83 FR 804 - Notice of Intent To File License Application, Filing of Pre-Application Document (Pad), Commencement of Pre-Filing Process, and Scoping; Request for Comments on the Pad and Scoping Document, and Identification of Issues and Associated Study Requests; Washington Electric Cooperative, Inc.

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 5 (January 8, 2018)

Page Range		804-805
FR Document		2018-00127

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 5 (Monday, January 8, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 5 (Monday, January 8, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 804-805]
From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-00127]

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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 5124-021]

Notice of Intent To File License Application, Filing of Pre-
Application Document (Pad), Commencement of Pre-Filing Process, and
Scoping; Request for Comments on the Pad and Scoping Document, and
Identification of Issues and Associated Study Requests; Washington
Electric Cooperative, Inc.

a. Type of Filing: Notice of Intent to File License Application for
a New License and Commencing Pre-filing Process.
b. Project No.: 5124-021.
c. Dated Filed: October 30, 2017.
d. Submitted By: Washington Electric Cooperative, Inc.
e. Name of Project: North Branch No. 3 Hydroelectric Project.
f. Location: On the North Branch Winooski River, in Washington
County, Vermont. The project does not occupy lands of the United
States.
g. Filed Pursuant to: 18 CFR part 5 of the Commission's
Regulations.
h. Potential Applicant Contact: Ms. Patricia Richards, General
Manager, Washington Electric Cooperative, Inc., P.O. Box 8, 40 Church
Street East Montpelier, Vermont 05651; phone: (802) 223-5245 or email
at patty.richards@wec.coop.
i. FERC Contact: Michael Tust at (202) 502-6522 or email at
michael.tust@ferc.gov.
j. Cooperating agencies: Federal, state, local, and tribal agencies
with jurisdiction and/or special expertise with respect to
environmental issues that wish to cooperate in the preparation of the
environmental document should follow the instructions for filing such
requests described in item o below. Cooperating agencies should note
the Commission's policy that agencies that cooperate in the preparation
of the environmental document cannot also intervene. See 94 FERC 61,076
(2001).
k. With this notice, we are initiating informal consultation with:
(a) The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and/or NOAA Fisheries under
section 7 of the Endangered Species Act and the joint agency
regulations thereunder at 50 CFR, Part 402 and (b) the State Historic
Preservation Officer, as required by section 106, National Historic
Preservation Act, and the implementing regulations of the Advisory
Council on Historic Preservation at 36 CFR 800.2.
l. With this notice, we are designating Washington Electric
Cooperative, Inc. (WEC) as the Commission's non-federal representatives
for carrying out informal consultation, pursuant to section 7 of the
Endangered Species Act and section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act.
m. WEC filed a Pre-Application Document (PAD; including a proposed
process plan and schedule) with the Commission, pursuant to 18 CFR 5.6
of the Commission's regulations.
n. A copy of the PAD is available for review at the Commission in
the Public Reference Room or may be viewed on the Commission's website
(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. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support at
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, (866) 208-3676 (toll free), or (202) 502-
8659 (TTY). A copy is also available for inspection and reproduction at
the address in paragraph h.
Register online at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp to be notified via email of new filing and issuances
related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC
Online Support.
o. With this notice, we are soliciting comments on the PAD and
Commission's staff Scoping Document 1 (SD1), as well as study requests.
All comments on the PAD and SD1, and study requests should be sent to
the address above in paragraph h. In addition, all comments on the PAD
and SD1, study requests, requests for cooperating agency status, and
all communications to and from Commission staff related to the merits
of the potential application must be filed with the Commission.
The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file
all documents 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 at
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. In lieu of electronic filing, please send a
paper copy to: Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888
First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426. The first page of any filing
should include docket number P-5124-021.
All filings with the Commission must bear the appropriate heading:
Comments on Pre-Application Document, Study Requests, Comments on
Scoping Document 1, Request for Cooperating Agency Status, or
Communications to and from Commission Staff. Any individual or entity
interested in submitting study requests, commenting on the PAD or SD1,
and any agency requesting cooperating status must do so 60 days
following the date of issuance of this notice.
p. Although our current intent is to prepare an environmental
assessment (EA), there is the possibility that an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) will be required. Nevertheless, this meeting will
satisfy the NEPA scoping requirements, irrespective of whether an EA or
EIS is issued by the Commission.

[[Page 805]]

Scoping Meetings

Commission staff will hold two scoping meetings in the vicinity of
the project at the times and places noted below. The daytime meeting
will focus on resource agency, Indian tribes, and non-governmental
organization concerns, while the evening meeting is primarily for
receiving input from the public. We invite all interested individuals,
organizations, and agencies to attend one or both of the meetings, and
to assist staff in identifying particular study needs, as well as the
scope of environmental issues to be addressed in the environmental
document. The times and locations of these meetings are as follows:

Evening Scoping Meeting

Date: Wednesday, January 24, 2018.
Time: 6:00 p.m. (EST).
Location: Capitol Plaza Hotel and Conference Center, 100 State
Street, Montpelier, VT 05602.
Phone: (802) 223-5252.

