Flambeau River, WI; Notice of Intent to Hold Public and Agency Meetings to Discuss Staff's Draft Environmental Statement (DEIS) for Existing Projects on the Flambeau River

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[Project Nos. 2390-003, 2395-003, 2421-003, 2473-002, 2475-006 and

2640-010]

Flambeau River, WI; Notice of Intent to Hold Public and Agency

Meetings to Discuss Staff's Draft Environmental Statement (DEIS) for

Existing Projects on the Flambeau River

February 22, 1996.

On November 30, 1995, The Commission's Staff mailed the Flambeau

River Basin Hydroelectric Projects, Wisconsin, DEIS to the

Environmental Protection Agency, resource and land management agencies,

interested organizations and individuals. The availability of the DEIS

was public noticed in the Federal Register on December 8, 1995. The

document evaluates the continued operation of the Big Falls Water Power

Project No. 2390; the Pixley Project No. 2395; the Lower Hydro Project

No. 2421;

[[Page 7504]]

the Crowley Project No. 2473; the Thornapple Project No. 2475; and the

Upper Hydro Project No. 2640. The projects are located on the Flambeau

River in Rusk, Price and Ashland Counties, Wisconsin.

The action of relicensing these projects involves tradeoffs between

energy production and enhancement of environmental quality. The staff

formulated alternatives, and evaluated impacts to respond to concerns

raised during the scoping process. In developing recommendations in the

DEIS, the staff gave equal consideration to developmental and

nondevelopmental values in accordance with the Federal Power Act.

The issues addressed in the DEIS are potential impacts to and

effects on: (1) Geologic and soils resources; (2) water quality and

quantity; (3) fisheries resources; (4) terrestrial resources; (5)

recreational resources; (6) aesthetic values; (7) cultural resources;

(8) air quality; (9) cumulative effects of the proposed projects.

Alternatives to the applicants' proposals considered in detail are

(1) modification to proposed project operation or facilities to further

protect, enhance or mitigate adverse impacts to environmental resources

and values and (2) no action.

A public meeting will be conducted by staff in Park Falls,

Wisconsin on Tuesday, March 12, 1996, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. in

the auditorium of the Public Library, 410 Division Street, Park Falls,

Wisconsin, to hear the public's comments on the DEIS.

The meeting will be recorded by a stenographer and will become part

of the formal record of the Commission's proceeding on the Flambeau

River projects under consideration. Individuals presenting statements

at the meeting will be asked to sign in before the meeting starts and

to clearly identify themselves for the record.

In accordance with Section 10(j) of the Federal Power Act (FPA),

the Commission's staff will also meet with staff from the Wisconsin

Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

on Tuesday, March 12 and Wednesday, March 13 at the offices of the

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, 875 South Forth Avenue, Park

Falls, Wisconsin, to discuss inconsistencies of some recommendations

with the comprehensive planning and public interest standards of

Sections 4(e) and 10(a) of the FPA or the substantial evidence

requirement of Section 313(b) of the FPA.

All those that are formally recognized by the Commission as

intervenors in the Flambeau Projects' proceedings are asked to refrain

from engaging the staff in discussions of the merits of the projects

outside of any announced meetings.

For further information, please contact Ms. Julie Bernt at (202)

219-2814.

Lois D. Cashell,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 96-4452 Filed 2-27-96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717-01-M