Alaska Power & Telephone Company; Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Assessment

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (Commission) regulations, 18 CFR Part 380 (Order No. 486, 52 F.R. 47897), the Office of Energy Projects has reviewed the application for an original license for Alaska Power and Telephone Company's proposed Otter Creek Hydroelectric Project, and has prepared a Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA). The proposed project would be located on Kasidaya Creek, at Taiya Inlet, 3 miles south of the City of Skagway, and 12 miles southwest of the City of Haines, Alaska. The proposed project would occupy approximately 6.0 acres of land within the Tongass National Forest, administered by the U.S. Forest Service. This DEA contains the Commission staff's analysis of the potential future environmental impacts of the project and has concluded that licensing the project, with appropriate environmental protective measures, would not constitute a major federal action that would significantly affect the quality of the human environment.

Copies of the DEA are available for review in the Public Reference Room, Room 2A, of the Commission's offices at 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426. This filing may also be viewed on the web at http://www.ferc.fed.us/online/rims.htm (please call (202) 208-2222 for assistance).

Any comments to this DEA should be filed within 45 days from the date of this notice and should be addressed to Linwood A. Watson, Jr., Acting Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426. For further information, contact Gaylord Hoisington, Project Coordinator, at (202) 219-2756.