Amended Notice of Intent To Prepare the Hawai'i Clean Energy Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, 47828-47831 [2012-19647]
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 155 / Friday, August 10, 2012 / Notices
Flows would peak in October and
November, and then decrease through
the dry season. During dry periods and
low water levels, connections between
the lakes would disappear and bottom
sediments would oxidize, preventing
accumulation of organic material along
the lake edge.
The C&SF Project dramatically altered
the fluctuations and timing of
discharges. Presently, water levels in the
KCOL are regulated by nine structures.
Eight of these structures are controlled
by seven stage regulation schedules that
define the operational criteria for
managing lake levels for flood
prevention. The current regulation
schedules limit water level fluctuations
between two to three feet.
d. The KBMWCP & EIS study aims to
achieve a more acceptable balance
among flood control, water supply,
aquatic plant management, and natural
resources.
e. All alternative plans will be
reviewed under provisions of
appropriate laws and regulations,
including the Endangered Species Act,
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act,
Clean Water Act, and Farmland
Protection Policy Act.
f. The Draft EIS is expected to be
available for public review in the 4th
quarter of 2015. A public meeting will
be held during the public review period.
The exact location, date, and times of
the public meeting will be announced in
a public notice and local newspapers.
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Scoping
a. A scoping letter will be used to
invite comments from Federal, State,
and local agencies, affected Indian
tribes, and other interested private
organizations and individuals.
b. Public scoping meetings will be
held. Assistance for individuals with
special needs or language translation
will be available as needed by calling
904–232–1613. The exact location, date,
and times of the public meeting will be
announced in a public notice and local
newspapers.
Agency Role: As the non-Federal
sponsor and leading local expert,
SFWMD will provide extensive
information and assistance on the
resources to be impacted, mitigation
measures, and alternatives.
Dated: July 31, 2012.
Eric Summa,
Chief, Environmental Branch.
[FR Doc. 2012–19623 Filed 8–9–12; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Amended Notice of Intent To Prepare
the Hawai’i Clean Energy
Programmatic Environmental Impact
Statement
Department of Energy (DOE).
Amended Notice of Intent (NOI)
to prepare a Programmatic
Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS).
AGENCY:
ACTION:
In 2010, DOE announced its
intent to prepare a PEIS for the Hawai’i
Interisland Renewable Energy Program
(HIREP): Wind (DOE/EIS–0459) (HIREP:
Wind PEIS). In response to public
scoping comments on the HIREP: Wind
PEIS, as well as regulatory and policy
developments since the scoping
meetings, DOE proposes to broaden the
range of energy efficiency and
renewable energy activities and
technologies to be analyzed in the PEIS
and, accordingly, has renamed it the
Hawai’i Clean Energy PEIS. DOE’s
proposal will involve the development
of guidance to use in future funding
decisions and other actions to support
Hawai’i in achieving the goal
established in the Hawai’i Clean Energy
Initiative (HCEI) to meet 70% of the
State’s energy needs by 2030 through
energy efficiency and renewable energy.
Achieving the HCEI goal could involve
a diverse range of activities.
Accordingly, this PEIS will analyze the
potential environmental impacts of
activities in the following clean energy
categories: (1) Energy Efficiency, (2)
Distributed Renewables, (3) UtilityScale Renewables, (4) Alternative
Transportation Fuels and Modes, and
(5) Electrical Transmission and
Distribution. The State of Hawai’i and
the U.S. Department of the Interior’s
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
(BOEM) are cooperating agencies in
preparing this PEIS.
DATES: DOE invites public comment on
the scope of the PEIS during a 60-day
public scoping period ending on
October 9, 2012. See Public
Participation: Scoping, EIS Distribution,
Schedule in the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION section below for public
scoping meeting dates and locations.
DOE will consider all comments
received or postmarked by the end of
the scoping period, and will consider
comments received or postmarked after
the ending date to the extent
practicable.
ADDRESSES: Written comments on the
scope of the PEIS or a request to be
added to the PEIS distribution list may
be submitted as follows:
• Email to
hawaiicleanenergypeis@ee.doe.gov.
SUMMARY:
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• Electronic comments via the PEIS
Web site at https://
www.hawaiicleanenergypeis.com.
• Facsimile (fax) to (808) 541–2253.
Attention: Hawai’i Clean Energy PEIS.
• U.S. mail to Jim Spaeth, U.S.
Department of Energy, 300 Ala Moana
Blvd., P.O. Box 50247, Honolulu, HI
96850–0247.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
information on DOE’s proposed action,
contact Jane Summerson, Ph.D., DOE
National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) Document Manager, Office of
Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy, U.S. Department of Energy,
1000 Independence Avenue SW.,
Washington, DC 20585, or Jim Spaeth,
U.S. Department of Energy, 300 Ala
Moana Blvd., P.O. Box 50247, Honolulu,
HI 96850–0247, or send an email to
hawaiicleanenergypeis@ee.doe.gov.
Information on the Hawai’i Clean
Energy PEIS is available on the PEIS
Web site at https://
www.hawaiicleanenergypeis.com and at
the public libraries listed under Public
Participation: Scoping, EIS Distribution,
Schedule in the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION section below.
For general information about the
DOE NEPA process, contact Carol
Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA
Policy and Compliance (GC–54), U.S.