Daytime Scoping Meeting

Date: Thursday, January 25, 2018.
Time: 9:00 a.m. (EST).
Location: Capitol Plaza Hotel and Conference Center, 100 State
Street, Montpelier, VT 05602.
Phone: (802) 223-5252.

Scoping Document 1 (SD1), which outlines the subject areas to be
addressed in the environmental document, was mailed to the individuals
and entities on the Commission's mailing list. Copies of SD1 will be
available at the scoping meetings, or may be viewed on the web at
http://www.ferc.gov, using the eLibrary link. Follow the directions for
accessing information in paragraph n. Based on all oral and written
comments, a Scoping Document 2 (SD2) may be issued. SD2 may include a
revised process plan and schedule, as well as a list of issues,
identified through the scoping process.

Environmental Site Review

The potential applicant and Commission staff will conduct an
Environmental Site Review (site visit) of the project on Wednesday,
January 24, 2018, starting at 1:00 p.m. and ending at or about 3:00
p.m. All participants should meet at the base of Wrightsville Dam near
the intersection of Mill Road and Corry Road in Montpelier, Vermont
05602. Participants are responsible for their own transportation.
Persons with questions about the site visit should contact Dan Weston
(802-223-5245; dan.weston@wec.coop) or Mark Wamser (603-428-4960;
mwamser@gomezandsullivan.com).

Meeting Objectives

At the scoping meetings, staff will: (1) Initiate scoping of the
issues; (2) review and discuss existing conditions and resource
management objectives; (3) review and discuss existing information and
identify preliminary information and study needs; (4) review and
discuss the process plan and schedule for pre-filing activity that
incorporates the time frames provided for in Part 5 of the Commission's
regulations and, to the extent possible, maximizes coordination of
federal, state, and tribal permitting and certification processes; and
(5) discuss the appropriateness of any federal or state agency or
Indian tribe acting as a cooperating agency for development of an
environmental document.
Meeting participants should come prepared to discuss their issues
and/or concerns. Please review the PAD in preparation for the scoping
meetings. Directions on how to obtain a copy of the PAD and SD1 are
included in item n. of this document.

Meeting Procedures

The meetings will be recorded by a stenographer and will be placed
in the public records of the project.

Dated: December 29, 2017.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-00127 Filed 1-5-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P

804 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 5 / Monday, January 8, 2018 / Notices

Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 1/19/18. c. Dated Filed: October 30, 2017. Online Support at
Docket Numbers: ER18–571–000. d. Submitted By: Washington Electric FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, (866)
Applicants: Southwest Power Pool, Cooperative, Inc. 208–3676 (toll free), or (202) 502–8659
Inc. e. Name of Project: North Branch No. (TTY). A copy is also available for
Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing: 3 Hydroelectric Project. inspection and reproduction at the
Attachment AE Revisions to Clarify f. Location: On the North Branch address in paragraph h.
ILTCRs to be effective 2/27/2018. Winooski River, in Washington County, Register online at http://
Filed Date: 12/29/17. Vermont. The project does not occupy www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/
Accession Number: 20171229–5026 lands of the United States. esubscription.asp to be notified via
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 1/19/18. g. Filed Pursuant to: 18 CFR part 5 of email of new filing and issuances
Docket Numbers: ER18–572–000. the Commission’s Regulations. related to this or other pending projects.
h. Potential Applicant Contact: Ms. For assistance, contact FERC Online
Applicants: South Central MCN LLC.
Patricia Richards, General Manager, Support.
Description: Limited Revisions to SPP
Washington Electric Cooperative, Inc.,
Transmission Formula Rate Template of o. With this notice, we are soliciting
P.O. Box 8, 40 Church Street East
South Central MCN LLC. comments on the PAD and
Filed Date: 12/28/17. Montpelier, Vermont 05651; phone:
Commission’s staff Scoping Document 1
Accession Number: 20171228–5306. (802) 223–5245 or email at
(SD1), as well as study requests. All
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 1/18/18. patty.richards@wec.coop.
comments on the PAD and SD1, and
i. FERC Contact: Michael Tust at (202)
The filings are accessible in the study requests should be sent to the
502–6522 or email at michael.tust@
Commission’s eLibrary system by address above in paragraph h. In
ferc.gov.
clicking on the links or querying the j. Cooperating agencies: Federal, state, addition, all comments on the PAD and
docket number. local, and tribal agencies with SD1, study requests, requests for
Any person desiring to intervene or jurisdiction and/or special expertise cooperating agency status, and all
protest in any of the above proceedings with respect to environmental issues communications to and from
must file in accordance with Rules 211 that wish to cooperate in the Commission staff related to the merits of
and 214 of the Commission’s preparation of the environmental the potential application must be filed
Regulations (18 CFR 385.211 and document should follow the with the Commission.
385.214) on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern instructions for filing such requests The Commission strongly encourages
time on the specified comment date. described in item o below. Cooperating electronic filing. Please file all
Protests may be considered, but agencies should note the Commission’s documents using the Commission’s
intervention is necessary to become a policy that agencies that cooperate in eFiling system at http://www.ferc.gov/
party to the proceeding. the preparation of the environmental docs-filing/efiling.asp. Commenters can
eFiling is encouraged. More detailed document cannot also intervene. See 94 submit brief comments up to 6,000
information relating to filing FERC 61,076 (2001). characters, without prior registration,
requirements, interventions, protests, k. With this notice, we are initiating using the eComment system at http://
service, and qualifying facilities filings informal consultation with: (a) The U.S. www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/
can be found at: http://www.ferc.gov/ Fish and Wildlife Service and/or NOAA ecomment.asp. You must include your
docs-filing/efiling/filing-req.pdf. For Fisheries under section 7 of the name and contact information at the end
other information, call (866) 208–3676 Endangered Species Act and the joint of your comments. For assistance,
(toll free). For TTY, call (202) 502–8659. agency regulations thereunder at 50 please contact FERC Online Support at
Dated: December 29, 2017. CFR, Part 402 and (b) the State Historic FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. In lieu of
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr., Preservation Officer, as required by electronic filing, please send a paper
section 106, National Historic copy to: Secretary, Federal Energy
Deputy Secretary.
Preservation Act, and the implementing Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street
[FR Doc. 2018–00124 Filed 1–5–18; 8:45 am]
regulations of the Advisory Council on NE, Washington, DC 20426. The first
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
Historic Preservation at 36 CFR 800.2. page of any filing should include docket
l. With this notice, we are designating number P–5124–021.
Washington Electric Cooperative, Inc. All filings with the Commission must
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
(WEC) as the Commission’s non-federal bear the appropriate heading: Comments
Federal Energy Regulatory representatives for carrying out informal on Pre-Application Document, Study
Commission consultation, pursuant to section 7 of Requests, Comments on Scoping
the Endangered Species Act and section Document 1, Request for Cooperating
[Project No. 5124–021] Agency Status, or Communications to
106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act. and from Commission Staff. Any
Notice of Intent To File License
m. WEC filed a Pre-Application individual or entity interested in
Application, Filing of Pre-Application
Document (PAD; including a proposed submitting study requests, commenting
Document (Pad), Commencement of
process plan and schedule) with the on the PAD or SD1, and any agency
Pre-Filing Process, and Scoping;
Commission, pursuant to 18 CFR 5.6 of requesting cooperating status must do so
Request for Comments on the Pad and
the Commission’s regulations. 60 days following the date of issuance
Scoping Document, and Identification
n. A copy of the PAD is available for of this notice.
of Issues and Associated Study
review at the Commission in the Public p. Although our current intent is to
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

Requests; Washington Electric
Reference Room or may be viewed on prepare an environmental assessment
Cooperative, Inc.
the Commission’s website (http:// (EA), there is the possibility that an
a. Type of Filing: Notice of Intent to www.ferc.gov), using the ‘‘eLibrary’’ Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
File License Application for a New link. Enter the docket number, will be required. Nevertheless, this
License and Commencing Pre-filing excluding the last three digits in the meeting will satisfy the NEPA scoping
Process. docket number field to access the requirements, irrespective of whether an
b. Project No.: 5124–021. document. For assistance, contact FERC EA or EIS is issued by the Commission.

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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 5 / Monday, January 8, 2018 / Notices 805

