Appalachian Power Company; Notice of Application Accepted for Filing, Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement, Soliciting Motions To Intervene and Protests, Ready for Environmental Analysis, and Soliciting Comments, Recommendations, Preliminary Terms and Conditions, and Preliminary Fishway Prescriptions, 47148-47149 [E8-18733]

Download as PDF 47148 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 157 / Wednesday, August 13, 2008 / Notices (866) 208–3676 (toll free). For TTY, call (202) 502–8659. Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr., Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. E8–18752 Filed 8–12–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Project No.: 2210–169] Appalachian Power Company; Notice of Application Accepted for Filing, Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement, Soliciting Motions To Intervene and Protests, Ready for Environmental Analysis, and Soliciting Comments, Recommendations, Preliminary Terms and Conditions, and Preliminary Fishway Prescriptions ebenthall on PRODPC60 with NOTICES August 7, 2008. Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection. a. Type of Application: New Major License. b. Project No.: 2210–169. c. Date Filed: March 27, 2008. d. Applicant: Appalachian Power Company, dba American Electric Power. e. Name of Project: Smith Mountain Pumped Storage Project. f. Location: On the headwaters of the Roanoke River in south-central Virginia, within the counties of Bedford, Campbell, Franklin and Pittsylvania, and near the city of Roanoke, Virginia. No federal lands are occupied by the project works or otherwise located within the project boundary. g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act 16 U.S.C. 791 (a)–825(r). h. Applicant Contact: Teresa P. Rogers, Environmental and Regulatory Affairs Supervisor, Appalachian Power Company, Hydro Generation, P.O. Box 2021, Roanoke, VA 24022–2121; (540) 985–2441; tprogers@aep.com. i. FERC Contact: Allan Creamer, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC. 20426; (202) 502–8365; allan.creamer@ferc.gov. j. The deadline for filing motions to intervene and protests, comments, recommendations, preliminary terms and conditions, and preliminary fishway prescriptions is 60 days from the issuance date of this notice (October 6, 2008) and reply comments are due 105 days from the issuance date of this notice (November 20, 2008). All documents (original and eight copies) should be filed with: Kimberly VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:38 Aug 12, 2008 Jkt 214001 D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426. The Commission’s Rules of Practice require all intervenors filing documents with the Commission to serve a copy of that document on each person on the official service list for the project. Further, if an intervenor files comments or documents with the Commission relating to the merits of an issue that may affect the responsibilities of a particular resource agency, they must also serve a copy of the document on that resource agency. Motions to intervene, protests, comments, recommendations, preliminary terms and conditions, and preliminary fishway prescriptions 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 (https://www.ferc.gov) under the ‘‘eFiling’’ link. k. This application has been accepted for filing and is ready for environmental analysis. The Commission intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the project, in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act. The EIS will consider both site-specific and cumulative environmental impacts and reasonable alternatives to the proposed action. l. The Project Description: The existing Smith Mountain Project consists of two developments; one used for pumped storage operation and the other conventional operation. The upper, pumped storage development, known as Smith Mountain, consists of: (1) A 816-footlong, 235-foot-high concrete arch dam, with a crest elevation of 812.0 feet National Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD); (2) two ogee-crest overflow spillways, each 100-feet-long and having a crest elevation of 595.0 feet NGVD [passing 25,000 cubic feet per second (cfs)]; (3) a reservoir with a surface area of 20,260 acres at a normal operating level of 795.0 feet NGVD; (4) a pump station/powerhouse containing five generating units, with a total capacity of 586 megawatts (MW), a total hydraulic capacity of 46,000 cfs, and an average annual generation of 476,640 MWh (three of the units, which have a pumping capacity of 15,810 cfs, are reversible for pumping water from the Leesville’s reservoir to Smith Mountain’s reservoir); (5) a 600,000 KVA substation and a double-circuit 138-kV tie-in line to American Electric Power’s (AEP) interconnected system; and (6) appurtenant facilities. PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 The lower, conventional development, known as Leesville, consists of: (1) A 980-foot-long, 94 foothigh concrete gravity dam, with a crest elevation of 615.67 feet NGVD; (2) a 224-foot-long gated spillway section, with (a) a crest elevation of 578.0 feet NGVD, (b) four taintor gates, and (c) a hydraulic capacity of 175,100 cfs; (3) a reservoir with a surface area of 3,260 acres at an elevation of 613.0 feet NGVD; (4) a powerhouse containing two generating units, with a total capacity of 50 MW, a total hydraulic capacity of 9,000 cfs, and an average annual generation of 59,376 MWh; (5) a 50,000 KVA substation and a double-circuit 138-kV tie-in line to AEP’s interconnected system; and (6) appurtenant facilities. The Smith Mountain development operates as a