Prehearing Conference Time Change!
The prehearing conference scheduled for February 21, 2003
will begin at 5 p.m.

The California Energy Commission SMUD Cosumnes Committee (Committee) is reviewing an Application for Certification (AFC) by SMUD to construct two 500 megwatt natural gas-fired combined cycle power plants near the Rancho Seco Nuclear Power Plant.

The Committee will conduct the first of two Prehearing Conferences, ultimately covering all impacts of the proposed power plant. The 1st Prehearing Conference will address all topics except Biology and Alternatives. The parties, public, and interested agencies are encouraged to attend and make comments on the topics to be discussed listed in the side bar. Written comments on the topics can be submitted to the Energy Commission, Docket Unit (01-AFC-19), 1516 - 9th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 before February 21, 2003.

Documents: The Applicant's information concerning the potential project impacts is found in its AFC and data responses. In addition, the Staff of the Energy Commission will publish an independent analysis on all topics, except Biology and Alternatives, in the Final Staff Assessment (FSA), Part 1 to be released no later than February 11, 2003. The FSA, Part 1 evaluates potential project impacts, mitigation, and proposed conditions of certification for each topic listed in the side bar, except Biology and Alternatives, which are to be addressed in the FSA, Part 2. The release of the FSA, Part 2 and subsequent proceedings on Biology and Alternatives are keyed to the acceptance as complete by federal agencies of SMUD's Biological Assessment on the natural gas pipeline route and laydown area.

The FSA, Parts 1 and 2 will be available in a printed version as well as for viewing on the Energy Commission Web Site:

www.energy.ca.gov/sitingcases/smud/

You can obtain a printed copy of the Final Staff Assessment by contacting Project Manager, Kristy Chew, at 916-654-3929 or e-mail at: [kchew@energy.state.ca.us].

As a convenience, parties and members of the public who cannot attend the hearing in person may participate by calling the toll-free number for the proceeding: 1-888-790-1641. (Passcode: "SMUD." Leader: "Garret Shean.")

The Committee will conduct a Prehearing Conference to assess readiness for evidentiary hearings, to identify areas of agreement and dispute, and discuss procedures for the evidentiary hearing. Only parties may present evidence that will become part of the record upon which the Committee's Proposed Decision is based. Members of the public, groups, or agencies may petition to become an intervenor in the proceeding. (See below for details and deadline)

Any party intending to present a witness at the evidentiary hearing shall file and serve a statement identifying the issue to be presented and the name of the witness(es) on or before February 19, 2003. The statement shall include a description of any potential legal issue and a description of the factual evidence potentially in dispute and the nature of the party's intended testimony.

Anyone with a legitimate interest relevant to the siting of the proposed power plant may file a Petition to Intervene and become a formal party to this proceeding. Party status provides the rights to present independent evidence, receive pertinent documents, and cross-examine witnesses; it also imposes the duty to comply with various orders, procedures, and filing requirements, as well as be subject to cross-examination by other parties.

In this proceeding, a Petition to Intervene shall be filed no later than February 21, 2003. The Energy Commission, through its Public Adviser's office, will assist anyone interested in preparing a Petition to Intervene.

Contact Roberta Mendonca, the Public Adviser, at 916-654-4489 or toll-free 800-822-6228 or by e-mail at [pao@energy.state.ca.us].

March 13, 2003, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
California Energy Commission, Hearing Room A
1516 Ninth Street Sacramento, California 95814

Members of the public may participate in all phases of the licensing process in a variety of ways. If you need information concerning public participation, please contact Roberta Mendonca, the Energy Commission's Public Adviser, at 916-654-4489 or, toll free in California, at 800-822-6228, or by e-mail at: [pao@energy.state.ca.us]. Persons requiring special assistance contact Lou Quiroz, (916) 654-5146, five days prior to the hearing.

Information concerning the status of the project, notices, and other relevant documents are available on the Commission's Web Site at:

www.energy.ca.gov/sitingcases/smud/

Technical questions concerning the project should be addressed to the Energy Commission Staff's Project Manager, Kristy Chew, at 916-654-3929 or e-mail at: [kchew@energy.state.ca.us].

Questions of a legal or procedural nature should be directed to Garret Shean, the Hearing Officer, at 916-654-3893 or e-mail at: [gshean@energy.state.ca.us].

Media inquiries should be directed to Claudia Chandler, Assistant Executive Director for Media and Public Communications, at 916-654-4989 or by e-mail at: [energia@energy.ca.gov].