

[Federal Register: July 14, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 135)]
[Notices]               
[Page 40091]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14jy06-64]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 199-205]

 
South Carolina Public Service Authority; Notice of Intent To 
Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

July 7, 2006.
    On March 15, 2004, the South Carolina Public Service Authority 
(Public Service) filed an application for a new license for the 
continued operation of the 134.52-megawatt Santee Cooper Hydroelectric 
Project (FERC No. 199-205). The project is located on the Santee and 
Cooper Rivers in Berkeley, Calhoun, Clarendon, Orangeburg, and Sumter 
Counties, South Carolina. The project does not occupy any Federal 
lands.
    In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and 
the Commission's regulations, Commission staff held public scoping 
meetings for the Santee Cooper Hydroelectric Project on May 17, 2005, 
in Moncks Corner, South Carolina, and on May 18, 2005, in Manning, 
South Carolina. Additionally, Commission staff held an agency scoping 
meeting on May 19, 2005, in Moncks Corner, South Carolina. Commission 
staff, state, Federal, and local agencies, and the public participated 
in the meetings. These scoping meetings were used to define the issues 
and alternatives addressed in Public Service's application.
    Based on comments received, since the scoping meeting, Commission 
staff has determined that licensing the Santee Cooper Hydroelectric 
Project could constitute a major federal action significantly affecting 
the quality of the human environment. Therefore, staff intends to 
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the project.
    The staff's EIS will objectively consider both site-specific and 
cumulative environmental impacts of the project and reasonable 
alternatives, and will include economic and engineering analyses.
    A draft EIS will be issued and circulated for review by all 
interested parties. All comments filed on the draft EIS will be 
analyzed by the staff and considered in the final EIS. The staff's 
conclusions and recommendations will be available for the consideration 
of the Commission in reaching its final licensing decision.
    This notice informs all interested individuals, organizations, and 
agencies with environmental expertise and concerns, that: (1) The 
Commission staff has decided to prepare an EIS; and (2) the scoping 
conducted on the Santee Cooper Hydroelectric Project by Commission 
staff and comments filed with the Commission on the application will be 
taken into account in the EIS.
    Any questions regarding this notice may be directed to Monte 
Terhaar at (202) 502-6035, or via e-mail at monte.terhaar@ferc.gov.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6-11181 Filed 7-13-06; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
