Idaho Power Company; Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Hells Canyon Hydroelectric Project, 44682-44683 [E6-12717]

Download as PDF 44682 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 151 / Monday, August 7, 2006 / Notices sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES facilities. The proposed project is associated with CNYOG’s existing Stagecoach Storage Project which has been in operation since 2002 and has a working storage capacity of 13.25 billion cubic feet (Bcf). The Stagecoach Phase II Expansion Project would convert four existing natural gas production fields that are nearly depleted into storage reservoirs in Bradford County, Pennsylvania and Tioga County, New York. The facilities required by the project would include: An additional 12,000-horsepower electric-drive centrifugal compressor unit; eight storage injection/withdrawal wells; approximately 6.7 miles of 6-inch- and 20-inch-diameter gathering pipeline and associated rights-of-way; eight wellhead meter stations and other appurtenant facilities, including isolation valves, separators, measurement and communication equipment; about 4.4 miles of access roads not contained within pipeline or well easements; and a 9.3-mile-long, 20-inch-diameter lateral (North Lateral) from the existing compressor station to the proposed Millennium Pipeline located north of the town of Owego, New York.1 The purpose of the project is to support increased demand for natural gas service in the northeast United States. The connection and integration of the additional reservoirs would essentially double the working storage capacity of the Stagecoach Facility from 13.25 Bcf to about 26.25 Bcf. The increase in storage capacity is expected to extend the facility’s capability to handle withdrawals at a maximum rate of 500,000 million cubic feet (Mcf)/day from the existing level of 12 consecutive days to 20 consecutive days. The EA has been placed in the public files of the FERC. A limited number of copies of the EA are available for distribution and public inspection at: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Public Reference Room, 888 First Street, NE., Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426, (202) 502–8371. Copies of the EA have been mailed to Federal, State and local agencies, public interest groups, interested individuals, newspapers, and parties to this proceeding. Any person wishing to comment on the EA may do so. To ensure consideration prior to a Commission decision on the proposal, it is important 1 The Millennium Pipeline Project was approved by the Commission on September 19, 2002 in Docket Nos. CP98–150–000. Construction of the Millennium Pipeline has not commenced to date, and Millennium Piepline L.P. is currently seeking Commission approval for design and route changes to its project in Docket Nos. CP98–150–006 and CP98–150–007. VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:19 Aug 04, 2006 Jkt 208001 that we receive your comments before the date specified below. Please carefully follow these instructions to ensure that your comments are received in time and properly recorded: • Send an original and two copies of your comments to: Magalie R. Salas, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First St., NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426; • Reference Docket No. CP06–64– 000; • Label one copy of the comments for the attention of the Gas Branch 1, PJ– 11.1; and • Mail your comments so that they will be received in Washington, DC on or before August 28, 2006. Please note that the Commission strongly encourages electronic filing of any comments or interventions or protests to this proceeding. See 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the Commission’s Web site at https:// www.ferc.gov under the ‘‘e-Filing’’ link and the link to the User’s Guide. Before you can file comments you will need to create an account which can be created on-line. Comments will be considered by the Commission but will not serve to make the commentor a party to the proceeding. Any person seeking to become a party to the proceeding must file a motion to intervene pursuant to Rule 214 of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedures (18 CFR 385.214).2 Only intervenors have the right to seek rehearing of the Commission’s decision. Affected landowners and parties with environmental concerns may be granted intervenor status upon showing good cause by stating that they have a clear and direct interest in this proceeding which would not be adequately represented by any other parties. You do not need intervenor status to have your comments considered. Additional information about the project is available from the Commission’s Office of External Affairs, at 1–866–208–FERC or on the FERC Internet Web site (www.ferc.gov) using the eLibrary link. Click on the eLibrary link, click on ‘‘General Search’’ and enter the docket number excluding the last three digits in the Docket Number field. Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free at 1–866–208–3676, or for TTY, contact (202)502–8659. The eLibrary link also provides access to the texts of formal 2 Interventions may also be filed electronically via the Internet in lieu of paper. See the previous discussion on filing comments electronically. PO 00000 Frm 00078 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rulemakings. In addition, the Commission now offers a free service called eSubscription which allows you to keep track of all formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets. This can reduce the amount of time you spend researching proceedings by automatically providing you with notification of these filings, document summaries and direct links to the documents. Go to www.ferc.gov/ esubscribenow.htm. Magalie R. Salas, Secretary. [FR Doc. E6–12712 Filed 8–4–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Project No. 1971–079] Idaho Power Company; Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Hells Canyon Hydroelectric Project July 28, 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 license for the Hells Canyon Project (FERC No. 1971), located on the Snake River in Washington and Adams, Counties, Idaho, and Wallowa and Baker Counties, Oregon, and has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (draft EIS) for the project. About 5,270 acres of Federal lands administered by the Forest Service (Payette and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests and Hells Canyon National Recreational Area) and the Bureau of Land Management are included within the project boundary. The draft EIS contains staff evaluations of the Idaho Power Company’s proposal and the alternatives for relicensing the Hells Canyon Project. The draft EIS documents the views of governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, affected Indian tribes, the public, the license applicant, and Commission staff. A copy of the draft EIS is available for review in the Commission’s Public Reference Branch, Room 2A, located at 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426, 1–866–208–3676, E:\FR\FM\07AUN1.SGM 07AUN1 sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 151 / Monday, August 7, 2006 / Notices public.referenceroom@ferc.gov. The draft EIS also may be viewed on the Commission’s Web site at https:// 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 tollfree at 1–866–208–3676, or for TTY, (202) 502–8659. CD versions of the draft EIS have been mailed to everone on the mailing list for the project. Copies of the CD, as well as a limited number of paper copies, are available from the Public Reference Room identified above. You may also register online at https://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ esubscription.asp to be notified via email of new filings and issuances related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support. 