

[Federal Register: March 14, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 49)]
[Notices]               
[Page 13113-13114]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14mr06-60]                         


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 739-018]

 
Appalachian Power Company; Notice of Intent To File License 
Application, Filing of Pre-Application Document, Commencement of 
Licensing Proceeding, Scoping Meetings, Solicitation of Comments on the 
Pad and Scoping Document, and Identification of Issues and Associated 
Study Requests

March 7, 2006
    a. Type of Filing: Notice of Intent to File License Application for 
a New License and Commencing Licensing Proceeding.
    b. Project No.: 739-018.
    c. Dated Filed: January 6, 2006.
    d. Submitted By: Appalachian Power Company.
    e. Name of Project: Claytor Project.
    f. Location: On the New River, in Pulaski County, Virginia. The 
project does not occupy any Federal land.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: 18 CFR part 5 of the Commission's 
Regulations.
    h. Applicant Contact: Ms. Teresa Rogers, Reservoir Superintendent, 
Appalachian Power Company, 40 Franklin Road, Roanoke, VA 24011, (540) 
985-2441, tprogers@aep.com.
    i. FERC Contact: John Smith, (202) 502-8972, or via e-mail at 
john.smith@ferc.gov.

    j. We are asking Federal, state, local, and tribal agencies with 
jurisdiction and/or special expertise with respect to environmental 
issues to cooperate with us in the preparation of the environmental 
document. Agencies who would like to request cooperating status should 
follow the instructions for filing comments described in paragraph 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 Historical 
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 Appalachian Power Company 
as the Commission's non-Federal representative for carrying out 
informal consultation, pursuant to section 7 of the Endangered Species 
Act and section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
    m. Appalachian Power Company 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. The 
Commission issued Scoping Document 1 (SD1) on March 7, 2006.
    n. A copy of the PAD and SD1 are available for review at the 
Commission in the Public Reference Room or may be viewed on the 
Commission's Web site (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 or toll free at 1-
866-208-3676, or for TTY, (202) 502-8659. Copies are also available for 
inspection and reproduction at the address in paragraph h.
    Register online at http://ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm to be notified 

via e-mail 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 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 
(original and eight copies) must be filed with the Commission at the 
following address: Magalie R. Salas, Secretary, Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426. All 
filings with the Commission must include on the first page, the project 
name (Claytor Project) and number (P-739-018), and bear the 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 by May 6, 2006.
    Comments on the PAD and SD1, study requests, requests for 
cooperating agency status, and other permissible forms of 
communications with the Commission may be filed electronically via the 
Internet in lieu of paper. The Commission strongly encourages 
electronic filings. See 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions 
on the Commission's Web site (http://www.ferc.gov) under the 

``efiling'' link.
    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.

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, April 5, 2006.
    Time: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
    Location: Dublin Middle School, 650 Giles Avenue, Dublin, Virginia 
24084.
    Daytime Scoping Meeting
    Date: Thursday, April 6, 2006.
    Time: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
    Location: Appalachian Power's Pulaski Service Center, 4600 Newbern 
Road, Pulaski, Virginia 24301.
    For Directions: Please call Ms. Teresa Rogers at (540) 985-2441, or 
via e-mail at tprogers@aep.com.
    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. Depending on the extent of comments 
received, a Scoping Document 2 may or may not be issued.

Site Visit

    Appalachian Power will conduct a site visit of the project on 
Wednesday, April 5, 2006, starting at 9 a.m. All participants should 
meet at Appalachian Power's picnic area at

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Claytor dam off Route 799 (Claytor Dam Road). All participants are 
responsible for their own transportation. Anyone with questions about 
the site visit should contact Ms. Teresa Rogers of Appalachian Power at 
(540) 985-2441, or via e-mail at tprogers@aep.com on or before March 
30, 2006.

Scoping Meeting Objectives

    At the scoping meetings, staff will: (1) Present a proposed list of 
issues to be addressed in the EA; (2) review and discuss existing 
conditions and resource agency 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 requests by 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.

Scoping Meeting Procedures

    The meetings will be recorded by a stenographer and will become 
part of the formal Commission record on the project.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E6-3600 Filed 3-13-06; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
