Alabama Power Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare Environmental Impact Statement and Soliciting Scoping Comments, 55358-55359 [2018-24107]

Download as PDF 55358 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 214 / Monday, November 5, 2018 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Project No. 2146–111; Project No. 82–000; Project No. 618–000] Alabama Power Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare Environmental Impact Statement and Soliciting Scoping Comments On July 28, 2005, Alabama Power Company (Alabama Power) filed, pursuant to sections 4(e) and 15 of the Federal Power Act,1 an application for a single new license to continue operation and maintenance of three previously separately licensed projects that include seven developments: (1) The Coosa Hydroelectric Project No. 2146, which comprises the Weiss, H. Neely Henry, Logan Martin, Lay, and Bouldin developments; (2) the Mitchell Dam Hydroelectric Project No. 82; and (3) the Jordan Dam Hydroelectric Project No. 618. The single new operating license would combine all of these projects as one project, the Coosa River Hydroelectric Project (Coosa River Project) No. 2146, with a combined 960.9 megawatts of hydroelectric generating capacity. The projects are located on the Coosa River, in the states of Alabama and Georgia, and occupy about 280 acres of federal land administered by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. On December 31, 2009, Commission staff issued a final Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Coosa River Project. On June 20, 2013 (June 20 Order), the Commission issued a single new 30-year license to Alabama Power for the continued operation and maintenance of the Coosa River Project.2 On July 18, 2013, Alabama Rivers Alliance and American Rivers (jointly) filed a request for rehearing of the Commission’s June 20 Order. On July 22, 2013, Alabama Power and Georgia Environmental Protection Division also filed separate requests for rehearing of the Commission’s June 20 Order.3 On April 21, 2016 (April 21 Order), the Commission issued an order on rehearing and clarification regarding the new license for the project.4 On May 17, 2016, Alabama Rivers Alliance and 1 16 U.S.C. 797(e) and 808 (2012). Power Company, 143 FERC 61,249 (2013), order on reh’g and clarification, 155 FERC 61,080 (2016), order denying reh’g, 156 FERC 61,171 (2016). 3 The Atlanta Regional Commission adopted and incorporated by reference Georgia Environmental Protection Division’s request for rehearing. 4 Alabama Power Company, 155 FERC 61,080 (2016). 2 Alabama VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:38 Nov 02, 2018 Jkt 247001 American Rivers (jointly) filed a request for rehearing of the April 21 Order. On September 12, 2016, the Commission issued an order denying rehearing of the April 21 Order. Subsequently, Alabama Rivers Alliance and American Rivers (jointly) filed a petition in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (court), and on July 6, 2018, the court issued an opinion vacating and remanding the new license to the Commission for further proceedings consistent with the opinion.5 In order to address the issues identified by the court, Commission staff intend to prepare a draft and final environmental impact statement (EIS) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act. The EIS will describe and evaluate the probable effects of the proposed action and alternatives. The focus of the EIS will be the issues identified by the court as requiring further analyses (i.e., dissolved oxygen, fish entrainment and turbine mortality, federally listed threatened and endangered species, and cumulative effects). For the resource areas not the subject of the opinion, the EIS will either include or incorporate by reference the analysis in the Commission’s final EA. To support and assist this environmental review, we are conducting scoping on the issues to be addressed in the EIS and are issuing a scoping document for comment under separate cover. Individuals, organizations, and agencies with environmental expertise and concerns are encouraged to comment on the scoping document. At this time, we do not anticipate holding public or agency scoping meetings. With this notice, we are initiating informal consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act and the joint agency regulations thereunder at 50 CFR part 402. The deadline for filing scoping comments is 30 days from the issuance date of this notice. The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file scoping comments using the Commission’s eFiling system at https://www.ferc.gov/ docs-filing/efiling.asp. Commenters can submit brief comments up to 6,000 characters, without prior registration, using the eComment system at https:// 5 American Rivers v. FERC, 895 F.3d 32 (D.C. Cir. 2018). By notice issued on September 10, 2018, the previous licenses for the Coosa River, Jordan, and Mitchell Hydroelectric Projects were reinstated; each project is currently operating under an annual license. PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ ecomment.asp. You must include your name and contact information at the end of your comments. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, (866) 208–3676 (toll free), or (202) 502–8659 (TTY). In lieu of electronic filing, please send a paper copy to: Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426. The first page of any filing should include docket number P–2146–111. 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. The record for this proceeding is available for review at the Commission in the Public Reference Room or may be viewed on the Commission’s website 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 documents. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support. You may also register online at https:// www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ esubscription.asp to be notified via email of new filing and issuances related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support. Copies of the scoping document outlining the subject areas to be addressed in the EIS were distributed to the parties on the Commission’s mailing list. Copies of the scoping document may be viewed on the web 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, please contact FERC Online Support. The draft EIS will be sent to all persons and entities on the Commission’s service and mailing lists for the Coosa River Project. The draft EIS will include our recommendations for operating procedures, and environmental protection and enhancement measures that should be part of any new license issued by the Commission. Recipients will then have 60 days to review the draft EIS and file written comments with the Commission. All comments filed with the Commission on the final EIS will be considered in the Order taking final E:\FR\FM\05NON1.SGM 05NON1 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 214 / Monday, November 5, 2018 / Notices action on the license application. The application will be processed according