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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 21 (Monday, February 3, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8797-8798]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-02080]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 2150-153]

Puget Sound Energy, Inc.; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment

    On July 14, 2022, as supplemented on August 1, 2023, Puget Sound 
Energy, Inc. (licensee) filed a draft biological assessment (BA) under 
section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) addressing the potential 
effects that could occur to federally-listed species, designated 
critical habitat, and essential fish habitat (EFH) as a result of the 
licensee's proposed Upper Baker Dam Spillway Stability Improvements and 
Tailrace Channel Rock Debris Removal Project (Spillway Project) at the 
Baker River Hydroelectric Project No. 2150. On September 15, 2021, the 
licensee filed a Water Quality Protection Plan in support of the 
proposed Spillway Project. The Baker River Project consists of two 
developments, Upper Baker and Lower Baker, and is located on the Baker 
River in Skagit and Whatcom counties, Washington. The project occupies 
federal lands administered by the U.S. Forest Service (Forest Service) 
within the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.
    The licensee proposes to improve stability of the Upper Baker Dam 
spillway slope and remove accumulated rockfall debris material in the 
tailrace channel downstream of the dam. To stabilize the spillway 
slope, the licensee plans to excavate the rockfall debris from the 
tailrace channel and backfill the existing sluiceway structure with 
concrete or cementitious grout, imported coarse and fine aggregate, and 
a portion of the rockfall debris, creating a concrete rock buttress to 
improve the stability of the spillway slope. The proposed project is 
needed because the existing spillway slope has been identified as a 
potential failure mode for the Upper Baker Dam, and rockfall debris in 
the channel downstream of the dam contributes to flooding of the 
powerhouse during spill events and has reduced power generation.
    On August 17, 2022, Commission staff issued a Notice of Water 
Quality Protection Plan Accepted for Filing and Soliciting Comments, 
Motions to Intervene, and Protests. On August 30, 2022 and September 
16, 2022, the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife and 
Forest Service, respectively, filed notices of intervention. No other 
comments or motions to intervene were received.
    On August 17, 2022, Commission staff adopted the licensee's draft 
BA without modification as the Commission's final BA and requested 
formal consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and 
the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). By letter dated February 
21, 2023, Commission staff updated the request for consultation under 
section 7 of the ESA from formal to informal consultation between NMFS 
and the Commission. On September 25, 2023, Commission staff issued 
separate letters to the FWS and NMFS, informing the agencies of the 
supplemental information filed by the licensee on August 1, 2023, and 
updating the requests for consultation under section 7 of the ESA. On 
August 15, 2023, NMFS filed a letter of concurrence with the 
Commission's determinations that the proposed Spillway Project is not 
likely to adversely affect the NMFS ESA-listed species and/or 
designated critical habitat. On November 3, 2023, the FWS filed its 
Biological Opinion in response to the Commission's BA.
    In the August 17, 2022 letter, and reiterated in the February 21, 
2023 letter, Commission staff also determined, pursuant to the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act), that the Spillway Project may adversely affect EFH for 
Pacific coast salmon. In the August 15, 2023 letter, NMFS reviewed the 
proposed Spillway Project for potential effects on EFH under the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act,

[[Page 8798]]

including conservation measures and any determination made by the 
Commission regarding the potential effects of the proposed Spillway 
Project, and concluded that the proposed Spillway Project would not 
adversely affect EFH.
    This notice identifies Commission staff's intention to prepare an 
environmental assessment (EA) for the project.\1\ Commission staff 
plans to issue an EA by March 7, 2025. Revisions to the schedule may be 
made as appropriate.
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    \1\ In accordance with the Council on Environmental Quality's 
regulations, the unique identification number for documents relating 
to this environmental review is EAXX-019-20-000-1737643370. 40 CFR 
1501.5(c)(4) (2024).
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    The Commission's Office of Public Participation (OPP) supports 
meaningful public engagement and participation in Commission 
proceedings. OPP can help members of the public, including landowners, 
environmental justice communities, Tribal members, and others to access 
publicly available information and navigate Commission processes. For 
public inquiries and assistance with making filings such as 
interventions, comments, or requests for rehearing, the public is 
encouraged to contact OPP at (202) 502-6595 or [email protected].
    Any questions regarding this notice may be directed to Marybeth Gay 
at (202) 502-6125 or [email protected].

    Dated: January 27, 2025.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2025-02080 Filed 1-31-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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