peaking/load-following facility, with generation occurring during peak demand periods and pumpback operation occurring during offpeak periods. Under normal operation, Smith Mountain Lake uses a 2-foot drawdown, which equates to a 13-foot fluctuation in Leesville Lake. Currently, Leesville is operated by auto-cycling the units, to provide a minimum average daily flow of 650 cfs to the Roanoke River downstream. Additional flow is provided during the spring spawning season for striped bass. Appalachian Power does not propose to modify existing operations, except as described in its proposed Water Management Plan. Appalachian also proposes to implement numerous environmental enhancement measures that are contained in its proposed resource-specific management plans. m. Location of the Application: A copy of the application is available for review at the Commission in the Public Reference Room or may be viewed on the Commission’s Web site at https:// 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 tollfree at 1–866–208–3676, or for TTY, (202) 502–8659. A copy is also available for inspection and reproduction at the address in item (h) above. You may also register online at https://www.ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm to be notified via e-mail of new filings and issuances related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support. n. Anyone may submit comments, a protest, or a motion to intervene in accordance with the requirements of Rules of Practice and Procedure, 18 CFR E:\FR\FM\13AUN1.SGM 13AUN1 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 157 / Wednesday, August 13, 2008 / Notices 385.210, .211, .214. In determining the appropriate action to take, the Commission will consider all protests and other comments filed, but only those who file a motion to intervene in accordance with the Commission’s Rules may become a party to the proceeding. Any comments, protests, or motions to intervene must be received on or before the specified comment date for the particular application. All filings must (1) Bear in all capital letters the title ‘‘PROTEST,’’ ‘‘MOTION TO INTERVENE,’’ ‘‘COMMENTS,’’ ‘‘REPLY COMMENTS,’’ ‘‘RECOMMENDATIONS,’’ ‘‘PRELIMINARY TERMS AND CONDITIONS,’’ or ‘‘PRELIMINARY FISHWAY PRESCRIPTIONS’’; (2) set forth in the heading the name of the applicant and the project number of the application to which the filing responds; (3) furnish the name, address, and telephone number of the person protesting or intervening; and (4) otherwise comply with the requirements of 18 CFR 385.2001 through 385.2005. Agencies may obtain copies of the application directly from the applicant. A copy of any protest or motion to intervene must be served upon each representative of the applicant specified in the particular application. o. Procedural Schedule: The application will be processed according to the following Hydro Licensing Schedule. Revisions to the schedule may be made as appropriate. Milestone Filing of recommendations, preliminary terms and conditions, and fishway prescriptions. Commission issues Draft EIS. Comments on Draft EIS .... Modified Terms and Conditions. Commission Issues Final EIS. Target date October 2008. January 2009. March 2009. May 2009. August 2009. p. Final amendments to the application must be filed with the Commission no later than 30 days from the issuance date of this notice. ebenthall on PRODPC60 with NOTICES Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. E8–18733 Filed 8–12–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:38 Aug 12, 2008 Jkt 214001 DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. PF08–13–000] Southern Natural Gas Company; Supplemental Notice of Intent To Prepare An Environmental Assessment for the South System Expansion III Project and Request for Comments On Environmental Issues August 7, 2008. The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) issued on May 16, 2008, a Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Assessment (NOI) 1 for the related natural gas pipeline projects proposed by Southern Natural Gas Company (SNG) for the South System Expansion III Project (SSEIII Project), Docket No. PF08–13–000; and by Southeast Supply Header, LLC (SESH) for the Joint Pipeline Expansion Phase II Project (JPE Phase II Project), Docket No. PF08–16–000. In documents filed July 31, 2008, SNG informed that it has modified the SSEIII Project by adding additional pipeline facilities in four areas, by changing the proposed facility constructed in one area, and by modifying the timeframe for construction of one facility, as described below. These modifications were made as a result of the changes in the transportation service requirements of SNG’s customer, Georgia Power Company (Georgia Power). This supplemental NOI is being issued to notify the public about the modification to the SSEII Project and to request comments about the proposed modified facilities only. Please note that the scoping period for this supplemental NOI will close on September 8, 2008. The staff of the FERC will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will address the environmental impacts of the SSEIII Project proposed by SNG and the JPE Phase II Project proposed by SESH; together they are referred to as ‘‘the projects’’. The Commission will use the EA in its decision-making process to determine whether or not to authorize the project. This notice explains the scoping process we 2 will use to gather environmental input from the public and interested agencies on 1 The May 16, 2008 NOI for the projects as originally proposed is included in this supplemental NOI as an attachment. It may also be accessed via the FERC’s eLibrary. Instructions about using eLibrary are included in this document on page 7. 