§4.38. Consultation requirements. — Inbound Citations

(1) If construction has begun, prior to filing a petition with the Commission, the exemption holder must consult with the fish and wildlife agencies in accordance with § 4.38, substituting for the information required under § 4.38(b)(1) information appropriate to the disposition and restoration of the project works and lands. The petition must set forth the exemption holder's plans with respect to disposition and restoration of the project works and lands.

(e) This exhibit is an environmental report that must include the following information, commensurate with the scope and environmental impact of the construction and operation of the small hydroelectric power project. See § 4.38 for consultation requirements.

(1) A description of the environmental setting of the project, including vegetative cover, fish and wildlife resources, water quality and quantity, land and water uses, recreational uses, historical and archeological resources, and scenic and aesthetic resources. The report must list any endangered or threatened plant and animal species, any critical habitats, and any sites eligible for or included on the National Register of Historic Places. The applicant may obtain assistance in the preparation of this information from state natural resources agencies, the state historic preservation officer, and from local offices of Federal natural resources agencies.

(2) A description of the expected environmental impacts from the proposed construction or development and the proposed operation of the small hydroelectric power project, including any impacts from any proposed changes in the capacity and mode of operation of the project if it is already generating electric power, and an explanation of the specific measures proposed by the applicant, the agencies consulted, and others to protect and enhance environmental resources and values and to mitigate adverse impacts of the project on such resources.

(1) Each applicant for a preliminary permit, license, and transfer or surrender of license and each petitioner for surrender of an exemption must submit the application or petition to the Secretary of the Commission in accordance with filing procedures posted on the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov. The applicant or petitioner must serve one copy of the application or petition on the Director of the Commission's Regional Office for the appropriate region and on each resource agency, Indian tribe, and member of the public consulted pursuant to § 4.38 or § 16.8 of this chapter or part 5 of this chapter. In the case of an application for a preliminary permit, the applicant must, if the Commission so directs, serve copies of the application on the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The application may include reduced prints of maps and drawings conforming to § 4.39(d). The Commission may also ask for the filing of full-sized prints in appropriate cases.

(1) An applicant may submit to the Commission a request to approve the use of alternative procedures for pre-filing consultation and the filing and processing of an application for an original, new or subsequent hydropower license or exemption that is subject to § 4.38 or § 16.8 of this chapter, or for the amendment of a license that is subject to the provisions of § 4.38.

(4) Any amendments made by a license or an exemption applicant to its proposed plans of development to satisfy requests of resource agencies or Indian tribes submitted after an applicant has consulted under § 4.38 or concerns of the Commission; and

(f) is an Environmental Report. Information provided in the report must be organized and referenced according to the itemized subparagraphs below. See § 4.38 for consultation requirements. The Environmental Report must contain the following information, commensurate with the scope of the project:

(1) The applicant must provide a general description of the environment of the proposed project area and its immediate vicinity. The description must include location and general information helpful to an understanding of the environmental setting.

(2) The report must discuss water quality and flows and contain baseline data sufficient to determine the normal and seasonal variability, the impacts expected during construction and operation, and any mitigative, enhancement, and protective measures proposed by the applicant. The report must be prepared in consultation with the state and Federal agencies with responsibility for management of water quality and quantity in the affected stream or other body of water. The report must include:

(i) A description of existing instream flow uses of streams in the project area that would be affected by construction and operation; estimated quantities of water discharged from the proposed project for power production; and any existing and proposed uses of project waters for irrigation, domestic water supply, industrial and other purposes;

(ii) A description of the seasonal variation of existing water quality for any stream, lake, or reservoir that would be affected by the proposed project, including (as appropriate) measurements of: significant ions, chlorophyll a, nutrients, specific conductance, pH, total dissolved solids, total alkalinity, total hardness, dissolved oxygen, bacteria, temperature, suspended sediments, turbidity and vertical illumination;

(iii) A description of any existing lake or reservoir and any of the proposed project reservoirs including surface area, volume, maximum depth, mean depth, flushing rate, shoreline length, substrate classification, and gradient for streams directly affected by the proposed project;

(iv) A quantification of the anticipated impacts of the proposed construction and operation of project facilities on water quality and downstream flows, such as temperature, turbidity and nutrients;

(v) A description of measures recommended by Federal and state agencies and the applicant for the purpose of protecting or improving water quality and stream flows during project construction and operation; an explanation of why the applicant has rejected any measures recommended by an agency; and a description of the applicant's alternative measures to protect or improve water quality stream flow;

