Gustavus Electric Company; Notice of Request to Use Alternative Procedures in Filing a License Application

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 48 (Friday, March 12, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12297-12298]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-6173]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 11659]


Gustavus Electric Company; Notice of Request to Use Alternative 
Procedures in Filing a License Application

March 9,1999.
    By letter dated February 8, 1999, Gustavus Electric Company (GEC) 
requested to use an alternative procedure in filing an application for 
an original license for the Kahtaheena River (Falls Creek) Project No. 
11659.\1\ No preliminary permit has been issued for this project. 
Federal legislation signed by President Clinton on October 30, 1998, 
authorized the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) to 
process an application for a hydropower license from GEC.\2\
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    \1\ The proposed project would be located near Gustavus, Alaska, 
partially within the boundaries of Glacier Bay National Park.
    \2\ Glacier Bay National park Boundary Act of 1998, 105 Pub. L. 
317; 112 Stat. 3002 (1998).
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    GEC has demonstrated that they have made a reasonable effort to 
contact the resource agencies, Indian tribes, non-governmental 
organizations (NGOs), and others who may be affected by their proposal. 
GEC has submitted several letters of support for their proposal, and it 
appears that the use of alternative procedures in filing the license 
application may be appropriate in this case. GEC has also submitted a 
communication protocol that is supported by most interested entities.
    The purpose of this notice is to invite comments on GEC's request 
to use alternative filing procedures, as required under the final rule 
for Regulations for the Licensing of Hydroelectric Projects.\3\ 
Additional notices seeking comments on specific project proposals, 
interventions and protests, and recommended terms and conditions will 
be issued at a later date.
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    \3\ 81 FERC 61,103 (1997).
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    The alternative procedures being requested here would combine the 
prefiling consultation process with the environmental review process, 
allowing GEC to file an applicant-prepared Preliminary Draft 
Environmental Assessment (PDEA) in lieu of Exhibit E of the traditional 
license application. This alternative filing procedure differs from the 
traditional application process. Pursuant to the traditional filing 
process, the applicant consults with agencies, Indian tribes, and NGOs 
during preparation of the application for the license and before filing 
it, but the Commission staff performs the environmental review after 
the application is filed. The alternative procedures are intended to 
reduce redundancies in the licensing process by combining the prefiling 
consultation and environmental review processes into a single process, 
to facilitate greater participation, and to improve communication and 
cooperation among the participants. The alternative procedures can be 
tailored to the particular project under consideration.

Alternative Procedures and the Kahtaheena River (Falls Creek) 
Project Schedule

    On December 7, 1998, GEC distributed an Initial Stage Consultation 
Document for the proposed project to state and federal resource 
agencies, Indian tribes, and NGOs. GEC conducted an initial 
consultation meeting and site visit for all interested parties on 
January 19, and 20, 1999. Notices announcing the meeting and site visit 
were published locally, as required by Commission regulations. Public 
scoping meetings are planned for April 1999. Notice of the scoping 
meetings will be published at least 15 days prior to the meetings.
    Any studies agreed upon by GEC and the collaborative group would be 
conducted during 1999 and 2000, if necessary. Opportunities for 
requesting additional studies will be noticed at least 30 days prior to 
any study request deadline. GEC has tentatively proposed to distribute 
a draft license application and PDEA for comment in August 2000; 
however, the need for and timing of any additional studies may affect 
the timing of this distribution. The final license application and PDEA 
must be filed with the Commission no later than October 30, 2001.\4\
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    \4\ As established in Glacier Bay National Park Boundary Act of 
1998.
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Comments

    Interested parties have 30 days from the date of this notice to 
file with the Commission, any comments on GEC's proposal to use the 
alternative procedures in filing a license application for the 
Kahtaheena River (Falls Creek) Project. GEC's request to use 
alternative procedures may be viewed on the web at 
www.ferc.fed.us/online/rims.htm (call 202-208-2222 for assistance).

Filing Requirements

    Any comments must be filed by providing an original and 8 copies as 
required by the Commission's regulations to: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, Office of the

[[Page 12298]]

Secretary, Dockets--Room 1A, 888 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 
20426.
    All comment filings must bear the heading ``Comments on the 
Alternative Procedure,'' and include the project name and number 
(Kahtaheena River (Falls Creek) Project No. 11659). For further 
information, please contact Bob Easton at (202) 219-2782 or e-mail at 
robert.easton@ferc.fed.us.
David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-6173 Filed 3-11-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M