### 24634 Federal Register /Vol. 64, No. 88 /Friday, May 7, 1999 /Notices

made after project participants decide on the final course of action. Floodplain Statement of Findings This is a Floodplain Statement of Findings prepared in accordance with 10 CFR Part 1022. A Notice of Floodplain and Wetlands Involvement was published in the Federal Register on November 9, 1998, and impacts to floodplains and wetlands were assessed in the EA (section 3.4.1.3). At one alternative acclimation site (Two Rivers), BPA would dig a smolt exit channel from the new ponds to the Little Wenatchee River, within the 100- year floodplain. The channel needs to pass through the floodplain in order to allow smolts access to the river. There are no alternatives that would avoid constructing the smolt exit channel in the floodplain at the Two Rivers site; however, there are alternative acclimation sites identified in the EA that would not affect floodplains. The actions proposed would conform to applicable State and local floodplain protection standards; a county floodplain development permit would be obtained, if needed, for work in the floodplain of the Little Wenatchee River. The steps to be taken to avoid or minimize potential harm to or within the affected floodplain and wetlands include: e In floodplain and shoreline areas, disturbed land would be restored as closely as possible to pre-project contours and replanted with native and local species. However, site topography could require bank disruption. A restoration and monitoring plan would be prepared before disturbing floodplain and shoreline areas. ® Erosion control measures would be implemented within the 60-meter (200- foot) State Shoreline area. e Location of new structures within the identified shoreline and floodplain would be avoided. BPA will endeavor to allow 15 days of public review after publication of this statement of findings before implementing the selected alternative.

Determination Based on the information in the EA, as summarized here, BPA determines that the actions proposed, as described and analyzed in either the Tribal, Phased Study, or Hatchery Releases alternatives, are not major Federal actions significantly affecting the quality of the human environment within the meaning of NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. Therefore, an EIS will not be prepared, and BPA is issuing this FONSI.
Issued in Portland, Oregon, on April 28, 1999.
James R. Meyer, Acting Vice President, Environment, Fish and Wildlife Group.
[FR Doc. 99-11533 Filed 5-6-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6456-01-P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products : Energy Conservation Program for Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts

, Clothes Washers, and Water Heaters

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy.

ACTION : Notice of public workshops.

SUMMARY: The Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended (EPCA or Act), requires the Department of Energy (DOE or Department) to consider amending the energy conservation standards for certain major household appliances. This notice announces three public workshops as steps in the appliance standards rulemaking procedures. These public workshops will be conducted for the rulemakings on revised energy efficiency standards for fluorescent lamp ballasts, clothes washers, and water heaters.

DATES : The following table lists the respective analyses release dates, workshop dates, and comment period dates.

Fluorescent lamp ballasts Clothes washers Water heaters

Release Analyses .................................................................................... April 27, 1999 ............ June 14, 1999 ........... June 14, 1999. Comments Due ........................................................................................ May 18, 1999 ............ July 6, 1999 ............... July 6, 1999. Workshops ............................................................................................... June 1, 1999 ............. July 22, 1999 ............. July 23, 1999. Comments Due ........................................................................................ June 15, 1999 ........... August 3, 1999 .......... August 3, 1999.

ADDRESSES : The Department will hold the public workshops between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. at the U.S. Department of Energy, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Room lE-245, Washington, DC 20585. Written comments are welcome, especially following the workshops. Please submit one signed copy and a computer diskette (WordPerfect 6.1) or 10 copies (no telefacsimiles) to: U.S. Department of Energy, Attn: Brenda Edwards-Jones, Office of EnergyEfficiency and Renewable Energy, EE43, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-2945,e-mail: Brenda.EdwardsJones@ee.doe.gov. The Department will also accept electronically-mailed comments, but you must supplement such comments with a signed hard copy. You should identify all comments on both the envelope and document with the name of the product and the appropriate docket number: Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts, EE-RM-97-500; Clothes Washers, EE-RM-94-403; or Water Heaters, EE-RM-97-900. If you submit information or data that you believe is confidential, and should not be publicly disclosed, you should submit one complete copy of your document and ten (10) copies or one electronic copy from which the information believed to be confidential has been deleted. We will make our own determination regarding the confidentiality of the information or data according to our regulations at 10 CFR 1004.11. Copies of the completed analyses may also be obtained from: U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Codes and Standards, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Room 1J-018, Washington, DC 20585. Public information: The public may access the Freedom of Information Reading room, located at the U.S. Department of Energy, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Room 1E-190, Washington, DC 20585, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, (except Federal holidays). Call (202) 586-3142 for information.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Edward Pollock, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Forrestal Building, Mail Station EE-43, 1000 Independence 