(vi) A description of groundwater in the vicinity of the proposed project, including water table and artesian conditions, the hydraulic gradient, the degree to which groundwater and surface water are hydraulically connected, aquifers and their use as water supply, and the location of springs, wells, artesian flows and disappearing streams; a description of anticipated impacts on groundwater and measures proposed by the applicant and others for the mitigation of impacts on groundwater; and

(3) The applicant must provide a report that describes the fish, wildlife, and botanical resources in the vicinity of the proposed project; expected impacts of the project on these resources; and mitigation, enhancement, or protection measures proposed by the applicant. The report must be prepared in consultation with the state agency or agencies with responsibility for these resources, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service (if the proposed project may affect anadromous, estuarine, or marine fish resources), and any state or Federal agency with managerial authority over any part of the proposed project lands. The report must contain:

(i) A description of existing fish, wildlife, and plant communities of the proposed project area and its vicinity, including any downstream areas that may be affected by the proposed project and the area within the transmission line corridor or right-of-way. A map of vegetation types should be included in the description. For species considered important because of their commercial or recreational value, the information provided should include temporal and spatial distributions and densities of such species. Any fish, wildlife, or plant species proposed or listed as threatened or endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or National Marine Fisheries Service see 50 CFR [17.11 and 17.12] must be identified;

(ii) A description of the anticipated impacts on fish, wildlife and botanical resources of the proposed construction and operation of project facilities, including possible changes in size, distribution, and reproduction of essential population of these resources and any impacts on human utilization of these resources;

(iii) A description of any measures or facilities recommended by state or Federal agencies for the mitigation of impacts on fish, wildlife, and botanical resources, or for the protection or enhancement of these resources, the impact on threatened or endangered species, and an explanation of why the applicant has determined any measures or facilities recommended by an agency are inappropriate as well as a description of alternative measures proposed by applicant to protect fish, wildlife and botanical resources; and

(iv) The following materials and information regarding any mitigation measures or facilities, identified under clause (iii), proposed for implementation or construction:

(A) Functional design drawings;

(B) A description of proposed operation and maintenance procedures for any proposed measures or facilities;

(C) An implementation, construction and operation schedule for any proposed measures or facilities;

(D) An estimate of the costs of construction, operation, and maintenance of any proposed facilities or implementation of any measures;

(E) A statement of the sources and amount of financing for mitigation measures or facilities; and

(F) A map or drawing showing, by the use of shading, crosshatching or other symbols, the identity and location of any proposed measures or facilities.

(4) The applicant must provide a report that discusses any historical and archaeological resources in the proposed project area, the impact of the proposed project on those resources and the avoidance, mitigation, and protection measures proposed by the applicant. The report must be prepared in consultation with the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) and the National Park Service of the U.S. Department of Interior. The report must contain:

(i) A description of any discovery measures, such as surveys, inventories, and limited subsurface testing work, recommended by the specified state and Federal agencies for the purpose of locating, identifying, and assessing the significance of historic and archaeological resources that would be affected by construction and operation of the proposed project, together with a statement of the applicant's position regarding the acceptability of the recommendations;

(ii) The results of surveys, inventories, and subsurface testing work recommended by the state and Federal agencies listed above, together with an explanation by the applicant of any variations from the survey, inventory, or testing procedures recommended;

(iii) An identification (without providing specific site or property locations) of any historic or archaeological site in the proposed project area, with particular emphasis on sites or properties either listed in, or recommended by the SHPO for inclusion in, the National Register of Historic Places that would be affected by the construction of the proposed project;

(iv) A description of the likely direct and indirect impacts of proposed project construction or operation on sites or properties either listed in, or recommended as eligible for, the National Register of Historic Places;

(v) A management plan for the avoidance of, or mitigation of, impacts on historic or archaeological sites and resources based upon the recommendations of the state and Federal agencies listed above and containing the applicant's explanation of variations from those recommendations; and

(vi) The following materials and information regarding the mitigation measures described under paragraph (f)(4)(v) of this section:

(A) A schedule for implementing the mitigation proposals;

(B) An estimate of the cost of the measures; and

(vii) The applicant must provide five copies (rather than the eight copies required under § 4.32(b)(1) of the Commission's regulations) of any survey, inventory, or subsurface testing reports containing specific site and property information, and including maps and photographs showing the location and any required alteration of historic and archaeological resources in relation to proposed project facilities.