to the following Hydro Licensing 55359 Schedule. Revisions to the schedule may be made as appropriate. Milestone Target date Issue Scoping Document .................................................................................................................................................................. Comments Due on Scoping Document ............................................................................................................................................ Issue Revised Scoping Document (if necessary) ............................................................................................................................ Issue Additional Information Request (if necessary) ........................................................................................................................ Additional Information Response Due .............................................................................................................................................. Draft EIS Issued ............................................................................................................................................................................... Comments Due on Draft EIS ............................................................................................................................................................ Final EIS Issued ............................................................................................................................................................................... October 2018. November 2018. December 2018. December 2018. March 2019. August 2019. October 2019. December 2019. This notice informs all interested individuals, organizations, and agencies with environmental expertise and concerns, that: (1) The Commission staff has decided to prepare an EIS addressing the issues raised by the court; and (2) the comments, recommendations, and terms and conditions already on file with the Commission on the application will be taken into account in the EIS. Any questions regarding this notice may be directed to Aaron Liberty at (202) 502–6862, or by email at aaron.liberty@ferc.gov. Dated: October 30, 2018. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2018–24107 Filed 11–2–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. CP18–89–000] Notice of Availability of the Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Empire North Project; Empire Pipeline, Inc. The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) for the Empire North Project, proposed by Empire Pipeline, Inc. (Empire) in the above-referenced docket. Empire requests authorization to construct and operate gas compression facilities in Tioga County, Pennsylvania, and Ontario County, New York. The EA assesses the potential environmental effects of construction and operation of the Empire North Project in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The FERC staff concludes that approval of the proposed project, with appropriate mitigating measures, would not VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:38 Nov 02, 2018 Jkt 247001 constitute a major federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. The U.S. Department of Transportation participated as a cooperating agency in the preparation of the EA. Cooperating agencies have jurisdiction by law or special expertise with respect to resources potentially affected by the proposal and participate in the NEPA analysis. The proposed Empire North Project includes the following facilities: • A new 21,000 horsepower compressor station in Jackson Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania; • a new 32,000 horsepower compressor station in the Town of Farmington, Ontario County, New York; • modifications of the existing regulator valves and station piping and installation of metering facilities at the existing New Victor Regulator Station in Ontario County, New York; • minor modifications to the existing Jackson Meter and Regulator Station in Jackson Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania; and • upgrading the maximum allowable operating pressure of the Empire Connector Pipeline from 1,290 to 1,440 pounds per square inch gauge. The Commission mailed a copy of the Notice of Availability to federal, state, and local government representatives and agencies; elected officials; Native American tribes; other interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. The EA is only available in electronic format. It may be viewed and downloaded from the FERC’s website (www.ferc.gov), on the Environmental Documents page (https://www.ferc.gov/ industries/gas/enviro/eis.asp). In addition, the EA may be accessed by using the eLibrary link on the FERC’s website. Click on the eLibrary link (https://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ elibrary.asp), click on General Search, and enter the docket number in the Docket Number field, excluding the last three digits (i.e., CP18–89). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at FercOnlineSupport@ ferc.gov or toll free at (866) 208–3676, or for TTY, contact (202) 502–8659. Any person wishing to comment on the EA may do so. Your comments should focus on the EA’s disclosure and discussion of potential environmental effects, reasonable alternatives, and measures to avoid or lessen environmental impacts. The more specific your comments, the more useful they will be. To ensure that the Commission has the opportunity to consider your comments prior to making its decision on this project, it is important that we receive your comments in Washington, DC, on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on November 29, 2018. For your convenience, there are three methods you can use to file your comments to the Commission. The Commission encourages electronic filing of comments and has staff available to assist you at (866) 208–3676 or FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. Please carefully follow these instructions so that your comments are properly recorded. (1) You can file your comments electronically using the eComment feature on the Commission’s website (www.ferc.gov) under the link to Documents and Filings. This is an easy method for submitting brief, text-only comments on a project; (2) You can also file your comments electronically using the eFiling feature on the Commission’s website (www.ferc.gov) under the link to Documents and Filings. With eFiling, you can provide comments in a variety of formats by attaching them as a file with your submission. New eFiling users must first create an account by clicking on eRegister. You must select the type of filing you are making. If you are filing a comment on a particular project, please select ‘‘Comment on a Filing;’’ or (3) You can file a paper copy of your comments by mailing them to the E:\FR\FM\05NON1.SGM 05NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 214 (Monday, November 5, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55358-55359]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-24107]



