Document ID: FERC-2015-0414-0001
Agency: ferc
Document Type: Notice
Title: Environmental Impact Statements; Availability, etc.: Merced Irrigation District, Pacific Gas and Electric Co., Merced River And Merced Falls Hydroelectric Projects
Posted Date: 2015-04-06T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 65 (Monday, April 6, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 18397]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-07764]

[[Page 18397]]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 2179-043--California; Project No. 2467-020--California]

Merced Irrigation District, Pacific Gas and Electric Company; 
Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Merced River and Merced Falls Hydroelectric Projects

    In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) 
regulations contained in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) (18 CFR 
part 380 [FERC Order No. 486, 52 FR 47897]), the Office of Energy 
Projects has reviewed the applications for license for the Merced River 
Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 2179), and the Merced Falls 
Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 2467) and prepared a draft multi-
project environmental impact statement (EIS) for the projects.
    Both projects are located on the Merced River. The Merced River 
Project is located at river mile (RM) 62.5 and 56.3, respectively, 
about 23 miles northeast of the city of Merced in Mariposa County, 
California. The Merced River Project occupies 3,154.9 acres of federal 
land administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of 
Land Management (BLM). The Merced Falls Project is located at RM 55 on 
the border of Merced and Mariposa Counties, California. The Merced 
Falls Project occupies 1.0 acre of federal land administered by BLM.
    The draft EIS contains staff's analysis of the applicants' 
proposals and the alternatives for relicensing the Merced River and 
Merced Falls projects. The draft EIS documents the views of 
governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, affected Indian 
tribes, the public, the license applicants, and Commission staff.
    A copy of the draft EIS is available for review at the Commission 
or may be viewed on the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov, 
using the ``e-Library'' link. Enter the docket number, excluding the 
last three digits, to access the document. For assistance, contact FERC 
Online Support at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll-free at (866) 208-
3676, or for TTY, contact (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.
    All comments must be filed by Friday, May 29, 2015, and should 
reference Project Nos. 2179-043 and 2467-020. The Commission strongly 
encourages electronic filing. Please file comments using the 
Commission's efiling system at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp. Commenters can submit brief comments up to 6,000 
characters, without prior registration, using the eComment system at 
http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ecomment.asp. 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, please send a paper copy to: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, 
DC 20426.
    Anyone may intervene in this proceeding based on this draft EIS (18 
CFR 380.10). You must file your request to intervene as specified 
above. You do not need intervenor status to have your comments 
considered.
    Commission staff will hold two public meetings for the purpose of 
receiving comments on the draft EIS. The daytime meeting will focus on 
resource agency, Indian tribe, and non-governmental organization 
comments, while the evening meeting is primarily for receiving input 
from the public. All interested individuals and entities will be 
invited to attend the public meeting. A notice detailing the exact 
date, time, and location of the public meetings will be forthcoming.
    For further information, please contact Matt Buhyoff at (202) 502-
6824 or at matt.buhyoff@ferc.gov.

    Dated: March 30, 2015.
Kimberly D. Bose,
 Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-07764 Filed 4-3-15; 8:45 am]
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