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 October 3, 2006, and should reference Project No. 1971–079. 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 https://www.ferc.gov under the eLibrary link. Anyone may intervene in this proceeding based on this draft EIS (18 CFR 380.10). You must file your request to intervene as specified above.1 You do not need intervenor status to have your comments considered. In addition to or in lieu of sending written comments, you are invited to attend public meetings that will be held to receive comments on the draft EIS. Two meetings have been scheduled for Thursday night, September 7, and Friday morning, September 8, 2006, in Boise, Idaho. Details of these public meetings, and other meetings yet to be scheduled, will be included in a separate notice, as well as posted on the Commission’s Web site (www.ferc.gov). For further information, contact Alan Mitchnick at (202) 502–6074, alan.mitchnick @ferc.gov; or Emily 1 Interventions may also be filed electronically via the Internet in lieu of paper. See the previous discussion on filing comments electronically. VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:19 Aug 04, 2006 Jkt 208001 Carter at (202) 502–6512, emily.carter@ferc.gov. Magalie R. Salas, Secretary. [FR Doc. E6–12717 Filed 8–4–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. CP06–412–000] Puget Sound Energy, Inc., Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Jackson Prairie Storage Deliverability Expansion Project, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues July 28, 2006. The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will discuss the environmental impacts of the Jackson Prairie (JP) Storage Deliverability Expansion Project involving abandonment, construction, and operation of facilities by Puget Sound Energy, Inc. (Puget) in Lewis County, Washington.1 The Commission will use the EA in its decision-making process to determine whether or not to authorize the project. This notice announces the opening of the scoping period that will be used to gather environmental input from the public and interested agencies on the project. Your input will help us determine the issues that need to be evaluated in the EA. Please note that the scoping period will close on August 28, 2006. This notice is being sent to potentially affected landowners; Federal, State, and local government agencies; elected officials; environmental and public interest groups; Native American Tribes, other interested parties; local libraries and newspapers. State and local government representatives are asked to notify their constituents of this planned project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern. A fact sheet prepared by the FERC entitled ‘‘An Interstate Natural Gas Facility on My Land? What Do I Need To Know?’’ is available for viewing on the FERC Web site (www.ferc.gov). This fact sheet addresses a number of typically asked questions, including the use of eminent domain and how to participate in the Commission’s proceedings. 1 Puget’s application was filed with the Commission under section 7 of the Natural Gas Act and part 157 of the Commmission’s regulations. PO 00000 Frm 00079 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 44683 If you are a landowner receiving this notice, you may be contacted by a Puget representative about the acquisition of an easement to construct, operate, and maintain the proposed facilities. The pipeline company would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement. However, if the project is approved by the Commission, that approval conveys with it the right of eminent domain. Therefore, if easement negotiations fail to produce an agreement, the pipeline company could initiate condemnation proceedings in accordance with state law. Summary of the Proposed Project Puget is seeking authorization to design, construct, operate, and maintain the following new facilities at the existing JP Storage Field in Lewis County, Washington: • Up to ten new withdrawal/injection wells with associated well connect pipeline; • About 0.8 mile of new 24-inchdiameter pipeline to loop a portion of the existing gathering system; • One new 10,480-horsepower (hp) compressor unit at the existing JP Compressor Station; and • Upgrades and auxiliary facility additions at both the JP Compressor Station (total 1,551 hp increase) and JP Meter Station. Puget also requests to abandon various facilities that would be replaced by the proposed upgraded facilities. The existing JP Storage Field interconnects with Northwest Pipeline Corporation’s transmission system which provides natural gas supplies to markets in the Pacific Northwest. Puget’s proposed new and upgraded facilities would allow it to increase maximum firm withdrawal deliverability of the JP Storage Field from 850 million cubic feet per day (MMcfd) to 1,150 MMcfd. Puget is expected to commence construction for the drilling of up to five of the new wells and installation of associated well connect lines in the spring of 2007. Production rate tests on the initial wells would be conducted to help determine the minimum number of wells required to achieve the desired 300 MMcfd. The remaining facilities are anticipated to be constructed in 2008. The general location of Puget’s proposed facilities is shown on the map attached as Appendix 1.2 2 The appendices referenced in this notice are not being printed in the Federal Register. Copies of this notice, other than appendix 1 (maps), are available on the Commission’s Web site at the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link or from the Commission’s Public Reference Room, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426, or call E:\FR\FM\07AUN1.SGM Continued 07AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 151 (Monday, August 7, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44682-44683]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-12717]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 1971-079]


