mahoning Creek Hydroelectric Company (MCHC).
e. Name of Project: Mahoning Creek Hydroelectric Project.
f. Location: The proposed Mahoning Creek Hydroelectric Project
would be located on Mahoning Creek in Armstrong and Jefferson Counties,
Pennsylvania. The project would affect U.S. Army Corps of Engineer land
and facilities.
g. Filed Pursuant to: 18 CFR part 5 of the Commission's
Regulations.
h. Applicant Contact: Mr. Clifford Phillips, Mahoning Creek
Hydroelectric Company, LLC, 150 North Miller Road, Suite 450 C,
advancedhydrosolutions.com.
i. FERC Contact: Kristen Murphy, (202) 502-6236 or via e-mail at
kristen.murphy@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
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 Historical
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 Mahoning Creek
Hydroelectric Company 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. Mahoning Creek Hydroelectric Company 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. The
Commission issued Scoping Document 1 on February 27, 2006.
n. 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 (P-12555) 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 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:
Magalie R. Salas, 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 (Mahoning
Creek Hydroelectric Project) and number (P-12555-001), 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 April 26, 2006.
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. At this time, Commission staff intends to prepare a single
Environmental Assessment for the project, in accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act.
Scoping Meetings
We will hold two scoping meetings at the times and places noted
below. The daytime meeting will focus on resource agency, Indian
tribes, and non-governmental organization concerns, while the evening
meeting is primarily for receiving input from the public. 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:
Evening Scoping Meeting
Date and Time: Wednesday, March 22, 2006, 7 p.m. (EST).
Location: West Shamokin High School, 178 Wolf Drive, Rural Valley,
PA 16249.
[[Page 11601]]
Daytime Scoping Meeting
Date and Time: Thursday, March 23, 2006, 9 a.m. (EST).
Location: Indiana Holiday Inn, 1395 Wayne Avenue, Indiana, PA
15701.
For Directions: Please call Clifford Phillips at (330) 869-8451.
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 n. Depending on the
extent of comments received, a Scoping Document 2 (SD2) may or may not
be issued.
Site Visit
MCHC will conduct a tour of the proposed project on Wednesday,
March 22, 2006, starting at 2 p.m. All participants interested in
attending should meet at the parking lot adjacent to the Mahoning Creek
dam. Anyone in need of directions should contact Mr. Clifford Phillips
advancedhydrosolutions.com.
Scoping Meeting Objectives
At the scoping meetings, staff will: (1) Present a 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
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,
maximize 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 meetings. Directions on how to obtain a
copy of the PAD and SD1 are included in item n. of this document.
Scoping Meeting Procedures
The scoping meetings will be recorded by a stenographer and will
become part of the formal Commission record on the project.
Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6-3196 Filed 3-7-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P