[[Page 55358]]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 2146-111; Project No. 82-000; Project No. 618-000]


Alabama Power Company; Notice of Intent To Prepare Environmental 
Impact Statement and Soliciting Scoping Comments

    On July 28, 2005, Alabama Power Company (Alabama Power) filed, 
pursuant to sections 4(e) and 15 of the Federal Power Act,\1\ an 
application for a single new license to continue operation and 
maintenance of three previously separately licensed projects that 
include seven developments: (1) The Coosa Hydroelectric Project No. 
2146, which comprises the Weiss, H. Neely Henry, Logan Martin, Lay, and 
Bouldin developments; (2) the Mitchell Dam Hydroelectric Project No. 
82; and (3) the Jordan Dam Hydroelectric Project No. 618. The single 
new operating license would combine all of these projects as one 
project, the Coosa River Hydroelectric Project (Coosa River Project) 
No. 2146, with a combined 960.9 megawatts of hydroelectric generating 
capacity. The projects are located on the Coosa River, in the states of 
Alabama and Georgia, and occupy about 280 acres of federal land 
administered by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 16 U.S.C. 797(e) and 808 (2012).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On December 31, 2009, Commission staff issued a final Environmental 
Assessment (EA) for the Coosa River Project. On June 20, 2013 (June 20 
Order), the Commission issued a single new 30-year license to Alabama 
Power for the continued operation and maintenance of the Coosa River 
Project.\2\ On July 18, 2013, Alabama Rivers Alliance and American 
Rivers (jointly) filed a request for rehearing of the Commission's June 
20 Order. On July 22, 2013, Alabama Power and Georgia Environmental 
Protection Division also filed separate requests for rehearing of the 
Commission's June 20 Order.\3\ On April 21, 2016 (April 21 Order), the 
Commission issued an order on rehearing and clarification regarding the 
new license for the project.\4\ On May 17, 2016, Alabama Rivers 
Alliance and American Rivers (jointly) filed a request for rehearing of 
the April 21 Order. On September 12, 2016, the Commission issued an 
order denying rehearing of the April 21 Order. Subsequently, Alabama 
Rivers Alliance and American Rivers (jointly) filed a petition in the 
U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (court), and 
on July 6, 2018, the court issued an opinion vacating and remanding the 
new license to the Commission for further proceedings consistent with 
the opinion.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ Alabama Power Company, 143 FERC 61,249 (2013), order on 
reh'g and clarification, 155 FERC 61,080 (2016), order denying 
reh'g, 156 FERC 61,171 (2016).
    \3\ The Atlanta Regional Commission adopted and incorporated by 
reference Georgia Environmental Protection Division's request for 
rehearing.
    \4\ Alabama Power Company, 155 FERC 61,080 (2016).
    \5\ American Rivers v. FERC, 895 F.3d 32 (D.C. Cir. 2018). By 
notice issued on September 10, 2018, the previous licenses for the 
Coosa River, Jordan, and Mitchell Hydroelectric Projects were 
reinstated; each project is currently operating under an annual 
license.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In order to address the issues identified by the court, Commission 
staff intend to prepare a draft and final environmental impact 
statement (EIS) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy 
Act. The EIS will describe and evaluate the probable effects of the 
proposed action and alternatives. The focus of the EIS will be the 
issues identified by the court as requiring further analyses (i.e., 
dissolved oxygen, fish entrainment and turbine mortality, federally 
listed threatened and endangered species, and cumulative effects). For 
the resource areas not the subject of the opinion, the EIS will either 
include or incorporate by reference the analysis in the Commission's 
final EA.
    To support and assist this environmental review, we are conducting 
scoping on the issues to be addressed in the EIS and are issuing a 
scoping document for comment under separate cover. Individuals, 
organizations, and agencies with environmental expertise and concerns 
