Evening Scoping Meetings Regarding Portland Hydroelectric Project (P-2821-014)

Docket No. P-2821-014

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 virtual scoping meetings are listed below.

Evening meeting for the general public

Tuesday, February 27, 2024
Starting Time: 6:30 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST)
Location: Portland Water Bureau
Interstate Facility Auditorium
664 N. Tillamook Street
Portland, OR 97227
Phone Number: (971) 347-9870

Daytime meeting for resource agencies, Tribes, and NGOs

Wednesday, February 28, 2024
Starting Time: 10:00 a.m. PST
Location: Portland Building
1120 SW 5th Avenue, Room 108
Portland, OR 97204
Phone Number: (971) 347-9870

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 City of Portland’s PAD distribution list.  Copies of SD1 may be viewed on the web at http://www.ferc.gov, using the “eLibrary” link.  Follow the directions for accessing information in paragraph m.  Based on all oral and written comments, a Scoping Document 2 (SD2) may be issued.  SD2 may include a revised process plan and schedule, as well as a list of issues, identified through the scoping process.

Environmental Site Visit

City of Portland and Commission staff will hold an environmental site visit of the Portland Hydroelectric Project on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. PST.  You must register in advance if you are interested in attending a site visit.  Please contact Ms. Shannon Mills by email at HydroelectricProject@portlandoregon.gov, or by phone at 971-347-9870 before Tuesday February 20, 2024, if you plan to attend the environmental site review.  Please note that inclement weather may necessitate a virtual tour instead of an in-person site visit. 

Meeting Objectives

At the scoping meetings, Commission staff will:  (1) initiate scoping of the issues; (2) review and discuss existing conditions; (3) review and discuss existing information and identify preliminary information and study needs; (4) review and discuss the process plan and schedule for pre-filing activity that incorporates the time frames provided for in Part 5 of the Commission’s regulations and, to the extent possible, maximizes coordination of federal, state, and tribal permitting and certification processes; and (5) discuss the potential of any federal or state agency or Native American tribe to act as a cooperating agency for development of an environmental document.  Meeting participants should come prepared to discuss their issues and/or concerns.  Please review City of Portland’s PAD in preparation for the scoping meetings.  Directions on how to obtain a copy of the PAD and SD1 are included in item m of this document.

Meeting Procedures

The scoping meetings will be recorded by a court reporter, and all statements will become part of the Commission’s public record for the project. 

Agencies, Native American Tribes, NGOs, and individuals with environmental expertise and concerns are encouraged to attend the meetings and to assist Commission staff in defining and clarifying the issues to be addressed in the NEPA document.