Policy for Power Supply Role for Fiscal Years 2007-2011 (Regional Dialogue), 7489 [05-2782]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 29 / Monday, February 14, 2005 / Notices proposed action of offering interconnection contract terms is to not offer these terms. The EIS will evaluate this ‘‘no-action’’ alternative. In addition, the EIS will evaluate alternatives for routing the proposed BPA transmission line. At this time, two potentially feasible alternatives have been identified: • The Cross-County Alternative; and • The Medler Road Alternative (see attached Project Area Map). Another alternative, the South of Wasco Alternative (see Project Map), was initially considered but has been eliminated from further consideration in the EIS due to the potential for greater visual, airport safety, and wetland impacts, as well as greater cost relative to other alternatives. Public Participation and Identification of Environmental Issues. BPA is the lead Federal agency under NEPA for the EIS. BPA has established a minimum 30-day scoping period during which affected landowners, Tribes, concerned citizens, special interest groups, local governments, State and Federal agencies, and any other interested parties are invited to comment on the scope of the proposed EIS. Scoping will help BPA identify potentially significant impacts that may result from BPA’s proposed action and the private Wind Project, and ensure that all relevant environmental issues related to BPA’s proposed action are addressed in the EIS. Based on BPA’s experience, potential environmental issues for the Wind Project and BPA’s interconnection facilities may include noise created by wind turbines, visual effects from the wind turbines and transmission line, socioeconomic impacts created by an influx of construction workers into a sparsely populated area, effects on recreation (primarily hunting), impacts on cultural resources, and impacts to wildlife habitat and populations, including migratory birds. When completed, the Draft EIS will be circulated for review and comment, and BPA will hold a public comment meeting on the Draft EIS. In the Final EIS, BPA will consider and respond to comments received on the Draft EIS. BPA expects to publish the Final EIS in late 2005 or early 2006. BPA’s subsequent decision will be documented in a Record of Decision. In addition to BPA’s EIS process, Oregon EFSC provides opportunity for public participation as part of its site evaluation process. It is expected that representatives from the Oregon Office of Energy will hold public meetings for the Wind Project during 2005. BPA will coordinate with Oregon EFSC to ensure VerDate jul<14>2003 15:28 Feb 11, 2005 Jkt 205001 full consideration of all public and agency comments received. Issued in Portland, Oregon, on February 4, 2005. Stephen J. Wright, Administrator and Chief Executive Officer. [FR Doc. 05–2781 Filed 2–11–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Bonneville Power Administration Policy for Power Supply Role for Fiscal Years 2007–2011 (Regional Dialogue) Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), Department of Energy (DOE). ACTION: Notice of availability of a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Record of Decision (ROD). AGENCY: SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of the NEPA ROD to adopt a policy on BPA’s power supply role for fiscal years 2007–2011. This policy is intended to provide BPA’s customers with greater clarity about their Federal power supply so they can effectively plan for the future and make capital investments in long-term electricity infrastructure if they choose. It is also intended to provide guidance on certain rate matters BPA expects to be addressed in the next rate period, while assisting the agency in fulfilling its longterm strategic goals and responsibilities to the region. Each policy issue has been evaluated for environmental effects and, for those involving NEPA, those effects have been addressed in the Business Plan Environmental Impact Statement (DOE/EIS–0183, June 1995). Thus, this NEPA ROD is consistent with and tiered to the Business Plan EIS and the Business Plan ROD (August 15, 1995). This policy, which is also referred to as the Regional Dialogue as it is the result of a regional discussion process beginning in April 2002, is described more fully in a separately issued Administrator’s ROD that addresses the legal and policy rationale supporting the administrative decisions. ADDRESSES: Copies of the following documents may be obtained by calling BPA’s toll-free document request line, 1–800–622–4520, or by visiting the Web site at https://www.efw.bpa.gov: The NEPA ROD for the Policy for Power Supply Role for Fiscal Years 2007–2011; the Administrator’s ROD on the policy; and the Business Plan EIS and ROD. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Katherine S. Pierce, Bonneville Power Administration—KEC–4, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, Oregon 97208–3621; toll-free PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 7489 telephone number 1–800–282–3713; fax number 503–230–5699; or e-mail kspierce@bpa.gov. The Business Plan EIS to which this NEPA ROD is tiered was prepared to support a number of decisions including the products and services BPA will market, rates for BPA’s products and services, policy direction for BPA’s sale of power products to customers, contract terms BPA will offer for power sales, and plans for BPA’s resource acquisitions and power purchase contracts. Each of the issues in this Regional Dialogue policy that were found to have any environmental effects were consistent with the Market Driven Alternative adopted in the Business Plan ROD. For some policy issues, NEPA was not implicated because there were no environmental effects, and for other issues, NEPA was not triggered because they are a continuation of the status quo. For the remaining issues, any environmental effects have already been addressed in the Business Plan EIS. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Issued in Portland, Oregon, on February 4, 2005. Stephen J. Wright, Administrator and Chief Executive Officer. [FR Doc. 05–2782 Filed 2–11–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Bonneville Power Administration Bonneville Power Administration’s Policy for Power Supply Role for Fiscal Years 2007–2011 Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), Department of Energy. AGENCY: ACTION: Notice of final policy. SUMMARY: This notice announces BPA’s final policy regarding how the agency intends to market power and distribute the costs and benefits of the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) in the Pacific Northwest for fiscal years (FY) 2007–2011. This policy clarifies BPA’s obligation to supply power to its regional power customers and guides BPA in developing and establishing its firm power rates in the future. This policy and the Administrator’s record of decision (ROD) are available on BPA’s Web site at https://www.bpa.gov/power/ regionaldialogue. Copies are also available by contacting BPA’s Public Information Center at (800) 622–4520. ADDRESSES: E:\FR\FM\14FEN1.SGM 14FEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 29 (Monday, February 14, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 7489]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-2782]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Bonneville Power Administration


