90 FR 82 pg. 17916 - Idaho Power Company; Notice of Revised Procedural Schedule for the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Hells Canyon Project
Type: NOTICEVolume: 90Number: 82Page: 17916
Page: 17916Docket number: [Project No. 1971-079]
FR document: [FR Doc. 2025-07456 Filed 4-29-25; 8:45 am]
Agency: Energy Department
Sub Agency: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 1971-079]
Idaho Power Company; Notice of Revised Procedural Schedule for the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Hells Canyon Project
On July 29, 2003, Idaho Power Company (Idaho Power) filed an application for a new license to continue to operate and maintain the Hells Canyon Project No. 1971. 1 On August 31, 2007, the Commission issued a final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Hells Canyon Project. On December 30, 2019, Idaho Power filed an Offer of Settlement (settlement) with the Commission for the Hells Canyon Project. 2 The settlement, which was executed on April 22, 2019, includes, among other items, spring Chinook salmon and summer steelhead fish passage measures. In addition, the Oregon and Idaho Departments of Environmental Quality each issued a water quality certification under section 401 of the Clean Water Act for the Hells Canyon Project on May 24, 2019.
Footnotes:
1 ?The current license expired on July 31, 2005, and the project is operating under an annual license.
2 ?On January 7, 2020, the Commission issued a public notice that was published in the Federal Register indicating the settlement had been filed. 85 FR 2,128 (Jan. 14, 2020).
On July 8, 2020, Idaho Power supplemented the final license application for the project with additional information on its proposal, including an analysis of the new and revised fish-related protection, mitigation, and enhancement measures proposed under the settlement, and updated information on environmental resources. Additionally, Idaho Power filed on October 14, 2020, draft biological assessments for species managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service, which included an analysis of the effects of the new and revised measures on fish and wildlife listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). 3
Footnotes:
3 ?Idaho Power is the Commission's designated non-federal representative for carrying out informal consultation pursuant to section 7 of the ESA.
On June 13, 2022, Commission staff issued a notice of intent to prepare a draft and final EIS to assess the new and revised fish-related protection, mitigation, and enhancement measures proposed under the settlement, the Oregon and Idaho water quality certifications, and the draft biological assessments. The notice of intent included a schedule for preparing a draft and final supplemental EIS.
By notices issued October 12, 2023 and May 17, 2024, Commission staff revised the procedural schedule for issuing the draft and final supplemental EIS. The revised date for issuing the draft supplemental EIS was to be July 2024. On October 23, 2024, Idaho Power filed a settlement with the Commission on behalf of itself and the U.S. Forest Service (Forest Service), which was executed on October 22, 2024. The settlement resolves, between the signatories, the appropriate terms and conditions pursuant to section 4(e) of the Federal Power Act to be incorporated into any new license, if issued for the project, for the protection and utilization of federal lands administered by the Forest Service within and adjacent to the project boundary. 4 Additionally, Idaho Power is currently revising several draft biological assessments, which are tentatively scheduled to be filed with the Commission in June 2025.
Footnotes:
4 ?On October 30, 2024, the Commission issued a public notice that was published in the Federal Register indicating the settlement had been filed. 89 FR 88,752 (Nov. 8, 2024).
By this notice, Commission staff is updating the procedural schedule for completing the draft and final supplemental EIS to provide sufficient time for staff to analyze the October 23, 2024, settlement and any revised draft biological assessments in the draft supplemental EIS. Further revisions to the schedule may be made as appropriate.
| Milestone | Target date |
|---|---|
| Issue draft supplemental EIS | September 2025. |
| Comments on draft supplemental EIS due | November 2025. |
| Commission issues final supplemental EIS | May 29, 2026. |
Any questions regarding this notice may be directed to Aaron Liberty at (202) 502-6862 or aaron.liberty@ferc.gov.
Dated: April 24, 2025.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2025-07456 Filed 4-29-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P