Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 159 / Friday, August 15, 2008 / Notices 47947 

3Western’s Continuing Fund (Emergency Fund) 

Policy can be found at http://www.wapa.gov/ 

powerm/pdf/repaypolicy.pdf. 

those projected in the PRS, and, if so, 

whether an adjustment, either 

incremental or decremental, to the 

Drought Adder rate component is 

necessary. Western will notify 

customers by letter each October of the 

planned incremental or decremental 

adjustment and implement the 

adjustment in the January billing cycle. 

Although decremental adjustments to 

the Drought Adder rate component will 

occur as drought costs are repaid, the 

adjustments cannot result in a negative 

Drought Adder rate component. To give 

customers advance notice, Western will 

conduct a preliminary review of the 

Drought Adder rate component in early 

summer and notify customers by letter 

of the estimated change to the Drought 

Adder rate component for the following 

January, with the final Drought Adder 

rate component adjustment verified 

with notification in the October letter to 

the customers. Implementing the 

Drought Adder rate component 

adjustment on January 1 of each year 

will help keep the drought deficits from 

escalating as quickly, will lower the 

interest expense due to drought deficits, 

will demonstrate responsible deficit 

management, and will provide prompt 

drought deficit repayments. 

As a part of the current and proposed 

rate schedules, Western provides for a 

formula-based adjustment of the 

Drought Adder rate component of up to 

2 mills/kWh. The 2 mills/kWh cap is 

intended to place a limit on the amount 

the Drought Adder formula can be 

adjusted relative to associated drought 

costs without having to go through a 

public process to recover costs 

attributable to the Drought Adder 

formula rate for any one-year cycle. 

During informal discussions with its 

customers prior to the commencement 

of this rate adjustment process, Western 

discussed the possibility of 

implementing a two-step rate 

adjustment for the Base rate component 

to address operational and maintenance 

costs as well as normal inflationary 

costs that would be entered into the PRS 

from the FY 2010 work plans. Western 

has reevaluated the benefits of a twostep rate adjustment and concluded 

with the unpredictability of the 

hydrological conditions, rising fuel 

costs and proposed changes in the 

electric transmission industry, it is more 

prudent to forego a two-step rate 

adjustment and continue the annual 

customer consultations and possible 

annual rate adjustments. Therefore, 

Western is not proposing a two-step rate 

adjustment in this public process. 

Due to continuing below normal 

hydropower generation in the P–

SMBP—ED, Western may need to use 

the Continuing Fund (Emergency Fund) 

to pay for unanticipated purchase power 

and wheeling expenses necessary to 

meet its contractual obligations for the 

sale and delivery of power to its 

customers. Should Western use this 

funding mechanism, Western will 

replenish the Continuing Fund 

(Emergency Fund) in accordance with 

law and Western’s associated repayment 

policy, dated March 15, 2007.3

Legal Authority 

Since the proposed rates constitute a 

major rate adjustment as defined by 10 

CFR part 903, Western will hold public 

information forums and public 

comment forums. Western will review 

all timely public comments and make 

amendments or adjustments to the 

proposal as appropriate. Proposed rates 

will be forwarded to the Deputy 

Secretary of Energy for approval on an 

interim basis. 

Western is establishing firm electric 

service and peaking rates for P–SMBP—

ED under the Department of Energy 

Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7152); the 

Reclamation Act of 1902 (ch. 1093, 32 

Stat. 388), as amended and 

supplemented by subsequent laws, 

particularly section 9(c) of the 

Reclamation Project Act of 1939 (43 

U.S.C. 485h(c)); section 5 of the Flood 

Control Act of 1944 (16 U.S.C. 825s); 

and other acts that specifically apply to 

the projects involved. 

By Delegation Order No. 00–037.00, 

effective December 6, 2001, the 

Secretary of Energy delegated: (1) The 

authority to develop power and 

transmission rates to Western’s 

Administrator; (2) the authority to 

confirm, approve, and place such rates 

into effect on an interim basis to the 

Deputy Secretary of Energy; and (3) the 

authority to confirm, approve, and place 

into effect on a final basis, to remand, 

or to disapprove such rates to the FERC. 

Existing Department of Energy (DOE) 

procedures for public participation in 

power rate adjustments (10 CFR part 

903) were published on September 18, 

1985. 

Availability of Information 

All brochures, studies, comments, 

letters, memorandums, or other 

documents that Western initiates or uses 

to develop the proposed rates are 

available for inspection and copying at 

the Upper Great Plains Regional Office, 

located at 2900 4th Avenue North, 

Billings, Montana. Many of these 

documents and supporting information 

are also available on Western’s Web site 

under the ‘‘2009 Firm Rate Adjustment’’

section located at http://www.wapa.gov/ 

ugp/rates/2009firmrateadjust. 

