Notice2023-13072
Alabama Power Company; Notice of Intent To File License Application, Filing of Pre-Application Document (Pad), Commencement of ILP Pre-Filing Process, and Scoping; Request for Comments on the Pad and Scoping Document, and Identification of Issues and Associated Study Requests
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Published
June 20, 2023
Issuing agencies
Energy DepartmentFederal Energy Regulatory Commission
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 117 (Tuesday, June 20, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 117 (Tuesday, June 20, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39839-39841]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-13072]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 15229-001]
Alabama Power Company; Notice of Intent To File License
Application, Filing of Pre-Application Document (Pad), Commencement of
ILP 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 for
an Original License and Commencing Pre-filing Process.
b. Project No.: 15229-001.
c. Dated Filed: April 14, 2023.
d. Submitted By: Alabama Power Company (Alabama Power).
e. Name of Project: Chandler Mountain Pumped Storage Project.
f. Location: The proposed project would be located on Little Canoe
Creek East and Chandler Mountain in Etowah and St. Clair Counties, near
the town of Steele, Alabama. The project would entail the construction
of a new 1,090-acre lower reservoir on Little Canoe Creek East and a
526-acre upper reservoir on Chandler Mountain, northwest of the
existing Chandler Mountain Lake.
g. Filed Pursuant to: 18 CFR part 5 of the Commission's
Regulations.
h. Applicant Contact: Angie Anderegg, Chandler Licensing Project
Manager, Alabama Power Company, 600 North 18th Street, Birmingham,
Alabama 35203; (205) 257-2251; <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6f0e1d1c0a080e1d1c2f1c001a1b070a1d010c00410c0002"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="42233031272523303102312d37362a27302c212d6c212d2f">[email protected]</span></a>.
i. FERC Contact: Sarah Salazar at (202) 502-6863, or email at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7c0f1d0e1d14520f1d101d061d0e3c1a190e1f521b130a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c3b0a2b1a2abedb0a2afa2b9a2b183a5a6b1a0eda4acb5">[email protected]</span></a>.
j. Cooperating Agencies: Federal, State, Tribal, and local 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 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 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 Historic 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 Alabama Power 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. Alabama Power filed with the Commission a Pre-Application
Document (PAD, including a proposed process plan and schedule),
pursuant to 18 CFR 5.6 of the Commission's regulations.
n. A copy of the PAD may be viewed on the Commission's website
(<a href="http://www.ferc.gov">http://www.ferc.gov</a>), 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 at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ffb9baadbcb0919396919aac8a8f8f908d8bbf999a8d9cd1989089"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e6a0a3b4a5a9888a8f8883b5939696899492a680839485c8818990">[email protected]</span></a>, or call (866) 208-3676 (toll free), or
(202) 502-8659 (TTY). A copy of the PAD is also
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available for public inspection during normal business hours at the
office of Alabama Power Company, 600 18th Street North, Birmingham, AL
35203. In addition, a copy of the PAD was distributed to the following
public libraries near the project: Rainbow City Public Library in
Etowah County and Steele Public Library in St. Clair County.
You may register online at <a href="https://ferconline.ferc.gov/FERCOnline.aspx">https://ferconline.ferc.gov/FERCOnline.aspx</a> to be notified via email of new filings and issuances
related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC
Online Support.
The Commission's Office of Public Participation (OPP) supports
meaningful public engagement and participation in Commission
proceedings. OPP can help members of the public, including landowners,
environmental justice communities, Tribal members and others, access
publicly available information and navigate Commission processes. For
public inquiries and assistance with making filings such as
interventions, comments, or requests for rehearing, the public is
encouraged to contact OPP at (202) 502-6595, or at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#115e414151777463723f767e67"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2f607f7f6f494a5d4c01484059">[email protected]</span></a>.
o. With this notice, we are soliciting comments on the PAD and
Commission staff's Scoping Document 1 (SD1), as well as study requests.