(5) The applicant must provide a report which identifies and quantifies the impacts of constructing and operating the proposed project on employment, population, housing, personal income, local governmental services, local tax revenues and other factors within the towns and counties in the vicinity of the proposed project. The report must include:

(i) A description of the socio-economic impact area;

(ii) A description of employment, population and personal income trends in the impact area;

(iii) An evaluation of the impact of any substantial in-migration of people on the impact area's governmental facilities and services, such as police, fire, health and educational facilities and programs;

(iv) On-site manpower requirements and payroll during and after project construction, including a projection of total on-site employment and construction payroll provided by month;

(A) Currently reside within the impact area;

(B) Would commute daily to the construction site from places situated outside the impact area; and

(C) Would relocate on a temporary basis within the impact area;

(vi) A determination of whether the existing supply of available housing within the impact area is sufficient to meet the needs of the additional population;

(vii) Numbers and types of residences and business establishments that would be displaced by the proposed project, procedures to be utilized to acquire these properties, and types and amounts of relocation assistance payments that would be paid to the affected property owners and businesses; and

(viii) A fiscal impact analysis evaluating the incremental local government expenditures in relation to the incremental local government revenues that would result from the construction of the proposed project. Incremental expenditures may include, but are not be limited to, school operating costs, road maintenance and repair, public safety, and public utility costs.

(6) The applicant must provide a report on the geological and soil resources in the proposed project area and other lands that would be directly or indirectly affected by the proposed action and the impacts of the proposed project on those resources. The information required may be supplemented with maps showing the location and description of conditions. The report must contain:

(i) A detailed description of geological features, including bedrock lithology, stratigraphy, structural features, glacial features, unconsolidated deposits, and mineral resources;

(ii) A detailed description of the soils, including the types, occurrence, physical and chemical characteristics, erodability and potential for mass soil movement;

(iii) A description showing the location of existing and potential geological and soil hazards and problems, including earthquakes, faults, seepage, subsidence, solution cavities, active and abandoned mines, erosion, and mass soil movement, and an identification of any large landslides or potentially unstable soil masses which could be aggravated by reservoir fluctuation;

(iv) A description of the anticipated erosion, mass soil movement and other impacts on the geological and soil resources due to construction and operation of the proposed project; and

(7) The applicant must prepare a report containing a proposed recreation plan describing utilization, design and development of project recreational facilities, and public access to the project area. Development of the plan should include consideration of the needs of the physically handicapped. Public and private recreational facilities provided by others that would abut the project should be noted in the report. The report must be prepared in consultation with appropriate local, regional, state and Federal recreation agencies and planning commissions, the National Park Service of the U.S. Department of the Interior, and any other state or Federal agency with managerial responsibility for any part of the project lands. The report must contain:

(i) A description of any areas within or in the vicinity of the proposed project boundary that are included in, or have been designated for study for inclusion in:

(A) The National Wild and Scenic Rivers Systems (see 16 U.S.C. 1271);

(B) The National Trails System (see 16 U.S.C. 1241); or

(C) A wilderness area designated under the Wilderness Act (see 16 U.S.C. 1132);

(ii) A detailed description of existing recreational facilities within the project vicinity, and the public recreational facilities which are to be provided by the applicant at its sole cost or in cooperation with others no later than 3 years from the date of first commercial operation of the proposed project and those recreation facilities planned for future development based on anticipated demand. When public recreation facilities are to be provided by other entities, the applicant and those entities should enter into an agreement on the type of facilities to be provided and the method of operation. Copies of agreements with cooperating entities are to be appended to the plan;

(iii) A provision for a shoreline buffer zone that must be within the project boundary, above the normal maximum surface elevation of the project reservoir, and of sufficient width to allow public access to project lands and waters and to protect the scenic, public recreational, cultural, and other environmental values of the reservoir shoreline;

(iv) Estimates of existing and future recreational use at the project, in daytime and overnight visitation (recreation days), with a description of the methodology used in developing these data;

(v) A development schedule and cost estimates of the construction, operation, and maintenance of existing, initial, and future public recreational facilities, including a statement of the source and extent of financing for such facilities;

(vi) A description of any measures or facilities recommended by the agencies consulted for the purpose of creating, preserving, or enhancing recreational opportunities at the proposed project, and for the purpose of ensuring the safety of the public in its use of project lands and waters, including an explanation of why the applicant has rejected any measures or facilities recommended by an agency; and

(A) The location of project lands, and the types and number of existing recreational facilities and those proposed for initial development, including access roads and trails, and facilities for camping, picnicking, swimming, boat docking and launching, fishing and hunting, as well as provisions for sanitation and waste disposal;

(B) The location of project lands, and the type and number of recreational facilities planned for future development;

(C) The location of all project lands reserved for recreational uses other than those included in paragraphs (f)(7)(vii) (A) and (B) of this section; and

(D) The project boundary (excluding surveying details) of all areas designated for recreational development, sufficiently referenced to the appropriate Exhibit G drawings to show that all lands reserved for existing and future public recreational development and the shoreline buffer zone are included within the project boundary. Recreational cottages, mobile homes and year-round residences for private use are not to be considered as public recreational facilities, and the lands on which these private facilities are to be developed are not to be included within the proposed project boundary.