Department of Energy, 1000
Independence Avenue SW, Washington,
DC 20585, or (800) 472–2756 or
askNEPA@hq.doe.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Background
DOE and the State of Hawai’i
Coordination and Collaboration
DOE and Hawai’i entered into a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
in January 2008 that established a longterm partnership to transform the way
in which energy efficiency and
renewable energy resources are planned
and used in the State. The MOU
established working groups to address
key sectors of the energy economy (e.g.,
electricity, end-use efficiency,
transportation, and fuels), which led to
the establishment of the HCEI. The goal
of the HCEI is to meet 70% of Hawai’i’s
energy needs by 2030 through energy
efficiency and renewable energy
(collectively ‘‘clean energy’’).
To support this goal, in 2009,
Hawai’i’s legislature established a
Renewable Portfolio Standard of 15% by
2015, 25% by 2020, and 40% by 2030.
[See Haw. Rev. Stat. Sections 269–91 to
296–95 (2012) and Haw. Rev. Stat.
Section 196 (2012).] Hawai’i also has
established an Energy Efficiency
Portfolio Standard that calls for the
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statewide reduction in electricity use of
4,300 gigawatt hours via efficiency
measures by 2030. [Haw. Rev. Stat.
Section 269–96 (2012).]
Meanwhile, DOE has helped advance
Hawai’i’s clean energy goals by
providing technical research and
analysis, direct staff involvement,
competitive solicitations, and funding.
For example, DOE has provided funding
for distributed photovoltaics on O’ahu
and Maui; a wind farm on O’ahu; smart
grid projects on Maui and Kaua’i;
electric vehicle public charging
networks; efficient appliance rebates;
solar water heating rebates; and lowinterest loans. Also, in accordance with
Section 355 of the Energy Policy Act of
2005, DOE assessed the economic
implications of Hawai’i’s dependence
on oil as a principal source of energy,
including the technical and economic
feasibility of increasing the use of
renewable energy resources for the
generation of electricity on an island-byisland basis. The report concluded that
Hawai’i has many opportunities to
diversify energy use through greater
utilization of renewable energy for
electricity and transportation
applications.1
2010 Notice of Intent for the HIREP:
Wind PEIS
On December 14, 2010, DOE issued a
NOI to prepare a PEIS, with the State of
Hawai’i as a joint lead, on the wind
phase of the Hawai’i Interisland
Renewable Energy Program (75 FR
77859). That NOI referred to the PEIS as
the HIREP: Wind PEIS. Scoping
meetings were held in Honolulu,
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Kahului, Kaunakakai, and Lana’i City in
February 2011. Commenters expressed
concern that DOE and the State would
not analyze energy efficiency measures,
distributed renewable energy, or the full
range of potential renewable energy
technologies. Commenters also
expressed concern about the
construction of interisland electricity
transmission connection(s) and cable(s),
the potential disparity of impacts on
islands that could host wind
development projects versus those that
would use the electricity, and potential
impacts to cultural resources, among
other issues. In light of these comments,
as well as regulatory and policy
developments since the scoping
meetings, DOE consulted with the State
and decided to broaden the range of
energy efficiency and renewable energy
activities and technologies to be
1U.S. Department of Energy. Assessment of
Dependence of State of Hawaii on Oil. (December
2008); available at https://hawaiicleanenergypeis.
com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Hawaii_Oil_
Dependency.pdf.
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analyzed in the PEIS. In preparing the
PEIS, DOE will consider scoping
comments already received on the
initial NOI, along with comments
received in response to this amended
NOI.
2. Environmental Review Process
The Hawai’i Clean Energy PEIS will
be prepared pursuant to the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as
amended, the Council on Environmental
Quality (CEQ) NEPA regulations (40
CFR Parts 1500 through 1508), and the
DOE NEPA implementing procedures
(10 CFR Part 1021). The PEIS also will
consider, among other regulatory items,
the requirements of the Hawai’i
Environmental Policy Act (Hawai’i
Revised Statutes [HRS] chapter 343).
DOE invites Federal, State, and local
government agencies, Native Hawaiian
and other organizations, and members
of the public to submit comments and
participate in public meetings on the
scope of the PEIS—that is, the proposed
action, the range of reasonable
alternatives, and potential
environmental impacts and other issues
to be considered. DOE also invites
government agencies with jurisdiction
by law or special expertise to be
cooperating agencies in EIS preparation.
The State of Hawai’i and BOEM have
agreed to be cooperating agencies.
The PEIS will not eliminate the need
for project-specific environmental
review of individual projects or
activities that may be eligible for
funding or other support by DOE. To the
extent that DOE proposes to fund or
undertake particular projects or
activities that may fall within the scope
of the PEIS, project-specific NEPA
review for such projects and activities is
expected to be tiered from the PEIS and
to be more effective and efficient
because of the PEIS. Moreover, such
projects and activities will be subject to
compliance with obligations under
other environmental laws such as the
Endangered Species Act and National
Historic Preservation Act.
3. DOE Purpose and Need for Agency
Action
DOE’s purpose and need for agency
action is based on the 2008 MOU with
Hawai’i that established a long-term
partnership to transform the way in
which energy efficiency and renewable
energy resources are planned and used
in the State. Consistent with this MOU,
DOE’s purpose and need is to support
the State in its efforts to meet 70% of
the State’s energy needs by 2030
through clean energy.