### 24634 Federal Register/Vol. 64, No. SS/Friday, May 7, 1999/Notices

made after project participants decide

on the final course ofaction. Floodplain Statement ofFindings

This is a Floodplain Statement of Findings prepared in accordance with 10 CFR Part 1022. A Notice of Floodplain andWetlands Involvement

was published in the Federal Register

on November 9, 1998, and impacts to floodplains and wetlands were assessed in the EA (section 3.4.1.3). At one alternative acclimation site (Two Rivers), BPA would dig a smolt exit channel from the new ponds to the LittleWenatchee River, within the 100- yearfloodplain. The channel needs to passthrough the floodplain in order to allow smolts access to the river. There

are no alternatives that would avoid constructingthe smolt exitchannel in the floodplain at the Two Rivers site; however, there are alternative acclimation sites identified in the EA that would not affect floodplains. The actions proposed would conform to applicable State and local floodplain protection standards; a county floodplain development permitwould be obtained, ifneeded, for work in the floodplain ofthe LittleWenatchee River.

The steps to be taken to avoid or minimize potential harm to orwithin the affected floodplain and wetlands include:

.. In floodplain and shoreline areas, disturbed land would be restored as closely as possible to pre-project
contours andreplanted with native and local species. However, site topography could require bank disruption. A restoration and monitoring plan would be prepared before disturbingfloodplain and shoreline areas.

.. Erosion control measures would be implemented withinthe 60-meter (200- foot) State Shoreline area.

.. Location ofnew structures within the identified shoreline and floodplain would be avoided.

BPA will endeavorto allow 15 days ofpublic review after publication ofthis
statement offindings before implementingthe selected alternative.

Determination

Based on the information in the EA,

as summarized here, BPA determines that the actions proposed, as described and analyzed in eitherthe Tribal, Phased Study, orHatchery Releases alternatives, are not major Federal actions significantly affecting the quality ofthe human environment within the meaning ofNEPA, 42 USC. 4321 

### etseq. Therefore, an EIS will not be prepared, and BPA is issuing this FONSI.

Issued in Portland. Oregon. on April 28, 1999. James R. Meyer, ActingVicePresident, Environment, Fish and Wildlife Group. [FR Doc. 99-11533 Filed 5-6-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 645D-01-P

Fluorescent lamp ballasts DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products: Energy Conservation Program for Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts, Clothes Washers, and Water Heaters

AGENCY: 

### Office ofEnergy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy.

ACTION: 

### Notice ofpublic workshops.

SUMMARY: 

### The Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended (EPCA or Act), requires the Department ofEnergy (DOE orDepartment) to consider amending the energy conservation standards for certain major household appliances. This notice announces three public workshops as steps in the appliance standards rulemaking procedures. These public workshops will be conducted for the rulemakings

onrevised energy efficiency standards for fluorescent lamp ballasts,**clothe~** 

### washers. and waterheaters.

DATES: 

### The following table lists the respective analyses release dates, workshop dates, and comment period dates.

Clothes washers Water heaters

Release Analyses

.................................................................................... April 27, 1999

............ June 14, 1999

........... June 14, 1999. Comments Due

........................................................................................ May 18,1999

............ July 6.1999............... July 6.1999. Workshops

............................................................................................... June 1. 1999

............. July 22, 1999

............. July 23, 1999. Comments Due

........................................................................................ June 15, 1999

........... August 3, 1999

.......... August 3, 1999.