(8) The applicant must provide a report that describes the aesthetic resources of the proposed project area, the expected impacts of the project on these resources, and the mitigation, enhancement or protection measures proposed. The report must be prepared following consultation with Federal, state, and local agencies having managerial responsibility for any part of the proposed project lands or lands abutting those lands. The report must contain:

(i) A description of the aesthetic character of lands and waters directly and indirectly affected by the proposed project facilities;

(ii) A description of the anticipated impacts on aesthetic resources from construction activity and related equipment and material, and the subsequent presence of proposed project facilities in the landscape;

(iii) A description of mitigative measures proposed by the applicant, including architectural design, landscaping, and other reasonable treatment to be given project works to preserve and enhance aesthetic and related resources during construction and operation of proposed project facilities; and

(iv) Maps, drawings and photographs sufficient to provide an understanding of the information required under this paragraph. Maps or drawings may be consolidated with other maps or drawings required in this exhibit and must conform to the specifications of § 4.39.

(9) The applicant must provide a report that describes the existing uses of the proposed project lands and adjacent property, and those land uses which would occur if the project is constructed. The report may reference the discussions of land uses in other sections of this exhibit. The report must be prepared following consultation with local and state zoning or land management authorities, and any Federal or state agency with managerial responsibility for the proposed project or abutting lands. The report must include:

(i) A description of existing land use in the proposed project area, including identification of wetlands, floodlands, prime or unique farmland as designated by the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Special Area Management Plan of the Office of Coastal Zone Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and lands owned or subject to control by government agencies;

(ii) A description of the proposed land uses within and abutting the project boundary that would occur as a result of development and operation of the project; and

(iii) Aerial photographs, maps, drawings or other graphics sufficient to show the location, extent and nature of the land uses referred to in this section.

(10) The applicant must provide an environment assessment of the following:

(i) Alternative sites considered in arriving at the selection of the proposed project site;

(ii) Alternative facility designs, processes, and operations that were considered and the reasons for their rejection;

(iii) Alternative electrical energy sources, such as gas, oil, coal, and nuclear-fueled power plants, purchased power or diversity exchange, and other conventional and pumped-storage hydroelectric plants; and

(11) Exhibit E must include a list of all publications, reports, and other literature which were cited or otherwise utilized in the preparation of any part of the environmental report.

(f) is an Environmental Report. Information provided in the report must be organized and referenced according to the itemized subparagraphs below. See § 4.38 for consultation requirements. The Environmental Report must contain the following information, commensurate with the scope of the proposed project:

(1) The applicant must provide a general description of the environment of the project and its immediate vicinity. The description must include general information concerning climate, topography, wetlands, vegetative cover, land development, population size and density, the presence of any floodplain and the occurrence of flood events in the vicinity of the project, and any other factors important to an understanding of the setting.

(2) The report must discuss the consumptive use of project waters and the impact of the project on water quality. The report must be prepared in consultation with the state and Federal agencies with responsibility for management of water quality in the affected stream or other body of water. Consultation must be documented by appending to the report a letter from each agency consulted that indicates the nature, extent, and results of the consultation. The report must include:

(i) A description (including specified volume over time) of existing and proposed uses of project waters for irrigation, domestic water supply, steam-electric plant, industrial, and other consumptive purposes;

(ii) A description of existing water quality in the project impoundment and downstream water affected by the project and the applicable water quality standards and stream segment classifications;

(iii) A description of any minimum flow releases specifying the rate of flow in cubic feet per second (cfs) and duration, changes in the design of project works or in project operation, or other measures recommended by the agencies consulted for the purposes of protecting or improving water quality, including measures to minimize the short-term impacts on water quality of any proposed new development of project works (for any dredging or filling, refer to 40 CFR part 230 and 33 CFR 320.3(f) and 323.3(e)) 1 ;

(iv) A statement of the existing measures to be continued and new measures proposed by the applicant for the purpose of protecting or improving water quality, including an explanation of why the applicant has rejected any measures recommended by an agency and described under paragraph (f)(2)(iii) of this section.