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4. DOE’s Proposed Action
DOE’s proposed action is to develop
guidance that it can use in making
decisions about future funding or other
actions to support Hawai’i in achieving
the goal established in the HCEI to meet
70% of the State’s energy needs by 2030
through energy efficiency and
renewable energy. For purposes of this
PEIS, DOE has divided these potential
future actions into five clean energy
categories and will analyze, at a
programmatic level, the potential
environmental impacts of future DOE
actions that would fall within these
categories and be subject to DOE’s
proposed guidance.
Energy Efficiency
Buildings (new construction and
retrofits)
Energy Conservation
Ground Source Heat Pumps
Initiatives and Programs (e.g., tax
incentives and rebates)
Sea Water Cooling
Solar Water Heating
Distributed Renewables
Biomass (small systems)
Hydroelectric (small systems)
Hydrogen Fuel Cells
Solar Photovoltaic Panels
Wind (small systems)
Utility-Scale Renewables
Biomass Geothermal
Hydroelectric
Municipal Solid Waste (including
landfill gas)
Ocean Energy (wave and tidal)
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion
Solar Photovoltaic Arrays
Solar Thermal Systems
Wind (land-based)
Wind (offshore)
Alternative Transportation Fuels and
Modes
Biofuels
Electric Vehicles
Hybrid Electric Vehicles
Hydrogen
Liquefied Natural Gas
Mass Transportation
Electrical Transmission and Distribution
On Island Transmission
Land/Sea Cable Transition Sites
Undersea Cable Corridors
Smart Grid
Energy Storage
The PEIS will analyze the potential
environmental impacts of only those
clean energy activities and technologies
that are eligible under Hawai’i’s
Renewable Portfolio Standard or Energy
Efficiency Portfolio Standard. It will
analyze these potential impacts, as
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appropriate, on an island-by-island
basis for the islands of Hawai’i, Kaua’i,
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Lana’i, Maui, Moloka’i, and O’ahu. The
PEIS will build upon the environmental
and technical studies and public
comments and outreach conducted to
date.
The energy efficiency activities and
renewable energy technologies and
resources available in Hawai’i,
including distributed and utility-scale
renewable energy, vary by island and in
commercial availability and economic
viability. Furthermore, as in all utility
systems, Hawai’i’s ability to incorporate
clean energy into individual island grids
can be limited by the capacity of the
power transmission system. Thus, DOE
will consider several factors in
determining the appropriate level of
detail for analyzing the potential
environmental impacts of each form of
clean energy in the PEIS. These factors
may include the potential to make a
timely contribution to the HCEI goal;
stage of technical development;
commercial availability; and potential
for significant environmental impacts.
Similarly, DOE will consider the
conditions on an individual island to
help determine the appropriate level of
detail for analysis of potential impacts
on that island. In other words, the PEIS
will not assume that each energy
efficiency activity or renewable energy
technology has the same potential for
use on each island or that it would
result in the same potential
environmental impacts on each island.
The PEIS may identify (a) general
geographical areas suitable for
development of renewable energy
resources, (b) combinations of energy
efficiency activities and renewable
energy technologies that may be both
feasible and efficient in helping Hawai’i
meet its HCEI goal, and (c) selection
criteria and priorities that DOE could
consider when reviewing projectspecific proposals. In addition, the PEIS
will provide information needed to
consider the potential environmental
impacts from clean energy activities and
technologies. As a result, DOE will have
information relevant to prioritizing
future funding or other decisions. This
could help DOE avoid redundancies and
inefficiencies in future project
development and decision-making.
The PEIS also will analyze, as
connected actions or for cumulative
impacts, on-going and reasonably
foreseeable actions by other entities that
could contribute to meeting Hawai’i’s
clean energy goals. Such energy
efficiency and renewable energy actions
could be proposed or undertaken by
other federal agencies, state or local
government agencies, or private parties.
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No-Action Alternative
Under the no-action alternative, DOE
would continue to support, through
funding and other actions, Hawai’i in
meeting the HCEI goal on a case-by-case
basis, but without guidance to integrate
and prioritize funding decisions and
other actions.
5. Preliminary Identification of
Environmental Issues
The PEIS will evaluate the full range
of potential environmental, including
cultural and socioeconomic, impacts
associated with implementing clean
energy activities and technologies on
¯
the islands of Hawai’i, Kaua’i, Lana’i,
Maui, Moloka’i, and O’ahu.
The following environmental resource
areas have been tentatively identified
for consideration in the EIS:
• Cultural and historical resources.
• Air quality (including climate
change and greenhouse gas emissions).
• Water resources.
• Floodplains and wetlands.
• Coastal zone management.
• Geology and soils.
• Land and submerged land use.
• Biological resources (including
threatened and endangered species,
special status species, and related
sensitive resources).
• Land and marine transportation.
• Airspace management.
• Public health and safety.
• Noise.
• Natural hazards.
• Hazardous materials and waste
management.
• Accidents and intentional
destructive acts.
• Recreational resources.
• Visual resources.
• Socioeconomics.
• Environmental justice
(disproportionately high and adverse
impacts to minority and low-income
populations).
• Utilities and infrastructure.
• Cumulative impacts (past, present,
and reasonably foreseeable future
actions).
• Irreversible and irretrievable
commitments of resources.