Ratemaking Procedure Requirements 

Environmental Compliance 

In compliance with the National 

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 

(NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.); 

Council on Environmental Quality 

Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500–1508); 

and DOE NEPA Regulations (10 CFR 

part 1021), Western is in the process of 

determining whether an environmental 

assessment or an environmental impact 

statement should be prepared or if this 

action can be categorically excluded 

from those requirements. 

Determination Under Executive Order 

12866 

Western has an exemption from 

centralized regulatory review under 

Executive Order 12866; accordingly, no 

clearance of this notice by the Office of 

Management and Budget is required. 

Dated: July 31, 2008. 

Timothy J. Meeks, 

Administrator. 

[FR Doc. E8–18953 Filed 8–14–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P 

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 

AGENCY 

[ER–FRL–8584–7] 

Environmental Impact Statements and 

Regulations; Availability of EPA 

Comments 

Availability of EPA comments 

prepared pursuant to the Environmental 

Review Process (ERP), under section 

309 of the Clean Air Act and Section 

102(2)(c) of the National Environmental 

Policy Act as amended. Requests for 

copies of EPA comments can be directed 

to the Office of Federal Activities at 

202–564–7146. An explanation of the 

ratings assigned to draft environmental 

impact statements (EISs) was published 

in FR dated April 6, 2008 (73 FR 19833). 

Draft EISs 

EIS No. 20080164, ERP No. D–NRC–

D06005–PA, GENERIC—License 

Renewal of Nuclear Plants, 

Supplement 35 to NUREG–1437, 

Regarding Susquehanna Steam 

Electric Station, Units 1 and 2, Issuing 

Nuclear Power Plant Operating 

Licenses for a 20–Year Period, PA. 

Summary: EPA expressed 

environmental concerns about pollution 

prevention issues and impacts to 

mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES

47948 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 159 / Friday, August 15, 2008 / Notices 

historic and archaeological resources. 

Rating EC1. 

EIS No. 20080171, ERP No. D–NOA–

L91031–WA, Proposed Authorization 

of the Makah Indian Tribe’s Request 

to Hunt Gray Whales in the Tribe’s 

Usual and Accustomed Fishing 

Grounds off the Coast of Washington. 

Summary: EPA does not object to the 

proposed project. Rating LO. 

EIS No. 20080186, ERP No. D–FAA–

K51044–NV, City of Mesquite, 

Proposed Replacement General 

Aviation Airport, Implementation, 

Clark County, NV. 

Summary: EPA expressed 

environmental concerns about air 

toxics, aquatic resource, and biological/ 

wildlife impacts as well as indirect 

impacts associated with the proposed 

replacement airport site and future nonaviation use of the existing site. EPA 

requested additional analysis and/or 

mitigation strategies for each resource 

area of concern. Rating EC2. 

EIS No. 20080204, ERP No. D–APH–

A82128–00, PROGRAMMATIC—Use 

of Genetically Engineered Fruit Fly 

and Pink Bollworm in APHIS Plant 

Pest Control Programs, 

Implementation. 

Summary: EPA has no objection to the 

proposed action. Rating LO. 

EIS No. 20080253, ERP No. D–NOA–

E91024–00, Amendment 4 to the 

Spiny Lobster Fishery Management 

Plan of Puerto Rico and the U.S. 

Virgin Islands and Amendment 8 to 

the Spiny Lobster Fishery 

Management Plan of the Gulf of 

Mexico and South Atlantic, To 

Address the Harvest and Exportation 

of Undersized Lobster Tails to the 

United States. 

Summary: EPA expressed 

environmental concerns about the no 

action alternative and believes that any 

of the proposed action alternatives 

would be more protective. Rating EC2. 

EIS No. 20080195, ERP No. DS–FHW–

E40804–TN, Interstate 69 Segment of 

Independent Utility (SIU) #8, New 

Information for a New Crossover 

Alternative, from TN–385 in 

Millington, TN to I–155/US 51 in 

Dyersburg, TN, Funding, Shelby, 

Tipton, Lauderdale and Dyer 

Counties, TN. 

Summary: EPA continues to have 

environmental concerns about impacts 

to wetlands, rivers, streams, floodplains, 

and prime and unique farmland. EPA 

also has concerns about the selection of 

Alternative R as the preferred 

alternative. Rating EC2. 