(v) A description of the continuing impact on water quality of continued operation of the project and the incremental impact of proposed new development of project works or changes in project operation; and

(3) The report must discuss fish, wildlife, and botanical resources in the vicinity of the project and the impact of the project on those resources. The report must be prepared in consultation with any state agency with responsibility for fish, wildlife, and botanical resources, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service (if the project may affect anadromous fish resources subject to that agency's jurisdiction), and any other state or Federal agency with managerial authority over any part of the project lands. Consultation must be documented by appending to the report a letter from each agency consulted that indicates the nature, extent, and results of the consultation. The report must include:

(i) A description of the fish, wildlife, and botanical resources of the project and its vicinity, and of downstream areas affected by the project, including identification of any species listed as threatened or endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (See 50 CFR 17.11 and 17.12);

(ii) A description of any measures or facilities recommended by the agencies consulted for the mitigation of impacts on fish, wildlife, and botanical resources, or for the protection or improvement of those resources;

(iii) A statement of any existing measures or facilities to be continued or maintained and any measures or facilities proposed by the applicant for the mitigation of impacts on fish, wildlife, and botanical resources, or for the protection or improvement of such resources, including an explanation of why the applicant has rejected any measures or facilities recommended by an agency and described under paragraph (f)(3)(ii) of this section.

(iv) A description of any anticipated continuing impact on fish, wildlife, and botanical resources of continued operation of the project, and the incremental impact of proposed new development of project works or changes in project operation; and

(v) The following materials and information regarding the measures and facilities identified under paragraph (f)(3)(iii) of this section:

(A) Functional design drawings of any fish passage and collection facilities, indicating whether the facilities depicted are existing or proposed (these drawings must conform to the specifications of § 4.39 regarding dimensions of full-sized prints, scale, and legibility);

(B) A description of operation and maintenance procedures for any existing or proposed measures or facilities;

(C) An implementation or construction schedule for any proposed measures or facilities, showing the intervals following issuance of a license when implementation of the measures or construction of the facilities would be commenced and completed;

(D) An estimate of the costs of construction, operation, and maintenance, of any proposed facilities, and of implementation of any proposed measures, including a statement of the sources and extent of financing; and

(E) A map or drawing that conforms to the size, scale, and legibility requirements of § 4.39 showing by the use of shading, cross-hatching, or other symbols the identity and location of any measures or facilities, and indicating whether each measure or facility is existing or proposed (the map or drawings in this exhibit may be consolidated).

(4) The report must discuss the historical and archeological resources in the project area and the impact of the project on those resources. The report must be prepared in consultation with the State Historic Preservation Officer and the National Park Service. Consultation must be documented by appending to the report a letter from each agency consulted that indicates the nature, extent, and results of the consultation. The report must contain:

(i) Identification of any sites either listed or determined to be eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places that are located in the project area, or that would be affected by operation of the project or by new development of project facilities (including facilities proposed in this exhibit);

(ii) A description of any measures recommended by the agencies consulted for the purpose of locating, identifying, and salvaging historical or archaeological resources that would be affected by operation of the project, or by new development of project facilities (including facilities proposed in this exhibit), together with a statement of what measures the applicant proposes to implement and an explanation of why the applicant rejects any measures recommended by an agency.

(iii) The following materials and information regarding the survey and salvage activities described under paragraph (f)(4)(ii) of this section:

(A) A schedule for the activities, showing the intervals following issuance of a license when the activities would be commenced and completed; and

(B) An estimate of the costs of the activities, including a statement of the sources and extent of financing.

(5) The report must discuss existing and proposed recreational facilities and opportunities at the project. The report must be prepared in consultation with local, state, and regional recreation agencies and planning commissions, the National Park Service, and any other state or Federal agency with managerial authority over any part of the project lands. Consultation must be documented by appending to the report a letter from each agency consulted indicating the nature, extent, and results of the consultation. The report must contain:

(i) A description of any existing recreational facilities at the project, indicating whether the facilities are available for public use;

(ii) An estimate of existing and potential recreational use of the project area, in daytime and overnight visits;

(iii) A description of any measures or facilities recommended by the agencies consulted for the purpose of creating, preserving, or enhancing recreational opportunities at the project and in its vicinity (including opportunities for the handicapped), and for the purpose of ensuring the safety of the public in its use of project lands and waters;

(iv) A statement of the existing measures or facilities to be continued or maintained and the new measures or facilities proposed by the applicant for the purpose of creating, preserving, or enhancing recreational opportunities at the project and in its vicinity, and for the purpose of ensuring the safety of the public in its use of project lands and waters, including an explanation of why the applicant has rejected any measures or facilities recommended by an agency and described under paragraph (f)(5)(iii) of this section; and

(v) The following materials and information regarding the measures and facilities identified under paragraphs (f)(5) (i) and (iv) of this section:

(A) Identification of the entities responsible for implementing, constructing, operating, or maintaining any existing or proposed measures or facilities;