6. Public Participation: Scoping, EIS
Distribution, Schedule
Public scoping meetings will be
conducted at the following times and
locations:
• September 11, 2012, 5:00–8:30 p.m. at
O’ahu, McKinley High School, 1039
South King Street, Honolulu, HI
96814
• September 12, 2012, 5:30–9:00 p.m. at
Kaua’i, Kaua’i War Memorial
Convention Hall, 4191 Hardy Street,
Lihue, HI 96766
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• September 13, 2012, 5–8:30 p.m. at
Hawai’i, Kealakehe High School, 74–
5000 Puohulihuli Street, Kailua-Kona,
HI 96740
• September 14, 2012, 5–8:30 p.m. at
Hawai’i, Hilo High School, 556
Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720
• September 17, 2012, 5:30–9 p.m. at
Maui, Pomaika’i Elementary School,
4650 South Kamehameha Avenue,
Kahului, HI 96732
• September 18, 2012, 5–8:30 p.m. at
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Lana’i, Lana’i High & Elementary
School, 555 Fraser Avenue, Lanai
City, HI 96763
• September 19, 2012, 5:30–9 p.m. at
Molokai, Mitchell Pau‘ole Community
Center, 90 Ainoa Street, Kaunakakai,
Molokai, HI 96748
• September 20, 2012, 5–8:30 p.m. at
O’ahu, James B. Castle High School,
45–386 Kaneohe Bay Drive, Kaneohe,
HI 96744
Each scoping meeting will involve: a
presentation that describes the NEPA
process and the concept of a
Programmatic EIS; a question and
answer session; and a formal
commenting session, which will be
transcribed by a court reporter to ensure
that all comments are available to DOE
for consideration during preparation of
the draft PEIS. The meetings will
provide opportunities to view exhibits
on potential clean energy approaches,
ask questions, and submit comments
orally or in writing. Representatives
from DOE, Hawai’i, BOEM, and any
other involved agencies will be
available to answer questions and
provide additional information to
participants. Individuals who submit
comments during the scoping process
and provide their contact information
will receive copies of the draft PEIS.
The format of the draft PEIS provided
could be a printed summary and CD of
the complete document, a CD of the
document, Web site access to the
document, or a complete printed
document, according to the
commenter’s format preference. Persons
who do not submit comments during
scoping, but would like to receive a
copy of the draft PEIS when it is issued,
should submit a request as provided in
the ADDRESSES section and specify their
format preference.
Information on the Hawai’i Clean
Energy PEIS is available on the PEIS
Web site at https://www.
hawaiicleanenergypeis.com. Materials
relating to this PEIS also will be
available at the public libraries listed
below and several additional public
libraries across the State of Hawai’i (for
a complete list, see the PEIS Web site):
• Hawai’i State Library, 478 South
King Street, Honolulu, HI 96813.
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• Lana’i Public and School Library,
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555 Fraser Ave, Lana’i City, HI 96763.
• Wailuku Public Library, 251 High
Street, Wailuku, HI 96793.
• Moloka‘i Public Library, 15 Ala
Malama, Kaunakakai, HI 96748.
• Hilo Public Library, 300
Waianuenue Ave, Hilo, HI 96720.
• Kailua-Kona Public Library, 75–138
Hualalai Road, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740.
• Lihu‘e Public Library, 4344 Hardy
Street, Lihu‘e, HI 96766.
In preparing the draft PEIS, DOE will
consider comments received during the
scoping period and will consider late
comments to the extent practicable.
DOE plans to issue the draft PEIS in
2013. The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) will publish a
Notice of Availability (NOA) of the draft
PEIS in the Federal Register, which will
begin a minimum 45-day public
comment period. DOE will announce
how to comment on the draft PEIS and
will hold public hearings during the
public comment period, but no sooner
than 15 days after the NOA of the draft
PEIS is published.
In preparing the final PEIS, DOE will
respond to comments received on the
draft PEIS. DOE plans to issue the final
PEIS in 2014. No sooner than 30 days
after EPA publishes a NOA of the final
PEIS, DOE may issue its Record of
Decision regarding its actions
considered in the PEIS.
Issued in Washington, DC, on August 3,
2012.
Patricia Hoffman,
Assistant Secretary for Electricity Delivery
and Energy Reliability.
[FR Doc. 2012–19647 Filed 8–9–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
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Combined Notice of Filings #1
Take notice that the Commission
received the following electric rate
filings:
Docket Numbers: ER10–2566–003;
ER10–2034–003; ER10–2033–004;
ER10–2032–004; ER10–1760–003;
ER10–1758–003; ER11–2079–003;
ER11–2064–003; ER11–2069–002;
ER11–2066–003; ER10–1329–003;
ER12–1502–002; ER12–1504–002;
ER10–1330–003; ER10–1328–001;
ER10–2567–002; ER10–1331–001;
ER10–1332–001; ER10–2522–002;
ER11–2080–001; ER10–1333–001;
ER10–1335–001; ER10–1325–001.
Applicants: Duke Energy Carolinas,
LLC, Duke Energy Indiana, Inc. Duke
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Energy Ohio, Inc., Duke Energy
Kentucky, Inc., Carolina Power & Light
Company, Florida Power Corporation,
Duke Energy Fayette II, LLC, Duke
Energy Hanging Rock II, LLC, Duke
Energy Lee II, LLC, Duke Energy
Washington II, LLC, St. Paul
Cogeneration, LLC, Ironwood
Windpower, LLC, Cimarron Windpower
II, LLC, North Allegheny Wind, LLC,
Happy Jack Windpower, LLC, Kit
Carson Windpower, LLC, Silver Sage
Windpower, LLC, Three Buttes
Windpower, LLC, Top of the World
Wind Energy, LLC, Duke Energy
Commercial Asset Management, Inc.,
Duke Energy Commercial Enterprises,
Inc., Duke Energy Retail Sales, LLC,
CinCap V, LLC.