Final EISs 

EIS No. 20080198, ERP No. F–IBR–

K39075–CA, Fish Passage 

Improvement Project, Red Bluff 

Diversion Dam (RBDD), 

Improvements of Anadromous Fish 

Passage both Upstream and 

Downstream, Tehama-Colusa Canal, 

RBDD to south of the Town of 

Dunnigan and Corning Canal, RBDD 

to south of the City of Corning, 

Funding, U.S. Army COE Section 10 

and 404 Permits Issuance, Tehama, 

Glenn, Colusa, Yolo Counties, CA. 

Summary: EPA continues to have 

environmental concerns about water 

quality impacts, and potential impacts 

of climate change on the proposed 

action. We recommended the ROD 

include a commitment to post-project 

groundwater monitoring. 

EIS No. 20080211, ERP No. F–FRA–

K53012–CA, Bay Area to Central 

Valley High-Speed Train (HST) 

Project, Provide a Reliable HighSpeed Electrified Train System to 

Link Bay Area Cities to the Central 

Valley, Sacramento, and South 

California. 

Summary: EPA continues to have 

environmental concerns about the 

proposed project regarding land-use and 

growth-related impacts. 

EIS No. 20080231, ERP No. F–FRC–

L03013–00, Bradwood Landing 

Project, Liquefied Natural Gas Import 

Terminal and Natural Gas Pipeline 

Facilities, Construction and 

Operation, U.S. Army COE Section 10 

and 404 Permits, Clatsop County, OR 

and Cowlitz County, WA. 

Summary: EPA continues to express 

environmental concerns about impacts 

to wetlands and air quality. 

EIS No. 20080244, ERP No. F–FAA–

E51052–FL, Fort LauderdaleHollywood International Airport, 

Proposed Development and Extension 

of Runway 9R/27L and other 

Associated Airport Projects, Funding, 

U.S. Army COE Section 404 Permit 

and NPDES Permit, Fort Lauderdale, 

Broward County, FL. 

Summary: EPA continues to have 

environmental concerns about aircraft 

noise exposures to residents. Noise 

mitigation plan specifics and 

commitments were deferred to the FAA 

ROD. 

EIS No. 20080277, ERP No. F–SFW–

G64013–TX, Texas Chenier Plain 

National Wildlife Refuge Complex, 

Development of a 15–Year 

Management Plan (Comprehensive 

Conservation Plan) for Refuge 

Complex, and Expansion of the 

Approval Land Acquisition 

Boundaries (Land Protection Plan) for 

the Four Refuges: Moody, Anahuac, 

McFaddin and Texas Point National 

Wildlife Refuges, Chambers, Jefferson 

and Galveston Counties, TX. 

Summary: No formal comment letter 

was sent to the preparing agency. 

EIS No. 20080249, ERP No. FS–BLM–

J02038–WY, Pinedale Anticline Oil 

and Gas Exploration and 

Development Project, Additional 

Information on Two New 

Alternatives, Consolidated 

Development with Year-Round 

Development (Construction, Drilling, 

Completion, and Production), 

Sublette County, WY. 

Summary: EPA continues to have 

environmental concerns about 

groundwater, ozone, and visibility 

impacts. 

Dated: August 12, 2008. 

Ken Mittelholtz, 

Environmental Protection Specialist, Office 

of Federal Activities. 

[FR Doc. E8–18973 Filed 8–14–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6560–50–P 

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 

AGENCY 

[ER–FRL–8584–6] 

Environmental Impact Statements; 

Notice of Availability 

Responsible Agency: Office of Federal 

Activities, General Information (202) 

564–1399 or http://www.epa.gov/ 

compliance/nepa/. 

Weekly Receipt of Environmental 

Impact Statements. 

Filed 08/4/2008 Through 08/8/2008 

Pursuant to 40 CFR 1506.9. 

EIS No. 20080306, Final EIS, AFS, 00, 

Nebraska and South Dakota BlackTailed Prairie Dog Management, To 

Manage Prairie Dog Colonies in an 

Adaptive Fashion, Nebraska National 

Forest and Associated Units, 

Including Land and Resource 

Management Plan Amendment 3, 

Dawes, Sioux, Blaines Counties, NE 

and Custer, Fall River, Jackson, 

Pennington, Jones, Lyman, Stanley 

Counties, SD, Wait Period Ends: 09/ 

15/2008, Contact: Mike McNeill 308–

432–0315. 

EIS No. 20080307, Final EIS, AFS, OR, 

East Maury Fuels and Vegetation 

Management Project, Proposed Fuels 

and Vegetation Treatments Reduce 

the Risk of Stand Loss, Lookout 

Mountain Ranger District, Ochoco 

National Forest, Crook County, OR, 

Wait Period Ends: 09/15/2008, 

Contact: Barbara Fontaine 541–416–

6500. 

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