Document ID: FERC-2021-0740-0001
Agency: ferc
Document Type: Notice
Title: Environmental Impact Statements; Availability, etc.: Alabama Power Co.; Coosa Hydroelectric Project
Posted Date: 2021-06-24T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 119 (Thursday, June 24, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33267-33268]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-13298]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 2146-111; Project No. 82-000; Project No. 618-000]

Alabama Power Company, Notice of Availability of The Draft 
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for The Coosa River 
Hydroelectric Project

    In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (Commission) 
regulations, 18 CFR part 380, the Office of Energy Projects has 
reviewed the application for a single new license for three currently 
separately licensed projects and has prepared a draft supplemental 
environmental impact statement (SEIS).\1\ The single new operating 
license would combine the Coosa Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 2146), 
which consists of the Weiss, H. Neely Henry, Logan Martin, Lay, and 
Bouldin developments, the Mitchell Dam Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 
82), and the Jordan Dam Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 618) as one 
960.9-megawatt (MW) project, the Coosa River Hydroelectric Project 
(Coosa River Project) No. 2146. The projects are located on the Coosa 
River, in the states of Alabama and Georgia, and occupy about 508.31 
acres of federal land administered by the U.S. Bureau of Land 
Management and 5.75 acres of federal land administered by the U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ On July 16, 2020, the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) 
issued a final rule, Update to the Regulations Implementing the 
Procedural Provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act 
(Final Rule, 85 FR 43304), which was effective as of September 14, 
2020; however, the NEPA review of this project was in process at 
that time and was prepared pursuant to CEQ's 1978 NEPA regulations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The draft SEIS has been prepared to address the July 6, 2018 
opinion issued by the United States Court of Appeals for the District 
of Columbia (court) regarding the Commission's environmental review of 
the Coosa River Project, and supplements the final environmental 
assessment (FEA), issued December 31, 2009, for the project. The draft 
SEIS focuses on the following issues identified by the court as needing 
further analysis and expands upon the analysis contained within the FEA 
for these issues: (1) Dissolved oxygen; (2) fish entrainment and 
turbine mortality; (3) federally listed threatened and endangered 
species; and (4) cumulative effects. The draft SEIS describes staff's 
analysis of the applicant's proposal and the alternatives for 
relicensing the project. The draft SEIS documents the views of 
governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, affected Indian 
tribes, the public, the license applicant, and Commission staff.
    The Commission provides all interested persons with an opportunity 
to view and/or print the draft SEIS via the internet through the 
Commission's Home Page (http://www.ferc.gov/), using the ``eLibrary'' 
link. Enter the docket number, excluding the last three digits in the 
docket number field, to access the document. At this time, the 
Commission has suspended access to the Commission's Public Reference 
Room, due to the proclamation declaring a National Emergency concerning 
the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), in a Presidential 
proclamation issued on March 13, 2020. For assistance, contact FERC 
Online Support at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, or toll-free at (866) 
208-3676, or for TTY, (202) 502-8659.
    You may also register online at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp to be notified via email of new filings and issuances 
related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC 
Online Support.
    Due to concerns with large gatherings related to COVID-19, we do 
not intend to conduct public meetings for the

[[Page 33268]]

purpose of receiving comments on the draft SEIS. Instead, we are 
soliciting written comments, which must be filed within 60 days of this 
notice.
    The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file 
comments using the Commission's eFiling system at https://www.ferconline.ferc.gov/eFiling.aspx. Commenters can submit brief 
comments up to 6,000 characters, without prior registration, using the 
eComment system at https://ferconline.ferc.gov/QuickComment.aspx. You 
must include your name and contact information at the end of your 
comments. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support. In lieu 
of electronic filing, you may submit a paper copy. Submissions sent via 
the U.S. Postal Service must be addressed to: Kimberly D. Bose, 
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, 
Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426. Submissions sent via any other carrier 
must be addressed to: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852. 
The first page of any filing should include docket number P-2146-111.
    Anyone may intervene in this proceeding based on this draft SEIS 
(18 CFR 380.10). You must file your request to intervene as specified 
above.\2\ You do not need intervenor status to have your comments 
considered.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ Interventions may also be filed electronically via the 
internet in lieu of paper. See the previous discussion on filing 
comments electronically.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For further information, please contact Aaron Liberty at (202) 502-
6862 or at aaron.liberty@ferc.gov.

    Dated: June 17, 2021.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-13298 Filed 6-23-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P