Description: Notice of changes in
status of Duke MBR Sellers.
Filed Date: 8/1/12.
Accession Number: 20120801–5197.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 8/22/12.
Docket Numbers: ER12–2237–001.
Applicants: Dunkirk Power LLC.
Description: Refiled Motion to Hold
Proceeding in Abeyance to be effective
9/11/2012.
Filed Date: 8/1/12.
Accession Number: 20120801–5127.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 8/22/12.
Docket Numbers: ER12–2377–000.
Applicants: Entergy Arkansas, Inc.
Description: EAI Marketing
Agreement to be effective 10/1/2012.
Filed Date: 8/1/12.
Accession Number: 20120801–5117.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 8/22/12.
Docket Numbers: ER12–2378–000.
Applicants: Midwest Independent
Transmission System Operator, Inc.
Description: 08–01–12 Annual CONE
Filing to be effective 6/1/2013.
Filed Date: 8/1/12.
Accession Number: 20120801–5125.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 8/22/12.
Docket Numbers: ER12–2379–000.
Applicants: Arizona Public Service
Company.
Description: Cancellation of Arizona
Public Service Company Service
Agreement No. 311 to be effective 10/2/
2012.
Filed Date: 8/1/12.
Accession Number: 20120801–5172.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 8/22/12.
Docket Numbers: ER12–2380–000.
Applicants: Midwest Independent
Transmission System Operator, Inc.
Description: 08–01–12 Schedule 10 16
17 to be effective 10/1/2012.
Filed Date: 8/1/12.
Accession Number: 20120801–5173.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 8/22/12.
Docket Numbers: ER12–2381–000.
Applicants: MP2 Energy NE LLC.
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Description: Market Based Rate
Application to be effective 8/2/2012 and
Affidavit of Jeff Starcher—Attachment C
to Market Based Rate Application of
ME2 Energy NE LLC.
Filed Date: 8/2/12.
Accession Number: 20120802–5000;
20120802–5031.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 8/23/12.
Take notice that the Commission
received the following electric
reliability filings.
Docket Numbers: RD12–5–000.
Applicants: North American Electric
Reliability Corporation.
Description: Petition of the North
American Electric Reliability
Corporation for Approval of an
Interpretation to Reliability Standard
CIP–002–4—Critical Cyber Asset
Identification.
Filed Date: 8/1/12.
Accession Number: 20120801–5159.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 8/22/12.
Docket Numbers: RD12–6–000.
Applicants: North American Electric
Reliability Corporation.
Description: Petition of the North
American Electric Reliability
Corporation for Approval of an
Interpretation to Reliability Standard
CIP–004–4—Personnel and Training.
Filed Date: 8/1/12.
Accession Number: 20120801–5198.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 8/22/12.
The filings are accessible in the
Commission’s eLibrary system by
clicking on the links or querying the
docket number.
Any person desiring to intervene or
protest in any of the above proceedings
must file in accordance with Rules 211
and 214 of the Commission’s
Regulations (18 CFR 385.211 and
385.214) on or before 5 p.m. Eastern
time on the specified comment date.
Protests may be considered, but
intervention is necessary to become a
party to the proceeding.
eFiling is encouraged. More detailed
information relating to filing
requirements, interventions, protests,
service, and qualifying facilities filings
can be found at: https://www.ferc.gov/
docs-filing/efiling/filing-req.pdf. For
other information, call (866) 208–3676
(toll free). For TTY, call (202) 502–8659.
Dated: August 2, 2012.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012–19616 Filed 8–9–12; 8:45 am]
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E:\FR\FM\10AUN1.SGM
10AUN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 155 (Friday, August 10, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47828-47831]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-19647]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Amended Notice of Intent To Prepare the Hawai'i Clean Energy
Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement
AGENCY: Department of Energy (DOE).
ACTION: Amended Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare a Programmatic
Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS).
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SUMMARY: In 2010, DOE announced its intent to prepare a PEIS for the
Hawai'i Interisland Renewable Energy Program (HIREP): Wind (DOE/EIS-
0459) (HIREP: Wind PEIS). In response to public scoping comments on the
HIREP: Wind PEIS, as well as regulatory and policy developments since
the scoping meetings, DOE proposes to broaden the range of energy
efficiency and renewable energy activities and technologies to be
analyzed in the PEIS and, accordingly, has renamed it the Hawai'i Clean
Energy PEIS. DOE's proposal will involve the development of guidance to
use in future funding decisions and other actions to support Hawai'i in
achieving the goal established in the Hawai'i Clean Energy Initiative
(HCEI) to meet 70% of the State's energy needs by 2030 through energy
efficiency and renewable energy. Achieving the HCEI goal could involve
a diverse range of activities. Accordingly, this PEIS will analyze the
potential environmental impacts of activities in the following clean
energy categories: (1) Energy Efficiency, (2) Distributed Renewables,
(3) Utility-Scale Renewables, (4) Alternative Transportation Fuels and
Modes, and (5) Electrical Transmission and Distribution. The State of
Hawai'i and the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Ocean
Energy Management (BOEM) are cooperating agencies in preparing this
PEIS.
