Você está na página 1de 3

69962 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No.

222 / Friday, November 18, 2005 / Notices

the Rueter-Hess Reservoir, currently ACTION: Notice. (NEPA) and applicable regulations,
under construction in Parker, CO to including DOE NEPA implementing
provide peaking storage of Denver Basin SUMMARY: The invention listed below is regulations at 10 CFR part 1021.
groundwater for selected South Metro assigned to the United States Montana Alberta Tie, Ltd., (MATL)
Denver area water providers and to Government as represented by the has applied to DOE’s Office of
assist in sustaining the Denver Basin Secretary of the Navy and is available Electricity Delivery and Energy
Aquifer. The reservoir is located in for licensing by the Department of the Reliability (OE) for a Presidential permit
Douglas County, CO approximately 12 Navy. U.S. Patent Application Serial No. to construct a 230,000-volt (230–kV)
miles southeast of Denver and 3 miles 11/099,781 entitled ‘‘One-Dimensional electric transmission line across the U.S.
southwest of the town of Parker. The Iris Signature for Iris Identification’’, border with Canada, and to the State of
proposal is to enlarge the reservoir from Navy Case No. 96,365, and any Montana Department of Environmental
the 16,670 acre-feet by 54,330 acre-feet continuations, divisionals or re-issues Quality (DEQ) for a Linear Facilities
for a total storage capacity of 71,000 thereof. construction permit. The proposed
acre-feet. The surface area of the ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the transmission line would originate at a
reservoir would increase by inventions cited should be directed to new substation to be constructed
approximately 658 acres, from 468 acres the Naval Research Laboratory, Code northeast of Lethbridge, Alberta,
at the normal pool elevation of 6,145 1004, 4555 Overlook Avenue, SW., Canada, cross the U.S.-Canada
feet to 1,126 acres (elev. 6,212 feet). The Washington, DC 20375–5320, and must international border, and terminate
proposed dam design would change include the Navy Case number. north of Great Falls, Montana, at an
from 135 feet high to 196 feet high (61- FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Reza existing 230–kV substation owned by
foot increase) and from 4,822.5 feet long Malek-Madani, Director of Research and NorthWestern Energy (NWE). The total
to 7,479.8 feet long (2,657.3-foot Scholarship Research Office, U.S. Naval length of the proposed transmission line
increase). Academy, 589 McNair Road, MS 10m, would be 203 miles, with approximately
The basic need for the project, as Nimitz Room 17, telephone 410–293– 126 miles constructed inside the U.S.
identified by the Applicant, is to 2504 or Jane F. Kuhl, Head, Technology DOE and the State of Montana have
provide a terminal storage facility Transfer Office, NRL Code 1004, 4555 decided to cooperate on the preparation
capable of storing Denver Basin Overlook Avenue, SW., Washington, DC of an EA that would be used for their
groundwater on a year-round basis for 20375–5320, telephone 202–767–3083. respective planning and decisionmaking
the projected build-out demands for Due to temporary U.S. Postal Service processes.
PWSD, Castle Rock, Stonegate and delays, please fax 202–404–7920, e- With this Notice of Intent, DOE and
Castle Pines North. New pipelines mail: kuhl@utopia.nrl.navy.mil or use the Montana DEQ invite public
would be installed to deliver the water courier delivery to expedite response. participation in the EA scoping process
to and from these new project and solicit pubic comments for
participants. (Authority: 35 U.S.C. 207, 37 CFR Part 404) consideration in establishing the scope
Scoping meetings will be held at two Dated: November 14, 2005. and content of the EA. Because the
locations: Eric McDonald, proposed project may involve an action
1. Tuesday, December 6, 2005 at 6:30 Lieutenant Commander, Judge Advocate in a floodplain or wetland, the EA will
p.m. at the North Water Reclamation General’s Corps, U.S. Navy, Federal Register include a floodplain and wetlands
Plant, 18100 E. Woodman Drive, Parker, Liaison Officer. assessment and floodplain statement of
CO. [FR Doc. 05–22869 Filed 11–17–05; 8:45 am] findings in accordance with DOE
2. Wednesday, December 7, 2005 at BILLING CODE 3810–FF–P
regulations for compliance with
6:30 p.m. at the County Office Building, floodplain and wetlands environmental
Hearing Room, 100 Third Street, Castle review requirements (10 CFR part 1022).
Rock, CO. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY The Montana DEQ must issue a
These Scoping Meetings will be held certification pursuant to section 401 of
[OE Docket No. PP–305] the Federal Clean Water Act that any
to describe the proposed project,
preliminary alternatives, the NEPA project-related activities will comply
Notice of Intent To Prepare an with water quality standards and issue
compliance process, and to solicit input Environmental Assessment and To
on the issues and alternatives to be permits for any discharges of pollutants
Conduct Public Scoping Meetings and to State waters.
evaluated and other related matters. Notice of Floodplain and Wetlands
Written comments will also be DATES: DOE and the Montana DEQ
Involvement; Montana Alberta Tie, Ltd.
requested. invite interested agencies, organizations,
AGENCY: Department of Energy (DOE). and members of the public to submit
Russell W. Rocheford, comments or suggestions to assist in
ACTION:Notice of intent to prepare an
Chief, Regulatory Branch, Operations identifying significant environmental
Division.
environmental assessment and to
conduct public scoping meetings. issues and in determining the
[FR Doc. 05–22808 Filed 11–17–05; 8:45 am] appropriate scope of the EA. The public
BILLING CODE 3710–62–M SUMMARY: The Department of Energy scoping period starts with the
(DOE) announces its intention to publication of this Notice in the Federal
prepare an environmental assessment Register and will continue until January
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (EA) and to conduct public scoping 3, 2006. In addition, DEQ will publish
meetings on an application for a a notice on its Web site, in a press
Department of the Navy
Presidential permit to construct a new release, and also in Montana
Notice of Availability of Government- international transmission line that newspapers. Written and oral comments
Owned Invention; Available for crosses the U.S.-Canada international will be given equal weight, and DOE
Licensing border in northwest Montana. The EA and DEQ will consider all comments
will be prepared in compliance with the received or postmarked by January 3,
AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD. National Environmental Policy Act 2006 in defining the scope of this EA.

VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:21 Nov 17, 2005 Jkt 208001 PO 00000 Frm 00038 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\18NON1.SGM 18NON1
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 222 / Friday, November 18, 2005 / Notices 69963

Comments received or postmarked after determining consistency with the public the transmission line would have to be
that date will be considered to the interest, DOE considers the constructed within 10 years.
extent practicable. environmental impacts of the proposed
Dates, times and locations for the Proposed Actions and Alternatives
project under NEPA, determines the
public scoping meetings are: project’s impact on electric reliability The proposed DOE action is to issue
1. December 5, 2005, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. (including whether the proposed project a Presidential permit to MATL and the
and from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Norley Hall, would adversely affect the operation of proposed DEQ action is to issue MATL
208 N. Virginia Street, Conrad, the U.S. electric power supply system a Certificate of Compliance and any
Montana. under normal and contingency other required water and air quality
2. December 6, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and conditions), and any other factors that permits. The DOE and MATL actions
from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Missouri Room, DOE may also consider relevant to the are for construction of a single 230–
Great Falls Civic Center, 2 Park Drive public interest. The regulations transmission line that would cross the
South, Great Falls, Montana. implementing the Executive Order have U.S. international border directly north
3. December 7, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and been codified at 10 CFR 205.320— of Cut Bank, Montana, (west of
from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., 917 East Railroad 205.329. Issuance of a Presidential Sweetgrass) and extend approximately
Street, Cut Bank, Montana. permits indicates that there is no 125 miles into the U.S., terminating
ADDRESSES: Written comments or Federal objection to the project, but north of Great Falls, Montana, at an
suggestions on the scope of the EA does not mandate that the project be existing 230–kV substation owned by
should be addressed to: Mrs. Ellen completed. NWE. Between the U.S.-Canada border
Russell, Office of Electricity Delivery and Great Falls, the transmission line
and Energy Reliability (OE–20), U.S. Montana Department of Environmental would also connect to an existing
Department of Energy, 1000 Quality substation owned by Glacier Electric
Independence Avenue, SW., The Montana Major Facility Siting Cooperative in Cut Bank, Montana. A
Washington, DC 20585–0350; phone Act requires that a Certificate of phase-shifting transformer would be
202–586–9624, facsimile: 202–586– Compliance (Certificate) be issued by installed at the substation in Lethbridge,
5860, or by electronic mail at DEQ prior to construction of a covered Alberta, to control power flows between
Ellen.Russell@hq.doe.gov. Comments 230–kV transmission line more than 10 the two regions.
should also be sent to Mr. Tom Ring, miles in length. A Certificate may be The MATL transmission line project
Facility Siting Program, Montana issued after DEQ finds and determines would connect the Alberta
Department of Environmental Quality, the basis of the need for the facility, the Interconnected Electrical System and
P.O. Box 200901, Helena, MT 59620– nature of the potential environmental NWE’s transmission system. MATL has
0901, phone 406–444–6785, facsimile impact, that the facility minimizes indicated that it intends to operate the
406–444–1499, or by electronic mail at adverse environmental impact, and proposed facilities as a merchant
tring@mt.gov. considers the state of available transmission line and make it available
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technology and the nature and for third-party use. In addition, MATL