2 ‘‘We,’’ ‘‘us,’’ and ‘‘our’’ refer to the environmental staff of the FERC’s Office of Energy Projects. PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 47149 the projects. Your input will help the Commission determine the issues that need to be evaluated in the EA. Details on how to submit written comments are provided in the Public Participation section of this notice. If you are a landowner receiving this supplemental NOI, you may be contacted by a pipeline company representative about the acquisition of an easement to construct, operate, and maintain the proposed project facilities. The pipeline company would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement for its project. However, if the projects are 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. This supplemental NOI is being sent to affected landowners; federal, state, and local government agencies; elected officials; environmental and public interest groups; Native American tribes; other interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers where the modified facilities are proposed. We encourage government representatives 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 Internet Web site (https:// 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 FERC’s proceedings. Summary of the Proposed Project The original SSEIII Project and the JPE Phase II Project descriptions are in the May 16, 2008 NOI and will not be repeated in this Supplemental NOI. Only the modified facilities proposed by SNG are described herein. SNG proposes to construct, own, operate, and maintain certain natural gas transportation facilities within the states of Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi for the SSEIII Project. The general locations of the proposed pipeline and compression facilities are shown in the figure included as Appendix 1,3 and the modified and 3 The appendices referenced in this notice are not being printed in the Federal Register. Copies of all appendices, 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, E:\FR\FM\13AUN1.SGM Continued 13AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 157 (Wednesday, August 13, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47148-47149]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-18733]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No.: 2210-169]


Appalachian Power Company; Notice of Application Accepted for 
Filing, Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement, Soliciting 
Motions To Intervene and Protests, Ready for Environmental Analysis, 
and Soliciting Comments, Recommendations, Preliminary Terms and 
Conditions, and Preliminary Fishway Prescriptions

August 7, 2008.
    Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been 
filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection.
    a. Type of Application: New Major License.
    b. Project No.: 2210-169.
    c. Date Filed: March 27, 2008.
    d. Applicant: Appalachian Power Company, dba American Electric 
Power.
    e. Name of Project: Smith Mountain Pumped Storage Project.
    f. Location: On the headwaters of the Roanoke River in south-
central Virginia, within the counties of Bedford, Campbell, Franklin 
and Pittsylvania, and near the city of Roanoke, Virginia. No federal 
lands are occupied by the project works or otherwise located within the 
project boundary.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act 16 U.S.C. 791 (a)-825(r).
    h. Applicant Contact: Teresa P. Rogers, Environmental and 
Regulatory Affairs Supervisor, Appalachian Power Company, Hydro 
Generation, P.O. Box 2021, Roanoke, VA 24022-2121; (540) 985-2441; 
tprogers@aep.com.
    i. FERC Contact: Allan Creamer, Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC. 20426; (202) 502-
8365; allan.creamer@ferc.gov.
    j. The deadline for filing motions to intervene and protests, 
comments, recommendations, preliminary terms and conditions, and 
preliminary fishway prescriptions is 60 days from the issuance date of 
this notice (October 6, 2008) and reply comments are due 105 days from 
the issuance date of this notice (November 20, 2008).
    All documents (original and eight copies) should be filed with: 
Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 
First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426.
    The Commission's Rules of Practice require all intervenors filing 
documents with the Commission to serve a copy of that document on each 
person on the official service list for the project. Further, if an 
intervenor files comments or documents with the Commission relating to 
the merits of an issue that may affect the responsibilities of a 
particular resource agency, they must also serve a copy of the document 
on that resource agency.
    Motions to intervene, protests, comments, recommendations, 
preliminary terms and conditions, and preliminary fishway prescriptions 
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 
(https://www.ferc.gov) under the ``e-Filing'' link.
    k. This application has been accepted for filing and is ready for 
environmental analysis. The Commission intends to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the project, in accordance with 
the National Environmental Policy Act. The EIS will consider both site-
specific and cumulative environmental impacts and reasonable 
alternatives to the proposed action.
    l. The Project Description: The existing Smith Mountain Project 
consists of two developments; one used for pumped storage operation and 
the other conventional operation.