All comments on the PAD and SD1, as well as 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 <a href="https://ferconline.ferc.gov/FERCOnline.aspx">https://ferconline.ferc.gov/FERCOnline.aspx</a>. Commenters can submit brief
comments up to 6,000 characters, without prior registration, using the
eComment system at <a href="https://ferconline.ferc.gov/QuickComment.aspx">https://ferconline.ferc.gov/QuickComment.aspx</a>. You
must include your name and contact information at the end of your
comments. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support. 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 must clearly identify the project name and docket number on
the first page: Chandler Mountain Pumped Storage Project (P-15229-001).
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 August 12, 2023.
p. Scoping Process. In accordance with the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA), Commission staff will prepare either an
environmental assessment (EA) or an environmental impact statement
(EIS) (collectively referred to as the ``NEPA document''). The NEPA
document will consider both site-specific and cumulative environmental
effects, and reasonable alternatives to the proposed action. 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 EA or EIS.
Scoping Meetings
Commission staff will hold two public scoping meetings to receive
input on the scope of the environmental issues that should be analyzed
in the NEPA document. The daytime scoping meeting will focus on
resource agency, Native American Tribes, and non-governmental
organization (NGO) concerns, while the evening scoping meeting will
focus on receiving input from the public. We invite all interested
agencies, Native American Tribes, NGOs, and individuals to attend one
of these meetings to assist us in identifying the scope of
environmental issues that should be analyzed in the NEPA document.
Additionally, as noted below, Alabama Power will present a video tour
of the proposed project area, using drone footage, at the scoping
meetings. The dates, times and locations of these meetings are as
follows:
Daytime Scoping Meeting
Date: Monday, July 10, 2023.
Time: 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. CDT.
Place: Rainbow City Community Center.
Address: 3702 Rainbow Drive, Rainbow City, Alabama 35906.
Evening Scoping Meeting
Date: Monday, July 10, 2023.
Time: 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. CDT.
Place: Rainbow City Community Center.
Address: 3702 Rainbow Drive, Rainbow City, Alabama 35906.
Virtual Video Tour of the Chandler Mountain Project Area
A video tour using drone footage will be shown during both the
Daytime and Evening Scoping Meetings.
Copies of SD1, outlining the subject areas to be addressed in the
NEPA document, were distributed to the individuals and entities on the
Commission's mailing list, as well as Alabama Power's distribution
list, including 462 potentially interested landowners. Copies of SD1
will be available at the scoping meetings, or may be viewed on the web
at <a href="http://www.ferc.gov">http://www.ferc.gov</a>, using the ``eLibrary'' link. Follow the
directions for accessing information in paragraph n. Based on all oral
and 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, based on the scoping process.
Environmental Site Review
The applicant and Commission staff will conduct an environmental
site review of the proposed project. All interested agencies, Native
American Tribes, NGOs, and individuals are invited to attend. All
participants are responsible for their own transportation and must wear
closed-toe shoes/boots for walking in uneven/sloped terrain around the
proposed project area. If you plan to attend the environmental site
review, please contact Dave Anderson with Alabama Power at (205) 257-
1398, or via email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#17747f7679737b726567647f7b7e747279647e797057647862637f72657974783974787a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="fb98939a959f979e898b88939792989e958892959cbb88948e8f939e89959894d5989496">[email protected]</span></a>, on or before
June 28, 2023. If calling to RSVP, stakeholders should provide their
name, phone number, and an email address. The time and location of the
environmental site review is as follows:
Chandler Mountain Project On-Site Environmental Site Review
Date: Tuesday, July 11, 2023
Time: 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. (CDT); meeting time will be 8:45 a.m.
Place: The location to meet for the Environmental Site Review will be
provided to those that RSVP. Space is limited.
Meeting Objectives
At the scoping meetings, Commission staff will: (1) initiate
scoping of the issues; (2) review and discuss existing conditions; (3)
review and discuss existing information and identify preliminary
information and study needs; (4) review and discuss the
[[Page 39841]]
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 the
potential of any Federal or State agency or Native American Tribe to
act 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.
Meeting Procedures
The meetings will be recorded by a court reporter and become part
of the Commission's formal record on the project.
Agencies, Native American Tribes, NGOs, and individuals with
environmental expertise and concerns are encouraged to attend the
meetings and to assist Commission staff in defining and clarifying the
issues to be addressed in the NEPA document.
Dated: June 13, 2023.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-13072 Filed 6-16-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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