[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 26, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7089-7090]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-01612]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 15055-000]
Northern States Power Company--Wisconsin; 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
a. Type of Filing: Notice of Intent to File License Application and
Commencing Pre-Filing Process.
b. Project No.: 15055-000.
c. Date Filed: November 17, 2020.
d. Submitted By: Northern States Power Company--Wisconsin (Northern
States).
e. Name of Project: Gile Flowage Storage Reservoir Project (Gile
Project).
f. Location: The project is located on the West Fork Montreal River
in Iron County, Wisconsin.
g. Filed Pursuant to: 18 CFR 5.3 of the Commission's regulations.
h. Potential Applicant Contact: James M. Zyduck, Director of Hydro
Plants, Northern States Power Company, 1414 West Hamilton Ave., P.O.
Box 8, Eau Claire, WI 54702-0008; email at James.Zyduck@XcelEnergy.com.
i. FERC Contact: Lee Emery at (202) 502-8379; or email at
lee.emery@ferc.gov.
j. Northern States filed its request to use the TLP on November 17,
2020. Northern States provided public notice of its request on November
13, 2020. In a letter dated January 19, 2021, the Director of the
Division of Hydropower Licensing denied Northern States' request to use
the TLP and instead requires the use of the ILP to prepare the license
application for the Gile Project.
k. 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 m 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).
l. With this notice, we are initiating informal consultation with
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under section 7 of the Endangered
Species Act and the joint agency regulations thereunder at
[[Page 7090]]
50 CFR part 402. We are also initiating consultation with the Wisconsin
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.
m. With this notice, we are designating Northern States as the
Commission's non-federal representative for carrying out informal
consultation pursuant to section 7 of the Endangered Species Act; and
consultation pursuant to section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act.
n. Northern States 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.
o. A copy of the PAD 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. At this time, the Commission has suspended access
to the Commission's Public Reference Room, due to the proclamation
declaring a National Emergency concerning the Novel Coronavirus Disease
(COVID-19), issued by the President on March 13, 2020. For assistance,
contact FERC at FERCONlineSupport@ferc.gov or call toll-free, (866)
208-3676 or TYY, (202) 502-8659.
p. 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.
q. 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
[email protected] In lieu of electronic filing, you may
submit a paper copy. Submissions sent via the U.S. Postal Service must
be addressed to: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, 888 First Street NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.
Submissions sent via any other carrier must be addressed to: Kimberly
D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins
Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
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 by March 17, 2021.
r. Scoping Process: The Commission's scoping process will help
determine the required level of analysis and satisfy the NEPA scoping
requirements, irrespective of whether the Commission prepares an
environmental assessment or Environmental Impact Statement.
Due to restrictions on mass gatherings related to COVID-19, we are
waiving section 5.8(b)(viii) of the Commission's regulations and do not
intend to conduct a public scoping meeting and site visit in this case.
Instead, we are soliciting written comments, recommendations, and
information, on SD1. Any individual or entity interested in submitting
scoping comments must do so by the date specified in item q. SD1, which
outlines the subject areas to be addressed in the environmental
document, was mailed to the individuals and entities on the
Commission's official mailing list. Copies of SD1 may be viewed on the
web at http://www.ferc.gov, using the ``eLibrary'' link. Follow the
directions for accessing information in paragraph o. Based on all
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. Further revisions to
the schedule may be made as appropriate.
Dated: January 19, 2021.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-01612 Filed 1-25-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P