Idaho Power Company; Notice of Availability of the Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Hells Canyon Hydroelectric 
Project

July 28, 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 license for the 
Hells Canyon Project (FERC No. 1971), located on the Snake River in 
Washington and Adams, Counties, Idaho, and Wallowa and Baker Counties, 
Oregon, and has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (draft 
EIS) for the project. About 5,270 acres of Federal lands administered 
by the Forest Service (Payette and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests and 
Hells Canyon National Recreational Area) and the Bureau of Land 
Management are included within the project boundary.
    The draft EIS contains staff evaluations of the Idaho Power 
Company's proposal and the alternatives for relicensing the Hells 
Canyon Project. The draft EIS documents the views of governmental 
agencies, non-governmental organizations, affected Indian tribes, the 
public, the license applicant, and Commission staff.
    A copy of the draft EIS is available for review in the Commission's 
Public Reference Branch, Room 2A, located at 888 First Street, NE., 
Washington, DC 20426, 1-866-208-3676,

[[Page 44683]]

public.referenceroom@ferc.gov. The draft EIS also may be viewed on the 
Commission's Web site at https://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 1-866-208-
3676, or for TTY, (202) 502-8659.
    CD versions of the draft EIS have been mailed to everone on the 
mailing list for the project. Copies of the CD, as well as a limited 
number of paper copies, are available from the Public Reference Room 
identified above.
    You may also register online at https://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/
esubscription.asp to be notified via e-mail of new filings and 
issuances related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, 
contact FERC Online Support.
    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 October 3, 2006, and should 
reference Project No. 1971-079. 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 https://www.ferc.gov under the eLibrary 
link.
    Anyone may intervene in this proceeding based on this draft EIS (18 
CFR 380.10). You must file your request to intervene as specified 
above.\1\ You do not need intervenor status to have your comments 
considered.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Interventions may also be filed electronically via the 
Internet in lieu of paper. See the previous discussion on filing 
comments electronically.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition to or in lieu of sending written comments, you are 
invited to attend public meetings that will be held to receive comments 
on the draft EIS. Two meetings have been scheduled for Thursday night, 
September 7, and Friday morning, September 8, 2006, in Boise, Idaho. 
Details of these public meetings, and other meetings yet to be 
scheduled, will be included in a separate notice, as well as posted on 
the Commission's Web site (www.ferc.gov).
    For further information, contact Alan Mitchnick at (202) 502-6074, 
alan.mitchnick @ferc.gov; or Emily Carter at (202) 502-6512, 
emily.carter@ferc.gov.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E6-12717 Filed 8-4-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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