Document ID: FERC-2010-0264-0001
Agency: ferc
Document Type: Notice
Title: Environmental Impact Statements; Availability, etc.: Kilarc-Cow Creek Hydroelectric Project
Posted Date: 2010-03-01T05:00Z

[Federal Register: March 1, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 39)]
[Notices]               
[Page 9201-9202]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01mr10-66]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 606-027-CA]

 
Kilarc-Cow Creek Hydroelectric Project; Notice of Intention To 
Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

February 19, 2010.
    The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has received an 
application for surrender of license for the Kilarc-Cow Creek 
Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. 606. The project contains two 
developments and is located on Old Cow Creek and South Cow Creek in 
Shasta County, northern California.
    In the March 13, 2009 application, Pacific Gas and Electric Company 
(licensee) proposes to surrender the license, decommission and remove 
project facilities, as described in its proposed decommissioning plan. 
In general, (1) diversion dams would be removed to stop water 
diversions and to allow for free passage of fish and sediment; (2) some 
diversion dam abutments and foundations would be left in place to 
protect stream banks and provide grade control; (3) both powerhouse 
structures would be secured and left in place during decommissioning 
and an option for future reuse of the powerhouse structures would be 
preserved; (4) electric generators, turbines and other equipment would 
be removed; (5) both forebays would be graded and filled; and (6) canal 
segments would be left in place, breached, or filled in consultation 
with affected landowners, and metal and wood flume structures would be 
removed. The licensee consulted with federal, state, local agencies, 
and other parties with potential interest, during the license surrender 
application process.
    As a result of the public scoping process and environmental site 
review, the FERC staff has determined that the proposed license 
surrender would constitute a major federal action significantly 
affecting the quality of the human environment. Therefore, the staff 
intends to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) on the 
surrendering of the hydroelectric project

[[Page 9202]]

in lieu of an environmental assessment (EA). The EIS will be prepared 
in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

Scoping

    The FERC staff prepared a scoping document and held public scoping 
meetings on October 19, 2009 in Palo Cedro, CA and October 22, 2009 in 
Redding, CA. FERC staff held public environmental site reviews of the 
project on October 20 and 21, 2009. The public meetings and 
environmental site reviews assisted staff in identifying the scope of 
the environmental issues that should be analyzed. The results of the 
scoping were extensive and indicate than an EIS should be prepared for 
this project rather than an EA, as staff had initially anticipated. The 
upcoming EIS will reflect input received at the scoping meetings and 
justify why staff has determined that an EIS should be prepared.

Process

    The FERC staff will first issue and circulate a draft EIS to all of 
the interested parties for comment. All comments filed on the draft EIS 
will be analyzed by the FERC staff and considered in the final EIS 
pursuant to NEPA. The FERC staff will also hold a public meeting in 
California before issuing the final EIS. The staff's conclusions and 
recommendations will then be presented for the consideration of the 
Commission in the order reaching its final decision.
    For further information please contact the project coordinator, 
CarLisa Linton at (202) 502-8416 or carlisa.linton-peters@ferc.gov.

Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2010-4093 Filed 2-26-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P