DATES: DOE invites public comment on the scope of the PEIS during a 60-
day public scoping period ending on October 9, 2012. See Public
Participation: Scoping, EIS Distribution, Schedule in the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION section below for public scoping meeting dates and
locations. DOE will consider all comments received or postmarked by the
end of the scoping period, and will consider comments received or
postmarked after the ending date to the extent practicable.
ADDRESSES: Written comments on the scope of the PEIS or a request to be
added to the PEIS distribution list may be submitted as follows:
Email to hawaiicleanenergypeis@ee.doe.gov.
Electronic comments via the PEIS Web site at https://www.hawaiicleanenergypeis.com.
Facsimile (fax) to (808) 541-2253. Attention: Hawai'i
Clean Energy PEIS.
U.S. mail to Jim Spaeth, U.S. Department of Energy, 300
Ala Moana Blvd., P.O. Box 50247, Honolulu, HI 96850-0247.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on DOE's proposed
action, contact Jane Summerson, Ph.D., DOE National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) Document Manager, Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue
SW., Washington, DC 20585, or Jim Spaeth, U.S. Department of Energy,
300 Ala Moana Blvd., P.O. Box 50247, Honolulu, HI 96850-0247, or send
an email to hawaiicleanenergypeis@ee.doe.gov. Information on the
Hawai'i Clean Energy PEIS is available on the PEIS Web site at https://www.hawaiicleanenergypeis.com and at the public libraries listed under
Public Participation: Scoping, EIS Distribution, Schedule in the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below.
For general information about the DOE NEPA process, contact Carol
Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance (GC-54), U.S.
Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC
20585, or (800) 472-2756 or askNEPA@hq.doe.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Background
DOE and the State of Hawai'i Coordination and Collaboration
DOE and Hawai'i entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in
January 2008 that established a long-term partnership to transform the
way in which energy efficiency and renewable energy resources are
planned and used in the State. The MOU established working groups to
address key sectors of the energy economy (e.g., electricity, end-use
efficiency, transportation, and fuels), which led to the establishment
of the HCEI. The goal of the HCEI is to meet 70% of Hawai'i's energy
needs by 2030 through energy efficiency and renewable energy
(collectively ``clean energy'').
To support this goal, in 2009, Hawai'i's legislature established a
Renewable Portfolio Standard of 15% by 2015, 25% by 2020, and 40% by
2030. [See Haw. Rev. Stat. Sections 269-91 to 296-95 (2012) and Haw.
Rev. Stat. Section 196 (2012).] Hawai'i also has established an Energy
Efficiency Portfolio Standard that calls for the
[[Page 47829]]
statewide reduction in electricity use of 4,300 gigawatt hours via
efficiency measures by 2030. [Haw. Rev. Stat. Section 269-96 (2012).]
Meanwhile, DOE has helped advance Hawai'i's clean energy goals by
providing technical research and analysis, direct staff involvement,
competitive solicitations, and funding. For example, DOE has provided
funding for distributed photovoltaics on O'ahu and Maui; a wind farm on
O'ahu; smart grid projects on Maui and Kaua'i; electric vehicle public
charging networks; efficient appliance rebates; solar water heating
rebates; and low-interest loans. Also, in accordance with Section 355
of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, DOE assessed the economic
implications of Hawai'i's dependence on oil as a principal source of
energy, including the technical and economic feasibility of increasing
the use of renewable energy resources for the generation of electricity
on an island-by-island basis. The report concluded that Hawai'i has
many opportunities to diversify energy use through greater utilization
of renewable energy for electricity and transportation applications.\1\
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\1\U.S. Department of Energy. Assessment of Dependence of State
of Hawaii on Oil. (December 2008); available at https://hawaiicleanenergypeis.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Hawaii_Oil_Dependency.pdf.
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2010 Notice of Intent for the HIREP: Wind PEIS
On December 14, 2010, DOE issued a NOI to prepare a PEIS, with the
State of Hawai'i as a joint lead, on the wind phase of the Hawai'i
Interisland Renewable Energy Program (75 FR 77859). That NOI referred
to the PEIS as the HIREP: Wind PEIS. Scoping meetings were held in
Honolulu, Kahului, Kaunakakai, and L[amacr]na'i City in February 2011.
Commenters expressed concern that DOE and the State would not analyze
energy efficiency measures, distributed renewable energy, or the full
range of potential renewable energy technologies. Commenters also
expressed concern about the construction of interisland electricity
transmission connection(s) and cable(s), the potential disparity of
impacts on islands that could host wind development projects versus
those that would use the electricity, and potential impacts to cultural
resources, among other issues. In light of these comments, as well as
regulatory and policy developments since the scoping meetings, DOE
consulted with the State and decided to broaden the range of energy
efficiency and renewable energy activities and technologies to be
analyzed in the PEIS. In preparing the PEIS, DOE will consider scoping
comments already received on the initial NOI, along with comments
received in response to this amended NOI.
2. Environmental Review Process
The Hawai'i Clean Energy PEIS will be prepared pursuant to the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as amended, the Council on
Environmental Quality (CEQ) NEPA regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500 through
1508), and the DOE NEPA implementing procedures (10 CFR Part 1021). The
PEIS also will consider, among other regulatory items, the requirements
of the Hawai'i Environmental Policy Act (Hawai'i Revised Statutes [HRS]
chapter 343).
