[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 226 (Wednesday, November 22, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 70344]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-29855]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 2016-044 Washington]


City of Tacoma; Notice of Intent To Prepare Environmental Impact 
Statement

November 16, 2000.
    On December 27, 1999, the City of Tacoma (Tacoma) filed an 
application for a new license for the continued operation of the 462-
megawatt Cowlitz River Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 2016-044). On 
September 11, 2000, Tacoma filed an Offer of Settlement for the new 
license. The project is located on the Cowlitz River in Lewis County, 
Washington. About 5 acres are included within the Gifford Pinchot 
National Forest and about 59 acres are located on lands owned by the 
Bureau of Land Management.
    In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and 
the Commission's regulations for using the alternative licensing 
process,\1\ Tacoma held public scoping meetings for the Cowlitz River 
Hydroelectric Project on May 5, 6, and 7, 1998, in Lacey, Chehalis, and 
Mossyrock, Washington, respectively.\2\ Commission staff, state, 
federal and local agencies, tribes, and the public participated in the 
meetings. These scoping meetings and an open and extensive 
collaborative relicensing process were used to define the issues and 
alternatives addressed in Tacoma's Environmental Assessment and Offer 
of Settlement. In addition, the Commission solicited comments on the 
license application and the Offer of Settlement by notice of March 15, 
2000, and September 19, 2000, respectively.\3\ Following the public 
scoping process, the Commission staff determined that licensing the 
Cowlitz Project could constitute a major federal action significantly 
affecting the quality of the human environment. Therefore, the staff 
intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the project in 
accordance with the NEPA. The staff's EIS will objectively consider 
both site-specific and cumulative environmental impacts of the projects 
and reasonable alternatives, and will include economic and engineering 
analyses.
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    \1\ 81 FERC para.61,103 (1997).
    \2\ 63 FR 19,274 (April 17, 1998).
    \3\ At the request of the parties to the settlement, the 
deadline for filing comments on the application was extended twice 
by notices of March 10, 2000, and July 12, 2000.
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    A draft EIS will be issued and circulated for review by all 
interested parties. All comments filed on the draft EIS will be 
analyzed by the staff and considered in the final EIS. The staff's 
conclusions and recommendations will then be presented for the 
consideration of the Commission in reaching its final licensing 
decision.
    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; and (2) the scoping 
conducted on the Cowlitz River Hydroelectrical Project by Tacoma and 
comments filed with the Commission on the application and the Offer of 
Settlement still apply and will be taken into account in the EIS.
    Any questions regarding this notice may be directed to David Turner 
at (202) 219-2844.

Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-29855 Filed 11-21-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M