    The upper, pumped storage development, known as Smith Mountain, 
consists of: (1) A 816-foot-long, 235-foot-high concrete arch dam, with 
a crest elevation of 812.0 feet National Geodetic Vertical Datum 
(NGVD); (2) two ogee-crest overflow spillways, each 100-feet-long and 
having a crest elevation of 595.0 feet NGVD [passing 25,000 cubic feet 
per second (cfs)]; (3) a reservoir with a surface area of 20,260 acres 
at a normal operating level of 795.0 feet NGVD; (4) a pump station/
powerhouse containing five generating units, with a total capacity of 
586 megawatts (MW), a total hydraulic capacity of 46,000 cfs, and an 
average annual generation of 476,640 MWh (three of the units, which 
have a pumping capacity of 15,810 cfs, are reversible for pumping water 
from the Leesville's reservoir to Smith Mountain's reservoir); (5) a 
600,000 KVA substation and a double-circuit 138-kV tie-in line to 
American Electric Power's (AEP) interconnected system; and (6) 
appurtenant facilities.
    The lower, conventional development, known as Leesville, consists 
of: (1) A 980-foot-long, 94 foot-high concrete gravity dam, with a 
crest elevation of 615.67 feet NGVD; (2) a 224-foot-long gated spillway 
section, with (a) a crest elevation of 578.0 feet NGVD, (b) four 
taintor gates, and (c) a hydraulic capacity of 175,100 cfs; (3) a 
reservoir with a surface area of 3,260 acres at an elevation of 613.0 
feet NGVD; (4) a powerhouse containing two generating units, with a 
total capacity of 50 MW, a total hydraulic capacity of 9,000 cfs, and 
an average annual generation of 59,376 MWh; (5) a 50,000 KVA substation 
and a double-circuit 138-kV tie-in line to AEP's interconnected system; 
and (6) appurtenant facilities.
    The Smith Mountain development operates as a peaking/load-following 
facility, with generation occurring during peak demand periods and 
pump-back operation occurring during off-peak periods. Under normal 
operation, Smith Mountain Lake uses a 2-foot drawdown, which equates to 
a 13-foot fluctuation in Leesville Lake. Currently, Leesville is 
operated by auto-cycling the units, to provide a minimum average daily 
flow of 650 cfs to the Roanoke River downstream. Additional flow is 
provided during the spring spawning season for striped bass.
    Appalachian Power does not propose to modify existing operations, 
except as described in its proposed Water Management Plan. Appalachian 
also proposes to implement numerous environmental enhancement measures 
that are contained in its proposed resource-specific management plans.
    m. Location of the Application: A copy of the application is 
available for review at the Commission in the Public Reference Room or 
may be viewed on the Commission's Web site at https://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 item (h) above.
    You may also register online at https://www.ferc.gov/
esubscribenow.htm to be notified via e-mail of new filings and 
issuances related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, 
contact FERC Online Support.
    n. Anyone may submit comments, a protest, or a motion to intervene 
in accordance with the requirements of Rules of Practice and Procedure, 
18 CFR

[[Page 47149]]

385.210, .211, .214. In determining the appropriate action to take, the 
Commission will consider all protests and other comments filed, but 
only those who file a motion to intervene in accordance with the 
Commission's Rules may become a party to the proceeding. Any comments, 
protests, or motions to intervene must be received on or before the 
specified comment date for the particular application.
    All filings must (1) Bear in all capital letters the title 
``PROTEST,'' ``MOTION TO INTERVENE,'' ``COMMENTS,'' ``REPLY COMMENTS,'' 
``RECOMMENDATIONS,'' ``PRELIMINARY TERMS AND CONDITIONS,'' or 
``PRELIMINARY FISHWAY PRESCRIPTIONS''; (2) set forth in the heading the 
name of the applicant and the project number of the application to 
which the filing responds; (3) furnish the name, address, and telephone 
number of the person protesting or intervening; and (4) otherwise 
comply with the requirements of 18 CFR 385.2001 through 385.2005. 
Agencies may obtain copies of the application directly from the 
applicant. A copy of any protest or motion to intervene must be served 
upon each representative of the applicant specified in the particular 
application.
    o. Procedural Schedule:  The application will be processed 
according to the following Hydro Licensing Schedule. Revisions to the 
schedule may be made as appropriate.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Milestone                           Target date
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Filing of recommendations, preliminary   October 2008.
 terms and conditions, and fishway
 prescriptions.
Commission issues Draft EIS............  January 2009.
Comments on Draft EIS..................  March 2009.
Modified Terms and Conditions..........  May 2009.
Commission Issues Final EIS............  August 2009.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    p. Final amendments to the application must be filed with the 
Commission no later than 30 days from the issuance date of this notice.

Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8-18733 Filed 8-12-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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