ADDRESSES: 

### The Departmentwill hold the public workshops between the hours of9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. at the U.S. Department ofEnergy, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Room IE-245, Washington, DC 20585. Written comments are welcome, especiallyfollowing the workshops. Please submitone signed copy and a computer diskette (WordPerfect 6.1) or 10 copies (no telefacsimiles) to: U.S. Department ofEnergy, Attn: Brenda Edwards-Jones, Office ofEnergy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. EE43, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington. DC 20585, (202) 586-2945, e-mail: Brenda.EdwardsJones@ee.doe.gov.

The Department will also accept electronically-mailed comments, but you must supplement such comments with a signed hard copy.

You should identify all comments on both the envelope and documentwith the name ofthe productand the appropriate docket number: Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts, EE-RM-97-500; Clothes Washers, EE-RM-94-403; orWater Heaters, EE-RM-97-900.

Ifyou submitinformation ordatathat
you believe is confidential, and should
not be publicly disclosed, you should submit one complete copy ofyour document and ten (10) copies or one electronic copyfrom which the information believed to be confidential has been deleted. We will make our own determination regarding the confidentiality ofthe information or data according to ourregulations at 10 CFR 1004.11. Copies ofthe completed analyses may also be obtainedfrom: U.S. Department ofEnergy, Office ofCodes and Standards. 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Room 11-018. Washington. DC 20585.

Public information: The public may

access the Freedom ofInformation Reading room, located at the U.S. Department ofEnergy, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Room IE-190, Washington, DC 20585, between the hours of9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, (except Federal holidays). Call (202) 586-3142 for information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

### Edward Pollock, U.S. Department of Energy, Office ofEnergy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Forrestal Building, Mail Station EE-43, 1000 Independence

### Federal Register/Vol. 64, No. 88 /Friday, May 7, 1999 /Notices

Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585- 0121, (202) 586-5778, e-mail: Edward.Pollock@ee.doe.gov, or Michael J. McCabe, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Forrestal Building, Mail Station EE-40, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585- 0121, (202) 586-9155, e-mail: Michael.McCabe@ee.doe.gov; Eugene Margolis, Esq. U.S. Department of Energy, Office of General Counsel, Forrestal Building, Mail Station GC-72, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585-0103, (202) 586- 9507, e-mail: Eugene.Margolis@hq.doe.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In its administration of the Appliance Standards Program, DOE has published procedures to make the rulemaking process more accessible to the public. (Procedures for Consideration of New or Revised Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Products, 61 FR 36974, July 15, 1996). As part of the revised procedures, the Department pledged to provide "early opportunities for public input to and comment on the analyses." (61 FR 36976). This notice announces three public workshops by which the Department plans to obtain public comment on the analyses being prepared for Notices of Proposed Rulemakings on revised energy efficiency standards for fluorescent lamp ballasts, clothes washers, and water heaters. In addition to providing interested parties the opportunity to comment on the analyses, the workshops will also provide interested parties with the opportunity to comment on what levels of revised energy efficiency standards proposals they could support from the analyses. Prior to the public workshops, the Department will make publicly available the analytical results that it presently plans to use in its formal decision process. The material to be presented will be the bases for the Technical Support Documents for the Notices of Proposed Rulemakings. DOE staff and contractors will prepare the material. These analytical results will be available from the Office of Codes and Standards (OCS) Internet site (http:www.eren.doe.gov/buildings/ codes standards/index.htm), and the DOE Freedom of Information Reading Room. The analyses that the Department plans to provide for review for each product are the results of theengineering cost-efficiency curves, lifecycle costs, paybacks, national energy savings, net national employment impacts, manufacturer impact analyses, and environmental effects. The complete set of analyses will be available according to the schedule in the DATES section of this Notice. Once the analytical results are publicly available for each product, the Department will provide periods during which it will receive comments on both the analyses as well as on the policy implications drawn from the analyses. The Department will review and analyze the comments it receives on the policy recommendations and analyses. Following receipt and review of comments for each product, the Department will conduct a workshop. The workshops will all have similar formats, wherein there will be a summary of the analytical results that will have been publicly available prior to each respective workshop, followed by a summary discussion of the comments received prior to the workshop. Lastly, a senior DOE official will facilitate a discussion on which standard levels participants at the workshop believe can be supported by the analyses. The Department will conduct these workshops prior to our selection of proposed revisions to the energy efficiency standards for fluorescent lamp ballasts, clothes washers, and water heaters, and the Department will consider output from the workshops in the development of those proposals. Following the respective workshops, the Department will provide an additional comment period, during which interested parties will have an opportunity to comment on the proceedings at the workshops, as well as on any aspect of the rulemaking proceedings, including what policy implications the commenters might draw from the analyses. The Department will also consider all comments provided after the respective workshops in its determination of the appropriate revised energy-efficiency standards to propose. If you would like to participate in the workshops, receive workshop material, or be added to the DOE mailing list to receive future notices and information regarding these workshops, please contact Ms. Brenda Edwards-Jones, (202) 586-2945.
Issued in Washington, DC, on May 4, 1999. Dan W. Reicher,