information on the proposed project or economics of the various alternatives. asserts that the proposed transmission
to receive a copy of the Pre-Approval Additional findings, for cases involving facilities would enable the development
EA when it is issued, contact Mrs. an electric, gas, or liquid transmission of new wind electric generation projects
Russell or Tom Ring at the addresses line or aqueduct are: (i) What part, if because the proposed line route passes
listed in the ADDRESSES section of this any, of the line or aqueduct will be through an area that has the potential
notice. The MATL Presidential permit located underground; (ii) is the facility for wind generation development.
consistent with regional plans for Three alternative corridors for
application, including associated maps
expansion of the appropriate grid of the constructing the proposed transmission
and drawings, can be downloaded in its
utility systems serving the State and line inside the U.S. have been
entirety from the DOE program Web site identified: Route A, the MATL preferred
(http://www.FE.DOE.GOV; choose interconnected utility systems; (iii) will
the facility serve the interests of utility corridor; Route B; and Route C. All three
‘‘Electricity Regulation,’’ then ‘‘Pending corridors cross the U.S.-Canada border
Procedures’’). The application before the system economy and reliability; (iv)
does the location of the facility as approximately 26 miles north of Cut
Montana DEQ is available from DEQ’s Bank, Montana, and extend south over
proposed conform to applicable State
Web site at http://www.deq.state.mt.us/ the same route until approximately 2
and local laws and regulations (except
MFS/MATL/MFSAintroduction.pdf. miles north of Cut Bank where they
that DEQ may refuse to apply any local
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: converge to skirt the community to the
law or regulation if it finds that, as
Background and Need for Agency applied to the proposed facility, the law east and south. At the Glacier Electric
Action or regulation is unreasonably restrictive Cooperative substation located
in view of the existing technology, approximately 1 mile west of Cut Bank,
DOE Presidential Permit factors of cost or economics, the needs the alternatives diverge traveling over
Executive Order 10485, as amended of consumers, whether located inside or roughly parallel routes east of the
by Executive Order 12038, requires that outside the directly affected government Blackfoot Indian Reservation in a
a Presidential permit be issued by DOE subdivisions); (v) that the facility will southeastward direction. Routes A and
before electric transmission facilities serve the public interest, convenience, B roughly parallel NWE’s existing 115–
may be constructed, operated, and necessity; (vi) that the Department kV line along its entire distance to its
maintained, or connected at the U.S. or board has issued any necessary air or tie-in to NWE’s 230–kV substation north
international border. The Executive water quality decision, opinion, order, of Great Falls. Route C traverses to the
Order provides that a Presidential certificate, or permit; and (vii) that the east away from Routes A and B at a
permit may be issued after a finding that use of public lands for location of the location approximately 9 miles
the proposed project is consistent with facility was evaluated and public lands southeast of Brady, Montana, and
the public interest and after favorable were selected whenever their use is as approximately 5 miles north of the
recommendations from the U.S. economically practicable as the use of Teton River. Route C jogs directly east
Departments of State and Defense. In private lands. If a Certificate is issued, and south to take advantage of existing

VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:21 Nov 17, 2005 Jkt 208001 PO 00000 Frm 00039 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\18NON1.SGM 18NON1
69964 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 222 / Friday, November 18, 2005 / Notices