Policy for Power Supply Role for Fiscal Years 2007-2011 (Regional 
Dialogue)

AGENCY: Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), Department of Energy 
(DOE).

ACTION: Notice of availability of a National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) Record of Decision (ROD).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of the NEPA ROD to 
adopt a policy on BPA's power supply role for fiscal years 2007-2011. 
This policy is intended to provide BPA's customers with greater clarity 
about their Federal power supply so they can effectively plan for the 
future and make capital investments in long-term electricity 
infrastructure if they choose. It is also intended to provide guidance 
on certain rate matters BPA expects to be addressed in the next rate 
period, while assisting the agency in fulfilling its long-term 
strategic goals and responsibilities to the region. Each policy issue 
has been evaluated for environmental effects and, for those involving 
NEPA, those effects have been addressed in the Business Plan 
Environmental Impact Statement (DOE/EIS-0183, June 1995). Thus, this 
NEPA ROD is consistent with and tiered to the Business Plan EIS and the 
Business Plan ROD (August 15, 1995). This policy, which is also 
referred to as the Regional Dialogue as it is the result of a regional 
discussion process beginning in April 2002, is described more fully in 
a separately issued Administrator's ROD that addresses the legal and 
policy rationale supporting the administrative decisions.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the following documents may be obtained by calling 
BPA's toll-free document request line, 1-800-622-4520, or by visiting 
the Web site at https://www.efw.bpa.gov: The NEPA ROD for the Policy for 
Power Supply Role for Fiscal Years 2007-2011; the Administrator's ROD 
on the policy; and the Business Plan EIS and ROD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Katherine S. Pierce, Bonneville Power 
Administration--KEC-4, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, Oregon 97208-3621; 
toll-free telephone number 1-800-282-3713; fax number 503-230-5699; or 
e-mail kspierce@bpa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Business Plan EIS to which this NEPA ROD 
is tiered was prepared to support a number of decisions including the 
products and services BPA will market, rates for BPA's products and 
services, policy direction for BPA's sale of power products to 
customers, contract terms BPA will offer for power sales, and plans for 
BPA's resource acquisitions and power purchase contracts. Each of the 
issues in this Regional Dialogue policy that were found to have any 
environmental effects were consistent with the Market Driven 
Alternative adopted in the Business Plan ROD. For some policy issues, 
NEPA was not implicated because there were no environmental effects, 
and for other issues, NEPA was not triggered because they are a 
continuation of the status quo. For the remaining issues, any 
environmental effects have already been addressed in the Business Plan 
EIS.

    Issued in Portland, Oregon, on February 4, 2005.
Stephen J. Wright,
Administrator and Chief Executive Officer.
[FR Doc. 05-2782 Filed 2-11-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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