Erie Boulevard Hydropower, L.P.; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment, Notice of Paper Scoping and Soliciting Scoping Comments, and Notice of Revised Schedule for Processing Application

Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been filed with Commission and is available for public inspection:

a. Type of Application: New major license.

b. Project No.: 7387-019.

c. Date Filed: October 20, 2003.

d. Applicant: Erie Boulevard Hydropower, L.P.-

e. Name of Project: Piercefield Hydroelectric Project.

f. Location: On the Raquette River, in St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties, New York. The project does not occupy Federal lands.

g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791(a)-825(r).

h. Applicant Contact: Mr. Jerry L. Sabattis, P.E., Licensing Coordinator, Erie Boulevard Hydropower, L.P., 225 Greenfield Parkway, Liverpool, New York, 13088, telephone (315) 413-2787, and Mr. Samuel S. Hirschey, P.E., Manager, Licensing, Compliance, and Project Properties, 225 Greenfield Parkway, Liverpool, New York, 13088, telephone (315) 413-2790.

i. FERC Contact: Janet Hutzel, janet.hutzel@ferc.gov, telephone (202) 502-8675 or Kim Carter, kim.carter@ferc.gov, telephone (202) 502-6486.

j. Deadline for filing scoping comments: 60 days from issuance date of this notice.

All documents (original and eight copies) should be filed with: Magalie R. Salas, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426.

The Commission's rules of practice and procedure require all interveners filing documents with the Commission to serve a copy of that document on each person on the official service list for the project. Further, if an intervener files comments or documents with the Commission relating to the merits of an issue that may affect the responsibilities of a particular resource agency, they must also serve a copy of the document on that resource agency.

Scoping comments may be filed electronically via the Internet in lieu of paper. The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. See 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the Commission's Web site ( http://www.ferc.gov ) under the “e-Filing” link. After logging into the e-Filing system, select “Comment on Filing” from the Filing Type Selection screen and continue with the filing process.

k. This application is not ready for environmental analysis at this time.

l. Description of Project: The Piercefield Hydroelectric Project consists of the following existing facilities: (a) A dam comprising of a 495-foot-long concrete retaining wall/dike on the right shoreline, a 620-foot-long concrete and masonry stone retaining wall located along the left shoreline, a 118-foot-long stop log spillway, and a 294-foot-long, 22-foot-high ogee spillway section; (b) a 110-foot-long concrete masonry forebay, having a varying width of 40 feet to 55 feet with an average depth of 17 feet; c) a reservoir having a surface area of 370 acres at normal pool elevation of 1542.0 feet m.s.1.; (d) a powerhouse containing 3 generating units having a total rated capacity of 2,700 kW; (e) 600-V and 2.4-kV generator leads; (f) 600-V/46-kV, 2.5-MVA and the 2.4/46-kV, 2.5-MVA three-phase transformer banks; (g) 3.84-mile, 46-kV transmission line; and (h) appurtenant facilities.

m. A Scoping Document (SD) outlining the subject areas to be addressed in the EA was distributed to the parties on the Commission(s mailing list. Copies of the scoping document and application are available for review at the Commission in the Public Reference Room or may be viewed on the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov using the “eLibrary” link. Enter the docket number, excluding the last three digits in the docket number field (P-7387), to access the document. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, or toll-free at 1-866-208-3676, or for TTY, (202) 502-8659. A copy is also available for inspection and reproduction at the address in paragraph (h) above.

n. You may also register online at http://www.ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm to be notified via e-mail of new filings and issuances related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support.

o. Scoping Process: Scoping is intended to advise all parties regarding the proposed scope of the EA and to seek additional information pertinent to this analysis. The Commission intends to prepare one Environmental Assessment (EA) on the project in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The EA will consider both site-specific and cumulative environmental effects and reasonable alternatives to the proposed action. Should substantive comments requiring re-analysis be received on the NEPA document, we would consider preparing a final NEPA document.

At this time, the Commission staff does not anticipate holding formal public or agency scoping meetings near the project site. Instead, staff will conduct paper scoping.

As part of scoping the staff will: (1) Summarize the environmental issues tentatively identified for analysis in the EA; (2) solicit from participants all available information, especially quantifiable data, on the resources at issue; (3) encourage comments from experts and the public on issues that should be analyzed in the EA, including viewpoints in opposition to, or in support of, the staff's preliminary views; (4) determine the resource issues to be addressed in the EA; and (5) identify those issues that require a detailed analysis, as well as those issues that do not require a detailed analysis.

Consequently, interested entities are requested to file with the Commission any data and information concerning environmental resources and land uses in the project area and the project's impacts to the aforementioned.