Notice2024-15365
Southeast Oklahoma Power Corporation; 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
July 12, 2024
Issuing agencies
Energy DepartmentFederal Energy Regulatory Commission
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 134 (Friday, July 12, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 134 (Friday, July 12, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57148-57150]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-15365]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 14890-005]
Southeast Oklahoma Power Corporation; 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.: 14890-005.
c. Dated Filed: May 7, 2024.
d. Submitted by: Southeast Oklahoma Power Corporation (SEOPC).
e. Name of Project: Pushmataha County Pumped Storage Hydroelectric
Project (Pushmataha Project).
f. Location: The proposed project would be located along the
Kiamichi River in Pushmataha County, Oklahoma, approximately 5 miles
south of Talihina, Oklahoma, and would include a transmission line
extending through Pushmataha and McCurtain Counties, Oklahoma, and Red
River and Lamar Counties, Texas, to its proposed point of
interconnection in Paris, Texas. The project would entail the
construction of a new 886-foot-long upper dam, with a 599.55-acre upper
reservoir; a 13,615-foot-long lower dam, with an 887.37-acre lower
reservoir; a 40-acre re-regulating reservoir; a concrete pump station/
powerhouse, with a total installed capacity of 1,200 MW; and a 99.96-
mile-long, 345 kV transmission line. Initial fill water and make-up
water would be provided via a concrete intake channel on the Kiamichi
River.
g. Filed Pursuant to: 18 CFR part 5 of the Commission's
Regulations.
h. Applicant Contact: Johann Tse, Southeast Oklahoma Power
Corporation, 6208 Sandpebble Court, Dallas, Texas 75254; (469) 951-
3088; <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#79131611181717570d0a1c3918080c180b1018171a1809100d1815571a1614"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a0cacfc8c1cece8ed4d3c5e0c1d1d5c1d2c9c1cec3c1d0c9d4c1cc8ec3cfcd">[email protected]</span></a>.
i. FERC Contact: Kristine Sillett at (202) 502-6575, or email at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#462d342f35322f282368352f2a2a233232062023342568212930"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="610a13081215080f044f12080d0d04151521070413024f060e17">[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 Southeast Oklahoma Power
Corporation 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. Southeast Oklahoma Power Corporation 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#15535047565a7b797c7b70466065657a676155737067763b727a63"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b5f3f0e7f6fadbd9dcdbd0e6c0c5c5dac7c1f5d3d0c7d69bd2dac3">[email protected]</span></a>, or call toll-free, (866) 208-3676, or for
TYY, (202) 502-8659. The PAD may also be viewed at
<a href="http://www.greenvaultenergy.net">www.greenvaultenergy.net</a>, and copies are available for review at the
Antlers and Idabel public libraries in Oklahoma, and the Red River
County and Paris public libraries in Texas.
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 <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#36796666765053445518515940"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9cd3ccccdcfaf9eeffb2fbf3ea">[email protected]</span></a>.
o. With this notice, we are soliciting comments on the PAD and
Commission
[[Page 57149]]
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>. 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: Debbie-Anne A. Reese, Acting
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE,
Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426. Submissions sent via any other carrier
must be addressed to: Debbie-Anne A. Reese, Acting 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: Pushmataha Project (P-14890-005).
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 September 6, 2024.
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 five public scoping meetings to receive
input on the scope of the environmental issues that should be analyzed
in the NEPA document (a daytime and evening meeting in Paris, Texas, a
daytime and evening meeting in Talihina, Oklahoma, and one virtual
meeting). Daytime scoping meetings will focus on resource agency,
Native American Tribes, and non-governmental organization (NGO)
concerns, while the evening scoping meetings 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, each meeting
will include a virtual review of the proposed project site. The dates,
times, and locations of these meetings are as follows:
Paris, Texas
Daytime Scoping Meeting *
Date: Wednesday, August 7, 2024.
Time: 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. CDT.
Place: Love Civic Center (North Hall).
Address: 2025 S Collegiate Dr., Paris, Texas 75460.
Evening Scoping Meeting *
Date: Wednesday, August 7, 2024.
Time: 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. CDT.
Place: Love Civic Center (North Hall).
Address: 2025 S Collegiate Dr., Paris, Texas 75460.
Talihina, Oklahoma
Evening Scoping Meeting *
Date: Thursday, August 8, 2024.
Time: 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. CDT.
Place: Talihina Junior High Auditorium.
Address: 600 1st St., Talihina, Oklahoma 74571.
Daytime Scoping Meeting *
Date: Friday, August 9, 2024.
Time: 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. CDT.
Place: Talihina Junior High Auditorium.
Address: 600 1st St., Talihina, Oklahoma 74571.
Virtual Scoping Meeting
Date: Thursday, August 15, 2024.
Time: 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. CDT (10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. EDT).
Information: A scoping meeting will be held virtually. (You will be
able to connect to the meeting using a computer or a telephone.) If you
plan to attend the virtual meeting, please RSVP via email to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4e1e3b3d26232f3a2f262f032b2b3a2720291c1d181e0e282b3c2d60292138"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="762603051e1b1702171e173b1313021f181124252026361013041558111900">[email protected]</span></a> on or before August 11, 2024 and, in the
days before the meeting, you will receive specific instructions on how
to attend. In your email, please indicate if you would like to speak.
Please do not send comments to this email address.
* For the in-person meetings there is no need to RSVP. People will
be admitted until the capacity of the meeting space is reached.
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 Southeast Oklahoma Power
Corporation's distribution list and those who have included their
address in comments filed on the proposed project through July 1, 2024.
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.
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 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 stenographer and become part of
the Commission's formal record on the project.
Agencies, Native American Tribes, NGOS, and individuals are
encouraged to attend the meetings and to assist the staff in defining
and clarifying the issues to be addressed in the NEPA document.
[[Page 57150]]
Dated: July 8, 2024.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-15365 Filed 7-11-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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