Federal Register: May 11, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 90)NoticesPage 25318-25319From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

DOCID:fr11my99-51

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Project Nos. 2004-073 and 11607-000Holyoke Water Power Company and Holyoke Gas & Electric Department, Ashburnham Municipal Light Plant, and Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company; Notice of Intent to Conduct Public Meeting to Discuss the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Relicensing of the Holyoke Project on the Connecticut River

May 5, 1999.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is reviewing the Holyoke Water Power Company's application for a new license for the continued operation of the Holyoke Project on the Connecticut River, Massachusetts. The Commission is similarly reviewing a competing application for the Holyoke Project by the Holyoke Gas & Electric Department, the Ashburnham Municipal light Plant, and the Massachusetts Municipal, Wholesale, Electric Company. On April 16, 1999, the Commission staff mailed the draft Environmental Impact Statement draft (EIS) to the Environmental Protection Agency, resource agencies, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other interested individuals. The draft EIS evaluates the environmental consequences of the proposed relicensing to the Holyoke Project.

The Commission staff will hold a public meeting on May 26, 1999, in the City of Holyoke. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the draft EIS, the draft EIS findings, and the Commission staff's recommendations. At the meeting, the Commission staff will summarize the status of the relicense proceeding(s), as well as the major draft EIS findings and recommendations. We

[Page 25319]invite all interested agencies, NGOs, and individuals to attend the meeting. The time and location of the meeting is shown below.

Date: Wednesday, May 26, 1999 Time: 7:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. Place: Holiday Inn, 245 Whiting Farms Road, Holyoke, MA 01040

The meeting will be recorded by a court reporter, and all statements (oral and written) will become part of the Commission's public record for the project. Before the meeting starts, all individuals who attend, will be asked to identify themselves by signing in. Individuals that intend to make statements during the meeting will be asked to sign in and clearly identify themselves for the record prior to speaking. Time allotted for presentations will be determined by staff based on the length of the meeting and the number of people wanting to speak. All individuals wishing to speak will be provided at least five minutes to present their views.

Interested parties who choose not to speak, or who are unable to attend the public meeting, may provide written comments to the Commission until June 7, 1999. Written comments should be submitted to the Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20426.

The first page of all filings should indicate ``Holyoke Project, FERC. No. 2004-073'' and/or ``Holyoke Project, FERC. No 11607-000'' at the top of the page. All filings sent to the Secretary of the Commission should contain an original and eight copies. Failure to file an original and eight copies may result in appropriate staff not receiving the benefit of our comments in a timely manner. Furthermore, participants in this proceeding are reminded that if they file comments with the Commission, they must serve a copy of their filing to the parties on the Commission's service list.

For further information, please contact Allan Creamer at (202) 219- 0365, or by E-mail at allan.creamer@ferc.fed.us. Linwood A. Watson, Jr., Acting Secretary.

FR Doc. 99-11762Filed5-10-99; 8:45 amBILLING CODE 6717-01-M