DOE invites Federal, State, and local government agencies, Native
Hawaiian and other organizations, and members of the public to submit
comments and participate in public meetings on the scope of the PEIS--
that is, the proposed action, the range of reasonable alternatives, and
potential environmental impacts and other issues to be considered. DOE
also invites government agencies with jurisdiction by law or special
expertise to be cooperating agencies in EIS preparation. The State of
Hawai'i and BOEM have agreed to be cooperating agencies.
The PEIS will not eliminate the need for project-specific
environmental review of individual projects or activities that may be
eligible for funding or other support by DOE. To the extent that DOE
proposes to fund or undertake particular projects or activities that
may fall within the scope of the PEIS, project-specific NEPA review for
such projects and activities is expected to be tiered from the PEIS and
to be more effective and efficient because of the PEIS. Moreover, such
projects and activities will be subject to compliance with obligations
under other environmental laws such as the Endangered Species Act and
National Historic Preservation Act.
3. DOE Purpose and Need for Agency Action
DOE's purpose and need for agency action is based on the 2008 MOU
with Hawai'i that established a long-term partnership to transform the
way in which energy efficiency and renewable energy resources are
planned and used in the State. Consistent with this MOU, DOE's purpose
and need is to support the State in its efforts to meet 70% of the
State's energy needs by 2030 through clean energy.
4. DOE's Proposed Action
DOE's proposed action is to develop guidance that it can use in
making decisions about future funding or other actions to support
Hawai'i in achieving the goal established in the HCEI to meet 70% of
the State's energy needs by 2030 through energy efficiency and
renewable energy. For purposes of this PEIS, DOE has divided these
potential future actions into five clean energy categories and will
analyze, at a programmatic level, the potential environmental impacts
of future DOE actions that would fall within these categories and be
subject to DOE's proposed guidance.
Energy Efficiency
Buildings (new construction and retrofits)
Energy Conservation
Ground Source Heat Pumps
Initiatives and Programs (e.g., tax incentives and rebates)
Sea Water Cooling
Solar Water Heating
Distributed Renewables
Biomass (small systems)
Hydroelectric (small systems)
Hydrogen Fuel Cells
Solar Photovoltaic Panels
Wind (small systems)
Utility-Scale Renewables
Biomass Geothermal
Hydroelectric
Municipal Solid Waste (including landfill gas)
Ocean Energy (wave and tidal)
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion
Solar Photovoltaic Arrays
Solar Thermal Systems
Wind (land-based)
Wind (offshore)
Alternative Transportation Fuels and Modes
Biofuels
Electric Vehicles
Hybrid Electric Vehicles
Hydrogen
Liquefied Natural Gas
Mass Transportation
Electrical Transmission and Distribution
On Island Transmission
Land/Sea Cable Transition Sites
Undersea Cable Corridors
Smart Grid
Energy Storage
The PEIS will analyze the potential environmental impacts of only
those clean energy activities and technologies that are eligible under
Hawai'i's Renewable Portfolio Standard or Energy Efficiency Portfolio
Standard. It will analyze these potential impacts, as
[[Page 47830]]
appropriate, on an island-by-island basis for the islands of Hawai'i,
Kaua'i, L[amacr]na'i, Maui, Moloka'i, and O'ahu. The PEIS will build
upon the environmental and technical studies and public comments and
outreach conducted to date.
The energy efficiency activities and renewable energy technologies
and resources available in Hawai'i, including distributed and utility-
scale renewable energy, vary by island and in commercial availability
and economic viability. Furthermore, as in all utility systems,
Hawai'i's ability to incorporate clean energy into individual island
grids can be limited by the capacity of the power transmission system.
Thus, DOE will consider several factors in determining the appropriate
level of detail for analyzing the potential environmental impacts of
each form of clean energy in the PEIS. These factors may include the
potential to make a timely contribution to the HCEI goal; stage of
technical development; commercial availability; and potential for
significant environmental impacts. Similarly, DOE will consider the
conditions on an individual island to help determine the appropriate
level of detail for analysis of potential impacts on that island. In
other words, the PEIS will not assume that each energy efficiency
activity or renewable energy technology has the same potential for use
on each island or that it would result in the same potential
environmental impacts on each island.
The PEIS may identify (a) general geographical areas suitable for
development of renewable energy resources, (b) combinations of energy
efficiency activities and renewable energy technologies that may be
both feasible and efficient in helping Hawai'i meet its HCEI goal, and
(c) selection criteria and priorities that DOE could consider when
reviewing project-specific proposals. In addition, the PEIS will
provide information needed to consider the potential environmental
impacts from clean energy activities and technologies. As a result, DOE
will have information relevant to prioritizing future funding or other
decisions. This could help DOE avoid redundancies and inefficiencies in
future project development and decision-making.
The PEIS also will analyze, as connected actions or for cumulative
impacts, on-going and reasonably foreseeable actions by other entities
that could contribute to meeting Hawai'i's clean energy goals. Such
energy efficiency and renewable energy actions could be proposed or
undertaken by other federal agencies, state or local government
agencies, or private parties.
No-Action Alternative
Under the no-action alternative, DOE would continue to support,
through funding and other actions, Hawai'i in meeting the HCEI goal on
a case-by-case basis, but without guidance to integrate and prioritize
funding decisions and other actions.