north-south and east-west state highway This notice is to inform agencies and issued should notify Mrs. Ellen Russell
and county road rights-of-way enroute the public of the proposed project and and also Tom Ring at the addresses
to NWE’s 230–kV substation. Major to solicit comments and suggestions for provided above.
river crossings include those of the consideration in the preparation of the
Pre-Approval EA Schedule and
Marias approximately 10 miles south of EA. To help the public frame its
Availability
Cut Bank, and the Teton, approximately comments, this notice contains a
14 miles south of Brady, Montana. preliminary list of potential The Pre-Approval EA is scheduled to
In addition to transmission line routes environmental issues in the U.S. that be issued in the spring, 2006, at which
within the above proposed corridors, DOE and MATL have tentatively time its availability will be announced
the EA will consider the environmental identified for analysis. These issues in the Federal Register and public
impacts of the ‘‘No Action’’ alternative. include: comments again will be solicited.
Under the No Action alternative DOE 1. Impact from development of wind Issued in Washington, DC, on November
would not issue a Presidential permit generation resources; 16, 2005.
and DEQ would not issue a Certificate 2. Impacts on farming; Anthony J. Como,
of Compliance. DOE and DEQ will also 3. Impacts on protected, threatened, Director, Permitting and Siting, Office of
consider any additional reasonable endangered, or sensitive species of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability.
alternatives that result from comments animals or plants, or their critical [FR Doc. 05–23002 Filed 11–17–05; 8:45 am]
received during the scoping period. habitats;
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
However, not issuing the Presidential 4. Impacts on floodplains and
permit or Certificate would not wetlands;
necessarily imply maintenance of the 5. Impacts on cultural or historic
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
status quo. MATL indicated its resources;
proposed action is to construct a 6. Impacts on human health and Office of Science; Biological and
merchant transmission line to improve safety; Environmental Research Advisory
the reliability of both the Alberta and 7. Impacts on air, soil, and water; Committee
Montana power transmission grids and 8. Visual impacts; and
to enable the development of new 9. Socioeconomic impacts, and AGENCY: Department of Energy.
power generation projects in Alberta disproportionately high and adverse ACTION: Notice of open meeting.
and Montana. MATL asserts that the impacts on minority and low-income
proposed transmission facilities would populations. SUMMARY: This notice announces a
enable the development of new wind meeting of the Biological and
Scoping Process Environmental Research Advisory
electric generation projects because the
proposed line route passes through an Interested parties are invited to Committee. Federal Advisory
area that has tremendous wind participate in the scoping process both Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–463, 86 Stat.
generation potential. If the Presidential to refine the environmental issues to be 770) requires that public notice of these
permit and Certificate are not issued analyzed and to identify the reasonable meetings be announced in the Federal
and this proposed project is not built, range of alternatives. Both oral and Register.
other transmission facilities may be written comments will be considered DATES: Monday, December 5, 2005, 8:30
constructed in support of future wind and given equal weight by DOE and a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday, December 6,
development. The No Action DEQ. 2005, 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Alternative will address the Public scoping meetings will be held ADDRESSES: American Geophysical
environmental impacts that are at the locations, dates, and times Union, 2000 Florida Avenue, NW.,
reasonably foreseeable to occur if the indicated above under the DATES and Washington, DC 20009.
Presidential permit and Certificate are ADDRESSES sections. The scoping
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.
not issued. meetings will be structured as informal
open houses. They will provide David Thomassen (301–903–9817;
Identification of Environmental Issues interested parties the opportunity to david.thomassen@science.doe.gov)
In the EA, DOE and DEQ will examine view proposed project exhibits, ask Designated Federal Officer, Biological
public health and safety effects and questions, and make comments. DOE, and Environmental Research Advisory
environmental impacts in the U.S. from DEQ, and any cooperating agency Committee, U.S. Department of Energy,
the proposed transmission facilities. representatives will be available to Office of Science, Office of Biological
The EA will be prepared in accordance answer questions and provide and Environmental Research, SC–23/
with the requirements of the Council on additional information to attendees. Germantown Building, 1000
Environmental Quality NEPA DOE and DEQ invite those entities Independence Avenue, SW.,
Implementing Regulation (40 CFR parts with jurisdiction by law or special Washington, DC 20585–1290. The most
1500–1508) and DOE’s NEPA expertise with respect to environmental current information concerning this
Implementing Procedures (10 CFR part issues to be cooperating agencies on the meeting can be found on the Web site:
1021). Because the project involves EA, as defined at 40 CFR 1501.6. http://www.science.doe.gov/ober/berac/
action in a floodplain, the EA will Cooperating agencies have certain announce.html.
include a floodplain assessment and responsibilities to support the NEPA SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Purpose of
floodplain statement of findings in process, as specified at 40 CFR the Meeting: To provide advice on a
accordance with DOE regulations for 1501.6(b). continuing basis to the Director, Office
compliance with floodplain and Persons submitting comments during of Science of the Department of Energy,
wetlands environmental review (10 CFR the scoping process will receive copies on the many complex scientific and
part 1022). Tribal governments and of the Pre-Approval EA. Persons who do technical issues that arise in the
Federal, State and local agencies with not wish to submit comments or development and implementation of the
special expertise or jurisdiction over the suggestions at this time but who would Biological and Environmental Research
proposed project are being invited to like to receive a copy of the document Program.
become cooperating agencies on the EA. for review and comment when it is Tentative Agenda:

VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:21 Nov 17, 2005 Jkt 208001 PO 00000 Frm 00040 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\18NON1.SGM 18NON1

Você também pode gostar