(B) A schedule showing the intervals following issuance of a license at which implementation of the measures or construction of the facilities would be commenced and completed;

(C) An estimate of the costs of construction, operation, and maintenance of any proposed facilities, including a statement of the sources and extent of financing;

(D) A map or drawing that conforms to the size, scale, and legibility requirements of § 4.39 showing by the use of shading, cross-hatching, or other symbols the identity and location of any facilities, and indicating whether each facility is existing or proposed (the maps or drawings in this exhibit may be consolidated); and

(vi) A description of any areas within or in the vicinity of the proposed project boundary that are included in, or have been designated for study for inclusion in, the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, or that have been designated as wilderness area, recommended for such designation, or designated as a wilderness study area under the Wilderness Act.

(6) The report must discuss the management of land within the proposed project boundary, including wetlands and floodplains, and the protection of the recreational and scenic values of the project. The report must be prepared following consultation with local and state zoning and land management authorities and any Federal or state agency with managerial authority over any part of the project lands. Consultation must be documented by appending to the report a letter from each agency consulted indicating the nature, extent, and results of the consultation. The report must contain:

(i) A description of existing development and use of project lands and all other lands abutting the project impoundment;

(ii) A description of the measures proposed by the applicant to ensure that any proposed project works, rights-of-way, access roads, and other topographic alterations blend, to the extent possible, with the surrounding environment; (see, e.g., 44 F.P.C. 1496, et seq.);

(iii) A description of wetlands or floodplains within, or adjacent to, the project boundary, any short-term or long-term impacts of the project on those wetlands or floodplains, and any mitigative measures in the construction or operation of the project that minimize any adverse impacts on the wetlands or floodplains;

(iv) A statement, including an analysis of costs and other constraints, of the applicant's ability to provide a buffer zone around all or any part of the impoundment, for the purpose of ensuring public access to project lands and waters and protecting the recreational and aesthetic values of the impoundment and its shoreline;

(v) A description of the applicant's policy, if any, with regard to permitting development of piers, docks, boat landings, bulkheads, and other shoreline facilities on project lands and waters; and

(vi) Maps or drawings that conform to the size, scale and legibility requirements of § 4.39, or photographs, sufficient to show the location and nature of the measures proposed under paragraph (f)(6)(ii) of this section (maps or drawings in this exhibit may be consolidated).

(7) The report must include a list of all publications, reports, and other literature which were cited or otherwise utilized in the preparation of any part of the environmental report.

(2) An application for license for either a minor water power project with a total proposed installed generating capacity of 1.5 MW or less or a major project—existing dam with a proposed total installed capacity of 10 MW or less must contain an Exhibit E under this paragraph (d)(2). See § 4.38 for consultation requirements. The Environmental Report must contain the following information:

(i) A description, including any maps or photographs which the applicant considers appropriate, of the environmental setting of the project, including vegetative cover, fish and wildlife resources, water quality and quantity, land and water uses, recreational uses, historical and archeological resources, and scenic and aesthetic resources. The report must include a discussion of endangered or threatened plant and animal species, any critical habitats, and any sites included in, or eligible for inclusion in, the National Register of Historic Places. The applicant may obtain assistance in the preparation of this information from state natural resources agencies, the state historic preservation officer, and from local offices of Federal natural resources agencies.

(ii) A description of the expected environmental impacts from proposed construction or development and the proposed operation of the power project, including any impacts from any proposed changes in the capacity and mode of operation of the project if it is already generating electric power, and an explanation of the specific measures proposed by the applicant, the agencies, and others to protect and enhance environmental resources and values and to mitigate adverse impacts of the project on such resources. The applicant must explain its reasons for not undertaking any measures proposed by any agency consulted.

(iii) A description of the steps taken by the applicant in consulting with Federal, state, and local agencies with expertise in environmental matters during the preparation of this exhibit prior to filing the application for license with the Commission. In this report, the applicant must:

(A) Indicate which agencies were consulted during the preparation of the environmental report and provide copies of letters or other documentation showing that the applicant consulted or attempted to consult with each of the relevant agencies (specifying each agency) before filing the application, including any terms or conditions of license that those agencies have determined are appropriate to prevent loss of, or damage to, natural resources; and

(B) List those agencies that were provided copies of the application as filed with the Commission, the date or dates provided, and copies of any letters that may be received from agencies commenting on the application.