Scoping Meetings Meeting Objectives This notice announces the opening of
Commission staff will hold two At the scoping meetings, staff will: (1) the scoping process the Commission
scoping meetings in the vicinity of the Initiate scoping of the issues; (2) review will use to gather input from the public
project at the times and places noted and discuss existing conditions and and interested agencies on the project.
below. The daytime meeting will focus resource management objectives; (3) You can make a difference by providing
on resource agency, Indian tribes, and review and discuss existing information us with your specific comments or
non-governmental organization and identify preliminary information concerns about the project. Your
concerns, while the evening meeting is and study needs; (4) review and discuss comments should focus on the potential
primarily for receiving input from the the process plan and schedule for pre- environmental effects, reasonable
public. We invite all interested filing activity that incorporates the time alternatives, and measures to avoid or
individuals, organizations, and agencies frames provided for in Part 5 of the lessen environmental impacts. Your
to attend one or both of the meetings, Commission’s regulations and, to the input will help the Commission staff
and to assist staff in identifying extent possible, maximizes coordination determine what issues they need to
particular study needs, as well as the evaluate in the EA. To ensure that your
of federal, state, and tribal permitting
scope of environmental issues to be comments are timely and properly
and certification processes; and (5)
addressed in the environmental recorded, please send your comments so
discuss the appropriateness of any
document. The times and locations of that the Commission receives them in
federal or state agency or Indian tribe
these meetings are as follows: Washington, DC on or before February
acting as a cooperating agency for
1, 2018.
Evening Scoping Meeting development of an environmental If you sent comments on this project
document. to the Commission before the opening of
Date: Wednesday, January 24, 2018. Meeting participants should come
Time: 6:00 p.m. (EST). this docket on October 31, 2017, you
prepared to discuss their issues and/or
Location: Capitol Plaza Hotel and will need to file those comments in
concerns. Please review the PAD in
Conference Center, 100 State Street, Docket No. CP18–12–000 to ensure they
preparation for the scoping meetings.
Montpelier, VT 05602. are considered as part of this
Directions on how to obtain a copy of
Phone: (802) 223–5252. proceeding.
the PAD and SD1 are included in item This notice is being sent to the
Daytime Scoping Meeting n. of this document. Commission’s current environmental
Date: Thursday, January 25, 2018. Meeting Procedures mailing list for this project. State and
Time: 9:00 a.m. (EST). local government representatives should
Location: Capitol Plaza Hotel and The meetings will be recorded by a
stenographer and will be placed in the notify their constituents of this
Conference Center, 100 State Street, proposed project and encourage them to
Montpelier, VT 05602. public records of the project.
comment on their areas of concern.
Phone: (802) 223–5252. Dated: December 29, 2017. Natural Gas Pipeline Company of
Scoping Document 1 (SD1), which Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr., America LLC provided landowners with
outlines the subject areas to be Deputy Secretary. a fact sheet prepared by the FERC
addressed in the environmental [FR Doc. 2018–00127 Filed 1–5–18; 8:45 am] entitled ‘‘An Interstate Natural Gas
document, was mailed to the BILLING CODE 6717–01–P Facility On My Land? What Do I Need
individuals and entities on the To Know?’’ This fact sheet addresses a
Commission’s mailing list. Copies of number of typically asked questions,
SD1 will be available at the scoping DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY including the use of eminent domain
meetings, or may be viewed on the web and how to participate in the
at http://www.ferc.gov, using the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s proceedings. It is also
eLibrary link. Follow the directions for Commission available for viewing on the FERC
accessing information in paragraph n. website (www.ferc.gov).
[Docket No. CP18–12–000]
Based on all oral and written comments,
a Scoping Document 2 (SD2) may be Public Participation
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
issued. SD2 may include a revised Environmental Assessment for the For your convenience, there are three
process plan and schedule, as well as a Natural Gas Pipeline Company of methods you can use to submit your
list of issues, identified through the America LLC Proposed Herscher comments to the Commission. The
scoping process. Northwest Storage Field Abandonment Commission encourages electronic filing
Project and Request for Comments on of comments and has expert staff
Environmental Site Review
Environmental Issues available to assist you at (202) 502–8258
The potential applicant and or FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. Please
Commission staff will conduct an The staff of the Federal Energy carefully follow these instructions so
Environmental Site Review (site visit) of Regulatory Commission (FERC or that your comments are properly
the project on Wednesday, January 24, Commission) will prepare an recorded.
2018, starting at 1:00 p.m. and ending at environmental assessment (EA) that will (1) You can file your comments
or about 3:00 p.m. All participants discuss the environmental impacts of electronically using the eComment
should meet at the base of Wrightsville the Herscher Northwest Storage Field feature on the Commission’s website
Dam near the intersection of Mill Road Abandonment Project involving (www.ferc.gov) under the link to
and Corry Road in Montpelier, Vermont construction and operation of facilities
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

Documents and Filings. This is an easy
05602. Participants are responsible for by Natural Gas Pipeline Company of method for submitting brief, text-only
their own transportation. Persons with America LLC (Natural) in Kankakee comments on a project;
questions about the site visit should County, Illinois. The Commission will (2) You can file your comments
contact Dan Weston (802–223–5245; use this EA in its decision-making electronically by using the eFiling
dan.weston@wec.coop) or Mark Wamser process to determine whether the feature on the Commission’s website
(603–428–4960; mwamser@ project is in the public convenience and (www.ferc.gov) under the link to
gomezandsullivan.com). necessity. Documents and Filings. With eFiling,

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Document Created: 2018-01-06 02:31:53
Document Modified: 2018-01-06 02:31:53

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Dates		Wednesday, January 24, 2018.
FR Citation		83 FR 804

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGYFederal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 5 (January 8, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission