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Mahoning Creek Hydroelectric 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

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 [Federal Register: March 8, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 45)]
[Notices]
[Page 11600-11601]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08mr06-57]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 12555-001]
 
Mahoning Creek Hydroelectric 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

February 28, 2006.
    a. Type of Filing: Notice of Intent to File License Application for 
an Original License and Pre-Application Document; Commencing Licensing 
Proceeding.
    b. Project No.: 12555-001.
    c. Date Filed: January 27, 2005.
    d. Submitted By: Mahoning Creek Hydroelectric Company (MCHC).
    e. Name of Project: Mahoning Creek Hydroelectric Project.
    f. Location: The proposed Mahoning Creek Hydroelectric Project 
would be located on Mahoning Creek in Armstrong and Jefferson Counties, 
Pennsylvania. The project would affect U.S. Army Corps of Engineer land 
and facilities.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: 18 CFR part 5 of the Commission's Regulations.
    h. Applicant Contact: Mr. Clifford Phillips, Mahoning Creek 
Hydroelectric Company, LLC, 150 North Miller Road, Suite 450 C, 
advancedhydrosolutions.com.
    i. FERC Contact: Kristen Murphy, (202) 502-6236 or via e-mail at 
kristen.murphy@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 Mahoning Creek 
Hydroelectric 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. Mahoning Creek Hydroelectric 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 on February 27, 2006.
    n. Copies of the PAD and Scoping Document 1 (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), Exit Disclaimer using 
the ``eLibrary'' link. Enter the docket number (P-12555) 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. A copy is also available for inspection and 
reproduction at the address in paragraph h.
    Register online at http://ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm Exit Disclaimer 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 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 (Mahoning 
Creek Hydroelectric Project) and number (P-12555-001), 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 April 26, 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) Exit Disclaimer under the 
``e-filing'' link.
    p. At this time, Commission staff intends to prepare a single 
Environmental Assessment for the project, in accordance with the 
National Environmental Policy Act.

Scoping Meetings

    We will hold two scoping meetings 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 and Time: Wednesday, March 22, 2006, 7 p.m. (EST).
    Location: West Shamokin High School, 178 Wolf Drive, Rural Valley, 
PA 16249.

[[Page 11601]]

Daytime Scoping Meeting

    Date and Time: Thursday, March 23, 2006, 9 a.m. (EST).
    Location: Indiana Holiday Inn, 1395 Wayne Avenue, Indiana, PA 15701.
    For Directions: Please call Clifford Phillips at (330) 869-8451.
    Scoping Document 1 (SD1), which outlines the subject areas to be 
addressed in the environmental document, has been 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, Exit Disclaimer using the ``eLibrary'' link. 
Follow the directions for accessing information in paragraph n. Depending 
on the extent of comments received, a Scoping Document 2 (SD2) may or may 
not be issued.

Site Visit

    MCHC will conduct a tour of the proposed project on Wednesday, 
March 22, 2006, starting at 2 p.m. All participants interested in 
attending should meet at the parking lot adjacent to the Mahoning Creek 
dam. Anyone in need of directions should contact Mr. Clifford Phillips 
advancedhydrosolutions.com.

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, 
maximize 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 Pre-Application Document 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 scoping 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. E6-3196 Filed 3-7-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P

 
 

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