90 FR 104 pgs. 23325-23327 - City of Ketchikan, Alaska; 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
Type: NOTICEVolume: 90Number: 104Pages: 23325 - 23327
Pages: 23325, 23326, 23327Docket number: [Project No. 420-115]
FR document: [FR Doc. 2025-09924 Filed 5-30-25; 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. 420-115]
City of Ketchikan, Alaska; 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 a New License and Commencing Pre-filing Licensing Process.
b. Project No.: 420-115.
[top] c. Dated Filed: March 31, 2025.
d. Submitted By: Ketchikan Public Utilities (KPU), on behalf of the City of Ketchikan, Alaska.
e. Name of Project: Ketchikan Lakes Hydroelectric Project (Ketchikan Lakes Project or project).
f. Location: The project is located on Ketchikan Creek and Granite Basin Creek, in the Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska.
g. Filed Pursuant to: 18 CFR part 5 of the Commission's regulations.
h. Applicant Contact: Jennifer Holstrom, Regulatory Compliance Manager, Ketchikan Public Utilities, 1065 Fair Street, Ketchikan, AK 99901; phone: (907) 228-4733; email at JenniferHolstrom@ketchikan.gov.
i. FERC Contact: Amy Chang, (202) 502-6150 or email at amy.chang@ferc.gov.
j. Cooperating agencies: Federal, state, local, and tribal 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 and NOAA Fisheries under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act and the joint agency regulations thereunder at 50 CFR, Part 402; (b) NOAA Fisheries under section 305(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and implementing regulations at 50 CFR 600.920; and (c) the Alaska 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 KPU 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. KPU 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 is available for review on the Commission's website ( http://www.ferc.gov ), using the "eLibrary" link. Enter the docket number, excluding the last three digits of the sub-docket in the docket number field to access the document. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, (866) 208-3676 (toll free), or (202) 502-8659 (TTY). A copy is also available via the contact in paragraph h.
You may register online at https://ferconline.ferc.gov/FERCOnline.aspx 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, 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 at OPP@ferc.gov.
o. With this notice, we are soliciting comments on the PAD and Commission staff's Scoping Document 1 (SD1), as well as study requests. All comments on the PAD and SD1, and 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 documents using the Commission's eFiling system at https://ferconline.ferc.gov/FERCOnline.aspx. Commenters can submit brief comments up to 6,000 characters, without prior registration, using the eComment system at https://ferconline.ferc.gov/QuickComment.aspx. You must include your name and contact information at the end of your comments. For assistance, please contact FERC Online. 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, 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, 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: Ketchikan Lakes Hydroelectric Project (P-420-115).
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 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, July 28, 2025.
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 two scoping meetings for the project to receive input on the scope of the NEPA document. An evening meeting will focus on receiving input from the public and a daytime meeting will focus on concerns of resource agencies, Native American tribes, and non-governmental organizations (NGO). We invite all interested agencies, Native American tribes, NGOs, and the public to attend one or both meetings to assist us in identifying the scope of environmental issues that should be analyzed in the NEPA document. The dates and times of the scoping meetings are listed below.
Daytime Scoping Meeting
Date: Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Time: 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Alaska Daylight Time (AKDT).
Location: Ted Ferry Civic Center, 888 Venetia Avenue, Ketchikan, AK 99901.
Evening Scoping Meeting
Date: Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Time: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. AKDT.
Location: Ted Ferry Civic Center, 888 Venetia Avenue, Ketchikan, AK 99901.
[top] Copies of SD1, outlining the subject areas to be addressed in the environmental document, was mailed to the individuals and entities on the Commission's mailing list and KPU's PAD distribution list. Copies of SD1 may be viewed on the web at http://
Environmental Site Visit
KPU and Commission staff will conduct an environmental site visit of the Ketchikan Lakes Project on Thursday, June 26, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. AKDT.
The site review will begin at KPU's office, 1065 Fair Street, Ketchikan, AK 99901 and will visit several locations to view the project.
All interested individuals, agencies, Tribes, and NGOs are invited to attend. Participants should meet at 9:00 a.m. at KPU's office located at 1065 Fair Street, Ketchikan, AK. Please contact Cory Warnock at (360) 739-0187 or via email at warnock@mcmillen.com or Jeanette Ayala at ayala@mcmillen.com on or before June 10, 2025, if you plan to attend the site review.
Meeting Procedures
Agencies, Tribes, NGOs, and individuals with environmental expertise and concerns are encouraged to attend the meetings and to assist the staff in defining and clarifying the issues to be addressed in the NEPA document. At the start of each meeting, Commission staff will provide a brief overview of the meeting format and objectives. Individual oral comments will be taken on a one-on-one basis with a court reporter (with Commission staff present). This format is designed to receive the maximum number of oral comments in a convenient way during the timeframe allotted. If you wish to speak, Commission staff will hand out numbers in the order of your arrival. If all individuals who wish to provide comments have had an opportunity to do so, Commission staff may conclude the meeting a half hour earlier than the scheduled time. Please see appendix C of the SD1 for additional information on the session format and conduct. 1
Footnotes:
1 ?The appendix referenced in this notice will not appear in the Federal Register . Copies of the appendix were sent to all those receiving this notice in the mail and are available at www.ferc.gov using the "eLibrary" link. For assistance, contact FERC at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, or (866) 208-3676 (toll free) or (202) 502-8659 (TTY).
Scoping comments will be recorded by the court reporter and become part of the public record for this proceeding. Transcripts will be publicly available on FERC's eLibrary system. If a significant number of people are interested in providing oral comments in the one-on-one settings, a time limit may be implemented for each commentor.
It is important to note that the Commission provides equal consideration to all comments received, whether filed in writing or provided orally at a scoping session. Although there will not be a formal presentation, Commission staff will be available throughout the scoping meeting(s) to answer your questions about the environmental review process. Representatives from KPU will also be present to answer project-specific questions.
Dated: May 27, 2025.
Carlos D. Clay,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2025-09924 Filed 5-30-25; 8:45 am]
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