Department of Energy September 19, 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) NEPA implementing regulations, DOE is announcing its intention to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA; DOE/EA-1915) to assess the potential environmental effects of conveying approximately 1,641 acres of Hanford Site land to a local economic development organization. Conveyance of the land could include title transfer, lease, easement, license, or a combination of these realty actions. The Tri-City Development Council (TRIDEC), a DOE designated Community Reuse Organization (CRO) and 501(c)(6) nonprofit corporation, submitted a proposal to DOE in May 2011 (amended October 2011) requesting the transfer of approximately 1,641 acres of land located in the southeastern corner of the Hanford Site near the City of Richland in Benton County, Washington for economic development purposes. DOE anticipates that there may be continuing mission needs, such as security and safety buffer zones on some of the requested lands, making them less suitable for conveyance. Therefore, the lands that will be addressed in the EA analysis will include the acreage requested by TRIDEC and approximately 2,772 additional acres adjacent to the requested lands. The EA will evaluate the potential environmental impacts of conveying approximately 1,641 acres of the total 4,413 acres included in the analysis area. The acreage being considered in the EA analysis is part of approximately 59 square miles of Hanford Site lands previously designated by DOE for industrial uses under the Hanford Comprehensive Land-Use Plan (CLUP), based on analyses presented in the Hanford Comprehensive Land-Use Plan Environmental Impact Statement (HCP-EIS) [DOE/EIS-0222; September 1999; Record of Decision (ROD) (64 FR 61615; November 12, 1999)]. The HCP-EIS recognized the potential for future conveyance of some industrial-designated lands to the local community for economic development. The CLUP was reaffirmed in a Supplement Analysis to the HCP-EIS (DOE/EIS-0222-SA-01; June 2008) and amended ROD (73 FR 55824; September 26, 2008). The EA will analyze the reasonably foreseeable environmental effects associated with the probable future uses of lands in the analysis area, based upon industry targets described in the TRIDEC proposal, including warehousing and distribution; research and development; technology manufacturing; food processing and agriculture; and ``back office'' (i.e., business services). The proposed action may affect floodplains and wetlands, so this Notice of Intent also serves as a notice of proposed floodplain or wetland action in accordance with DOE floodplain and wetland environmental review requirements.

In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) is submitting the information collection FERC-546 (Certificated Filings: Gas Pipeline Rates) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review of the information collection requirements. Any interested person may file comments directly with OMB and should address a copy of those comments to the Commission as explained below. The Commission issued a Notice in the Federal Register (77 FR 40438, 7/ 9/2012) requesting public comments. FERC received no comments on the FERC-546 and is making this notation in its submittal to OMB.

In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) is soliciting public comment on the currently approved information collection, Electric Rate Schedules and Tariffs: Long-Term Firm Transmission Rights in Organized Electricity Markets.