(e) This exhibit is an Environmental Report. It must be prepared pursuant to § 4.38 and must include the following information, commensurate with the scope and environmental impact of the facility's construction and operation:

(1) A description of the environmental setting in the vicinity of the facility, including vegetative cover, fish and wildlife resources, water quality and quantity, land and water uses, recreational use, socio-economic conditions, historical and archeological resources, and visual resources. The report must give special attention to endangered or threatened plant and animal species, critical habitats, and sites eligible for or included on the National Register of Historic Places. The applicant may obtain assistance in the preparation of this information from State natural resources agencies, the State historic preservation officer, and from local offices of Federal natural resources agencies.

(2) A description of the expected environmental impacts resulting from the continued operation of an existing small conduit hydroelectric facility, or from the construction and operation of a proposed small conduit hydroelectric facility, including a discussion of the specific measures proposed by the applicant and others to protect and enhance environmental resources and to mitigate adverse impacts of the facility on them.

(3) A description of alternative means of obtaining an amount of power equivalent to that provided by the proposed or existing facility.

(1) If construction has begun, prior to filing a petition with the Commission, the exemption holder must consult with the fish and wildlife agencies in accordance with § 4.38, substituting for the information required under § 4.38(b)(1) information appropriate to the disposition and restoration of the project works and lands. The petition must set forth the exemption holder's plans with respect to disposition and restoration of the project works and lands.

(1) May apply for a license under Part I of the Federal Power Act and part 4 of this chapter (except § 4.38) within 18 months of the date on which it files its notice; and

(r) Commitment of substantial monetary resources means the expenditure of, or commitment to expend, at least 50 percent of the total cost of preparing an application for license or exemption for a hydroelectric project that is accepted for filing by the Commission pursuant to § 4.32(e) of this chapter. The total cost includes (but is not limited to) the cost of agency consultation, environmental studies, and engineering studies conducted pursuant to § 4.38 of this chapter, and the Commission's requirements for filing an application for license exemption.

(i) Completing the pre-filing consultation process under § 4.38 of this chapter, including performing any environmental studies which may be required under §§ 4.38(b)(2)(i)(D) through (F) of this chapter; and

(b) Subject to rebuttal under paragraph (d)(7)(ii) of this section, a showing of the commitment of substantial monetary resources will be presumed if the applicant held a preliminary permit for the project and had completed environmental consultations pursuant to § 4.38 of this chapter before October 16, 1986.

(i) The Commission will provide written notice of the Director's initial finding on the petition to the applicant, to the federal and state agencies that the applicant must consult under § 4.38 of this chapter and to any intervenors in the proceeding.

(i) Does not conform to the requirements of §§ 4.32(a), 4.32(b), or 4.38, under § 4.32(d)(1) or

(3) Consult with appropriate Federal, regional, State, and local agencies during the planning stages of the proposed action to ensure that all potential environmental impacts are identified. (The specific requirements for consultation on hydropower projects are contained in § 4.38 and § 16.8 of this chapter and in section 4(a) of the Electric Consumers Protection Act, Pub. L. No. 99-495, 100 Stat. 1243, 1246 (1986));

(f) An applicant must show in Exhibit E of its application that it has met the requirements of paragraphs (b) through (d) and paragraphs (g) and (h) of this section, and must include a summary of the consultation process and:

(1) Any resource agency's or Indian tribe's letters containing comments, recommendations, and proposed terms and conditions;

(2) Any letters from the public containing comments and recommendations;

(i) The need for a study or the manner in which a study should be conducted and the applicant's reasons for disagreement, and

(ii) Information on any environmental protection, mitigation, or enhancement measure, including the basis for the applicant's disagreement with the resource agency or Indian tribe;

(4) Evidence of any waivers under paragraph (e) of this section;

(5) Evidence of all attempts to consult with a resource agency or Indian tribe, copies of related documents showing the attempts, and documents showing the conclusion of the second stage of consultation;

(6) An explanation of how and why the project would, would not, or should not, comply with any relevant comprehensive plan as defined in § 2.l9 of this chapter and a description of any relevant resource agency or Indian tribe determination regarding the consistency of the project with any such comprehensive plan;

(7) A description of how the applicant's proposal addresses the significant resource issues raised at the joint meeting held pursuant to paragraph (b)(3) of this section; and

(8) A list containing the name and address of every federal, state, and interstate resource agency and Indian tribe with which the applicant consulted pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of this section.

(1) If construction has begun, prior to filing a petition with the Commission, the exemption holder must consult with the fish and wildlife agencies in accordance with § 4.38, substituting for the information required under § 4.38(b)(1) information appropriate to the disposition and restoration of the project works and lands. The petition must set forth the exemption holder's plans with respect to disposition and restoration of the project works and lands.

(1) During the initial stage or pre-filing agency consultation under § 4.38(b)(1), a prospective new dam or diversion license applicant must inform each fish and wildlife agency consulted in writing with a copy to the Commission whether it will seek PURPA benefits.