are encouraged to comment on the scoping document. At this time, we do 
not anticipate holding public or agency scoping meetings.
    With this notice, we are initiating informal consultation with the 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries under section 7 of 
the Endangered Species Act and the joint agency regulations thereunder 
at 50 CFR part 402.
    The deadline for filing scoping comments is 30 days from the 
issuance date of this notice.
    The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file 
scoping comments using the Commission's eFiling system at https://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp. Commenters can submit brief 
comments up to 6,000 characters, without prior registration, using the 
eComment system at https://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ecomment.asp. You 
must include your name and contact information at the end of your 
comments. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at 
[email protected], (866) 208-3676 (toll free), or (202) 502-
8659 (TTY). In lieu of electronic filing, please send a paper copy to: 
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, 
Washington, DC 20426. The first page of any filing should include 
docket number P-2146-111.
    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.
    The record for this proceeding is available for review at the 
Commission in the Public Reference Room or may be viewed on the 
Commission's website 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 documents. For assistance, contact FERC Online 
Support.
    You may also register online at https://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp to be notified via email of new filing and issuances 
related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC 
Online Support.
    Copies of the scoping document outlining the subject areas to be 
addressed in the EIS were distributed to the parties on the 
Commission's mailing list. Copies of the scoping document may be viewed 
on the web 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, please contact FERC 
Online Support.
    The draft EIS will be sent to all persons and entities on the 
Commission's service and mailing lists for the Coosa River Project. The 
draft EIS will include our recommendations for operating procedures, 
and environmental protection and enhancement measures that should be 
part of any new license issued by the Commission. Recipients will then 
have 60 days to review the draft EIS and file written comments with the 
Commission. All comments filed with the Commission on the final EIS 
will be considered in the Order taking final

[[Page 55359]]

action on the license application. The application will be processed 
according to the following Hydro Licensing Schedule. Revisions to the 
schedule may be made as appropriate.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Milestone                           Target date
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Issue Scoping Document..................  October 2018.
Comments Due on Scoping Document........  November 2018.
Issue Revised Scoping Document (if        December 2018.
 necessary).
Issue Additional Information Request (if  December 2018.
 necessary).
Additional Information Response Due.....  March 2019.
Draft EIS Issued........................  August 2019.
Comments Due on Draft EIS...............  October 2019.
Final EIS Issued........................  December 2019.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This notice informs all interested individuals, organizations, and 
agencies with environmental expertise and concerns, that: (1) The 
Commission staff has decided to prepare an EIS addressing the issues 
raised by the court; and (2) the comments, recommendations, and terms 
and conditions already on file with the Commission on the application 
will be taken into account in the EIS.
    Any questions regarding this notice may be directed to Aaron 
Liberty at (202) 502-6862, or by email at [email protected].

    Dated: October 30, 2018.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-24107 Filed 11-2-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P

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