Assistant Secretary, EherU Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 99-11566 Filed 5-6-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450-01-P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No

. CP99-337-000] 

### 1124635

Northern Natural Gas Company ; Notice of Request Under Blanket Authorization

April30, 1999. Take notice that on April 26, 1999, Northern Natural Gas Company (Northern), 1111 South 103rd Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1000, filed in Docket No. CP99-337-000 a request pursuant to §§ 157.205, and 157.212, of the Commission's Regulations under the Natural Gas Act (18 CFR 157.205, 157.212) for authorization to relocate an existing delivery point serving Northern States Power Company on the Faribault Branchline located in Rice County, Minnesota under Northern's blanket certificate issued in Docket No. CP82- 401-000, pursuant to Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act, all as more fully set forth in the request that is on file with the Commission and open to public inspection. This filing may be viewed on the web at http://www.ferc.fed.us/ online/rims.htm (call 202-208-2222 for assistance). Northern states that the new delivery point will serve as a master meter and provide a central measurement point on the Faribault branchline and that no facilities are proposed to be retired or abandoned. Northern states that the total estimated cost to install the master meter is $228,000. Any person or the Commission's staff may, within 45 days after issuance of the instant notice by the Commission, file pursuant to Rule 214 of the Commission's Procedural Rules (18 CFR 385.214) a motion to intervene or notice of intervention and pursuant to § 157.205 of the Regulations under the Natural Gas Act (18 CFR 157.205) a protest to the request. If no protest is filed within the time allowed therefor, the proposed activity shall be deemed to be authorized effective the day after the time allowed for filing a protest. If a protest is filed and not withdrawn within 30 days after the time allowed for filing a protest, the instant request shall be treated as an application for authorization pursuant to Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act.

David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-11509 Filed 5-6-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717-01-M 

### Federal Register/Vol. 64, No. 88/Friday, May 7, 1999/Notices 

## '24635

Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585- 0121, (202) 586-5778, e-mail: Edward.Pollock@ee.doe.gov, orMichael 

### J. McCabe, U.S. Department ofEnergy, Office ofEnergy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Forrestal Building, Mail StationEE-40, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585- 0121, (202) 586-9155, e-mail: Michael.McCabe@ee.doe.gov; Eugene Margolis, Esq. U.S. Department of Energy, Office ofGeneral Counsel. Forrestal Building, Mail Station GC-72, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585-0103, (202) 586- 9507, e-mail: Eugene.Margolis@hq.doe.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In its administration ofthe Appliance Standards Program, DOE has published procedures to make the rulemaking
process more accessible to the public. (Procedures for Consideration ofNew or Revised Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Products, 61 FR 36974, July 15, 1996). As partofthe revised procedures, the Departmentpledged to provide "early opportunities for public input to and commenton the analyses." (61 FR 36976).

This notice announces three public workshops by which the Department plans to obtain public comment on the analyses being prepared for Notices of Proposed Rulemakings on revised
energy efficiency standards for fluorescent lamp ballasts, clothes washers, and water heaters. In addition
to providing interested parties the opportunityto comment on the analyses, the workshops will also provide interested parties with the opportunity to comment on what levels ofrevised energy efficiency standards proposals they could support from the analyses.

Priorto the public workshops, the Departmentwill make publicly available the analytical results that it presently plans to use in its formal decision process. The materialto be presented will be the bases for the Technical Support Documentsfor the Notices ofProposed Rulemakings. DOE staffand contractors will prepare the material. impacts, manufacturer impactanalyses, and environmental effects. The complete setofanalyses will be available according to the schedule in the DATES section ofthis Notice.

Once the analytical results are publicly available for each product, the Departmentwill provide periods during which it will receive comments on both the analyses as well as on the policy implications drawn from the analyses. The Departmentwill review and analyze the comments itreceives on the policy recommendations and analyses.

Followingreceipt and review of
comments for each product, the Departmentwill conduct a workshop. The workshops will all have similar formats, wherein there will be a summaryofthe analytical results that will have been publiclyavailable prior
to eachrespective workshop, followed by a summary discussion ofthe
commentsreceived priorto the workshop. Lastly, a senior DOE official will facilitate a discussion on which standard**lev~ls** participants at the workshop believe can be supported by the analyses..

The Departmentwill conductthese workshops prior to our selection of proposed revisions to the energy efficiency standards for fluorescent lamp ballasts, clotheswashers, and
water heaters, and the Departmentwill consider outputfrom the workshops in the development ofthose proposals.

Following the respective workshops, the Departmentwill provide an additional commentperiod, during which interested parties will have an opportunity to comment on the proceedings at the workshops, as well as

on any aspect ofthe rulemaking proceedings, includingwhat policy implications the commenters might drawfrom the analyses.

The Departmentwill also consider all
comments provided after the respective workshops in its determination ofthe appropriate revised energy-efficiency standards to propose.

Ifyou would like to participate in the workshops, receive workshop material.

orbe added to the DOE mailing listto receive future notices and information regarding these workshops, please
contactMs. Brenda Edwards-Jones, (202) 586-2945. These analytical results will be available from the Office ofCodes and Standards (OCS) Internet site 

### (http:www.eren.doe.gov/buildings/ codes_standards/index.htm), and the DOE Freedom ofInformation Reading Room. The analyses thatthe Department Issued inWashington, DC, on May 4, 1999. plans to provide for review for each DanW. Reicher, product are the results ofthe AssistantSecretary, EnergyEfficiencyand engineering cost-efficiency curves, life- RenewableEnergy. cycle costs, paybacks, national energy [FR Doc. 99-11566 Filed5-6-99; 8:45 am] savings, net national employment BILUNG CODE 6451Hl1-P DEPARTMENT 

### OFENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP99-337-000]

Northern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Request Under Blanket Authorization
April 30, 1999.

Take notice that on April 26, 1999, Northern Natural Gas Company " (Northern), 1111 South 103rd Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1000, filed in Docket No. CP99-337-000 a request pursuant to §§ 157.205, and 157.212, of the Commission's Regulations under the Natural Gas Act (I8 CFR 157.205, 157.212) for authorization to relocate an existing delivery point serving Northern States Power Company on the Faribault Branchlinelocated in Rice County, Minnesota underNorthern's blanket certificate issued in Docket No. CP82- 401-000, pursuantto Section 7 ofthe Natural Gas Act, all as more fully set forth in the request that is on file with the Commission and open to public inspection. Thisfiling may be viewed

on the web at 

### http://www.ferc.fed.us/ online/rims.htm (call 202-208-2222 for assistance)

.

Northern states that the new delivery pointwill serve as a master meter and provide a central measurement point on the Faribault branchline and that no facilities are proposed to be retired or abandoned. Northern states that the total estimated cost to install the master meteris $228,000.

Anyperson or the Commission's staff
may, within 45 days after issuance of the instant notice by the Commission file pursuant to Rule 214 ofthe ' Commission's Procedural Rules (I8 CFR 385.214) a motion to intervene or notice ofintervention and pursuant to § 157.205 ofthe Regulations under the Natural Gas Act (18 CFR 157.205) a protest to the request. Ifno protest is filed within the time allowed therefor the proposed activity shall be deemed'to**~e** authorized effective the day after the tlme allowedfor filing a protest. Ifa protest is filed and not withdrawn within 30 days after the time allowed for filing a protest, the instant request shall be treated as an application for authorization pursuant to Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act.
David P. Boergers, Secretary. [FR Doc. 99-11509 Filed 5-6-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717-D1-M