(1) If construction has begun, prior to filing a petition with the Commission, the exemption holder must consult with the fish and wildlife agencies in accordance with § 4.38, substituting for the information required under § 4.38(b)(1) information appropriate to the disposition and restoration of the project works and lands. The petition must set forth the exemption holder's plans with respect to disposition and restoration of the project works and lands.

(i) Completing the pre-filing consultation process under § 4.38 of this chapter, including performing any environmental studies which may be required under §§ 4.38(b)(2)(i)(D) through (F) of this chapter; and

(i) Completing the pre-filing consultation process under § 4.38 of this chapter, including performing any environmental studies which may be required under §§ 4.38(b)(2)(i)(D) through (F) of this chapter; and

(i) Completing the pre-filing consultation process under § 4.38 of this chapter, including performing any environmental studies which may be required under §§ 4.38(b)(2)(i)(D) through (F) of this chapter; and

(1) Every applicant for a license or exemption for a project with a capacity of 80 megawatts or less must include in its application copies of the statements made under § 4.38(b)(2)(vi).

(1) Every application for a license for a project with a capacity of 80 megawatts or less must include in its application copies of the statements made under § 4.38(b)(2)(vi).

(iii) Written referrals to the Director and written responses thereto pursuant to paragraphs (b)(6)(i) or (b)(6)(ii) of this section must be filed with the Commission in accordance with the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, and must indicate that they are for the attention of the Director pursuant to § 4.38(b)(6).

(f) An applicant must show in Exhibit E of its application that it has met the requirements of paragraphs (b) through (d) and paragraphs (g) and (h) of this section, and must include a summary of the consultation process and:

(1) Any resource agency's or Indian tribe's letters containing comments, recommendations, and proposed terms and conditions;

(2) Any letters from the public containing comments and recommendations;

(i) The need for a study or the manner in which a study should be conducted and the applicant's reasons for disagreement, and

(ii) Information on any environmental protection, mitigation, or enhancement measure, including the basis for the applicant's disagreement with the resource agency or Indian tribe;

(4) Evidence of any waivers under paragraph (e) of this section;

(5) Evidence of all attempts to consult with a resource agency or Indian tribe, copies of related documents showing the attempts, and documents showing the conclusion of the second stage of consultation;

(6) An explanation of how and why the project would, would not, or should not, comply with any relevant comprehensive plan as defined in § 2.l9 of this chapter and a description of any relevant resource agency or Indian tribe determination regarding the consistency of the project with any such comprehensive plan;

(7) A description of how the applicant's proposal addresses the significant resource issues raised at the joint meeting held pursuant to paragraph (b)(3) of this section; and

(8) A list containing the name and address of every federal, state, and interstate resource agency and Indian tribe with which the applicant consulted pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of this section.

(b) Within the comment period provided in § 4.38(c)(5), a fish and wildlife agency must provide a prospective section 30(c) applicant with a reasonable estimate of the total costs the agency anticipates it will incur to set mandatory terms and conditions for the proposed project. An agency may provide an applicant with an updated estimate as it deems necessary. If an agency believes that its most recent estimate will be exceeded by more than 25 percent, it must supply the prospective applicant or applicant with a new estimate and submit a copy to the Commission.

(f) An applicant must show in Exhibit E of its application that it has met the requirements of paragraphs (b) through (d) and paragraphs (g) and (h) of this section, and must include a summary of the consultation process and:

(1) Any resource agency's or Indian tribe's letters containing comments, recommendations, and proposed terms and conditions;

(2) Any letters from the public containing comments and recommendations;

(i) The need for a study or the manner in which a study should be conducted and the applicant's reasons for disagreement, and

(ii) Information on any environmental protection, mitigation, or enhancement measure, including the basis for the applicant's disagreement with the resource agency or Indian tribe;

(4) Evidence of any waivers under paragraph (e) of this section;

(5) Evidence of all attempts to consult with a resource agency or Indian tribe, copies of related documents showing the attempts, and documents showing the conclusion of the second stage of consultation;

(6) An explanation of how and why the project would, would not, or should not, comply with any relevant comprehensive plan as defined in § 2.l9 of this chapter and a description of any relevant resource agency or Indian tribe determination regarding the consistency of the project with any such comprehensive plan;

(7) A description of how the applicant's proposal addresses the significant resource issues raised at the joint meeting held pursuant to paragraph (b)(3) of this section; and

(8) A list containing the name and address of every federal, state, and interstate resource agency and Indian tribe with which the applicant consulted pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of this section.