[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 238 (Tuesday, December 12, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 63709]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-30206]



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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Upper Peninsula Power Company; Notice of Public Scoping Meeting

[Project No. 1864-005]
December 6, 1995.
    The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) has received 
an application for a new license (relicense) for the existing project 
operated by the Upper Peninsula Power Company (UPPCo) on the Ontonagon 
River system in the western part of Michigan's Upper Peninsula and a 
small portion of neighboring Wisconsin. The project includes four 
developments: Bond Falls, Bergland, Cisco, and Victoria.
    Upon review of the application, supplemental filings and intervenor 
submittals, the Commission staff concludes that, given the location and 
interaction of the project with other projects nearby, staff will 
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that describes and 
evaluates the probable impacts of the applicant's proposals and 
alternatives for the project.
    One element of the EIS process is scoping. Scoping activities are 
initiated early to:
    <bullet> Identify reasonable alternative operational procedures and 
environmental enhancement measures that should be evaluated in the EIS;
    <bullet> Identify significant environmental issues related to the 
operation of the existing project;
    <bullet> Determine the depth of analysis for issues that will be 
discussed in the EIS; and
    <bullet> Identify resource issues that are of lesser importance 
and, consequently, do not require detailed analysis in the EIS.

Scoping Meetings

    Commission staff will conduct three public meetings for the Bond 
Falls Project. All interested individuals, organizations, and agencies 
are invited to attend any of the planned meetings and help staff 
identify the scope of environmental issues that should and should not 
be analyzed in the Bond Falls EIS.
    Two scoping meetings will be held on Wednesday, January 10, 1996, 
at the Best Western Porcupine Mountain Lodge in Silver, City, MI. The 
first meeting will be held from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, EST, and will be 
oriented toward resource agency concerns. The second meeting will be 
held in the evening from 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM, EST, and will be oriented 
toward public participation.
    A third scoping meeting will be held on Thursday, January 11, 1996, 
at the Sylvania Visitor Center in Watersmeet, MI. The meeting will be 
held in the evening from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM, EST, and will be oriented 
toward public participation.

Procedures

    The meetings, which will be recorded by a stenographer, will become 
part of the formal record of the Commission's proceeding on the Bond 
Falls Project. Individuals presenting statements at the meetings will 
be asked to sign in before the meeting starts and to identify 
themselves for the record.
    Concerned parties are encouraged to speak during the public 
meeting. Speaking time allowed for individuals will be determined 
before each meeting, based on the number of persons wishing to speak 
and the approximate amount of time available for the session. All 
speakers will be provided at least 5 minutes to present their views.

Objectives of the Scoping Meetings

    At the scoping meetings, the staff will:
    <bullet> Summarize the environmental issues tentatively identified 
for analysis in the EIS;
    <bullet> Identify resource issues that are of lesser importance 
and, therefore, do not require detailed analysis;
    <bullet> Solicit from the meeting participants all available 
information, especially quantifiable data, concerning significant local 
resources; and
    <bullet> Encourage statements from experts and the public on issues 
that should be analyzed in the EIS.

Information Requested

    Federal and state resource agencies, local government officials, 
interested groups, area residents, and concerned individuals are 
requested to provide any information they believe will assist the 
Commission staff to analyze the environmental impacts associated with 
relicensing the project. The types of information sought include the 
following:
    <bullet> Data, reports, and resource plans that characterize the 
baseline physical, biological, or social environments in the vicinity 
of the projects; and
    <bullet> Information and data that helps staff identify or evaluate 
significant environmental issues.
    Scoping information and associated comments should be submitted to 
the Commission no later than January 31, 1996. Written comments should 
be provided at the scoping meeting or mailed to the Commission, as 
follows: Lois Cashell, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 
888 First Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20426.
    All filings sent to the Secretary of the Commission should contain 
an original and 8 copies. Failure to file an original and 8 copies may 
result in appropriate staff not receiving the benefits of your comments 
in a timely manner. See 18 CFR 4.34(h).
    All correspondence should clearly show the following caption on the 
first page:

FERC Project No. 1864: Bond Falls

    Intervenors and interceders (as defined in 18 CFR 385.2010) who 
file documents with the Commission are reminded of the Commission's 
Rules of Practice and Procedure requiring them to serve a copy of all 
documents filed with the Commission on each person whose name is listed 
on the official service list for this proceeding. See 18 CFR 4.34(b).
    For further information, please contact Frankie Green at (202) 501-
7704.
Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 95-30206 Filed 12-11-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M