5. Preliminary Identification of Environmental Issues
The PEIS will evaluate the full range of potential environmental,
including cultural and socioeconomic, impacts associated with
implementing clean energy activities and technologies on the islands of
Hawai'i, Kaua'i, L[amacr]na'i, Maui, Moloka'i, and O'ahu.
The following environmental resource areas have been tentatively
identified for consideration in the EIS:
Cultural and historical resources.
Air quality (including climate change and greenhouse gas
emissions).
Water resources.
Floodplains and wetlands.
Coastal zone management.
Geology and soils.
Land and submerged land use.
Biological resources (including threatened and endangered
species, special status species, and related sensitive resources).
Land and marine transportation.
Airspace management.
Public health and safety.
Noise.
Natural hazards.
Hazardous materials and waste management.
Accidents and intentional destructive acts.
Recreational resources.
Visual resources.
Socioeconomics.
Environmental justice (disproportionately high and adverse
impacts to minority and low-income populations).
Utilities and infrastructure.
Cumulative impacts (past, present, and reasonably
foreseeable future actions).
Irreversible and irretrievable commitments of resources.
6. Public Participation: Scoping, EIS Distribution, Schedule
Public scoping meetings will be conducted at the following times
and locations:
September 11, 2012, 5:00-8:30 p.m. at O'ahu, McKinley High
School, 1039 South King Street, Honolulu, HI 96814
September 12, 2012, 5:30-9:00 p.m. at Kaua'i, Kaua'i War
Memorial Convention Hall, 4191 Hardy Street, Lihue, HI 96766
September 13, 2012, 5-8:30 p.m. at Hawai'i, Kealakehe High
School, 74-5000 Puohulihuli Street, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
September 14, 2012, 5-8:30 p.m. at Hawai'i, Hilo High School,
556 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720
September 17, 2012, 5:30-9 p.m. at Maui, Pomaika'i Elementary
School, 4650 South Kamehameha Avenue, Kahului, HI 96732
September 18, 2012, 5-8:30 p.m. at L[amacr]na'i, L[amacr]na'i
High & Elementary School, 555 Fraser Avenue, Lanai City, HI 96763
September 19, 2012, 5:30-9 p.m. at Molokai, Mitchell Pau`ole
Community Center, 90 Ainoa Street, Kaunakakai, Molokai, HI 96748
September 20, 2012, 5-8:30 p.m. at O'ahu, James B. Castle High
School, 45-386 Kaneohe Bay Drive, Kaneohe, HI 96744
Each scoping meeting will involve: a presentation that describes
the NEPA process and the concept of a Programmatic EIS; a question and
answer session; and a formal commenting session, which will be
transcribed by a court reporter to ensure that all comments are
available to DOE for consideration during preparation of the draft
PEIS. The meetings will provide opportunities to view exhibits on
potential clean energy approaches, ask questions, and submit comments
orally or in writing. Representatives from DOE, Hawai'i, BOEM, and any
other involved agencies will be available to answer questions and
provide additional information to participants. Individuals who submit
comments during the scoping process and provide their contact
information will receive copies of the draft PEIS. The format of the
draft PEIS provided could be a printed summary and CD of the complete
document, a CD of the document, Web site access to the document, or a
complete printed document, according to the commenter's format
preference. Persons who do not submit comments during scoping, but
would like to receive a copy of the draft PEIS when it is issued,
should submit a request as provided in the ADDRESSES section and
specify their format preference.
Information on the Hawai'i Clean Energy PEIS is available on the
PEIS Web site at https://www.hawaiicleanenergypeis.com. Materials
relating to this PEIS also will be available at the public libraries
listed below and several additional public libraries across the State
of Hawai'i (for a complete list, see the PEIS Web site):
Hawai'i State Library, 478 South King Street, Honolulu, HI
96813.
[[Page 47831]]
L[amacr]na'i Public and School Library, 555 Fraser Ave,
L[amacr]na'i City, HI 96763.
Wailuku Public Library, 251 High Street, Wailuku, HI
96793.
Moloka`i Public Library, 15 Ala Malama, Kaunakakai, HI
96748.
Hilo Public Library, 300 Waianuenue Ave, Hilo, HI 96720.
Kailua-Kona Public Library, 75-138 Hualalai Road, Kailua-
Kona, HI 96740.
Lihu`e Public Library, 4344 Hardy Street, Lihu`e, HI
96766.
In preparing the draft PEIS, DOE will consider comments received
during the scoping period and will consider late comments to the extent
practicable. DOE plans to issue the draft PEIS in 2013. The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will publish a Notice of
Availability (NOA) of the draft PEIS in the Federal Register, which
will begin a minimum 45-day public comment period. DOE will announce
how to comment on the draft PEIS and will hold public hearings during
the public comment period, but no sooner than 15 days after the NOA of
the draft PEIS is published.
In preparing the final PEIS, DOE will respond to comments received
on the draft PEIS. DOE plans to issue the final PEIS in 2014. No sooner
than 30 days after EPA publishes a NOA of the final PEIS, DOE may issue
its Record of Decision regarding its actions considered in the PEIS.
Issued in Washington, DC, on August 3, 2012.
Patricia Hoffman,
Assistant Secretary for Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability.
[FR Doc. 2012-19647 Filed 8-9-12; 8:45 am]
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