[Federal Register: February 6, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 25)]
[Notices]
[Page 6953-6954]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06fe08-41]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 13054-000]
Nt Hydro; Notice of Application Accepted for Filing and
Soliciting Comments, Protests, and Motions To Intervene
January 30, 2008.
Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been
filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection:
a. Type of Application: Preliminary Permit.
b. Project No.: 13054-000.
c. Date filed: October 22, 2007.
d. Applicant: NT Hydro.
e. Name and Location of Project: The proposed Abert Rim Pumped
Storage Hydroelectric Project would be located in Lake County, Oregon
and would utilize the existing Mule Lake and Lake Albert, both located
on U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land.
f. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791(a)-825(r).
g. Applicant contact: Mr. Ted Sorenson, Sorenson Engineering, 5203
South 11th, East Idaho Falls, ID 83404, (208) 522-8069.
h. FERC Contact: Tom Papsidero, (202) 502-6002.
i. Deadline for filing comments, protests, and motions to
intervene: 60 days from the issuance date of this notice.
All documents (original and eight copies) should be filed with:
Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888
First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426. Comments, protests and
interventions may be filed electronically via the Internet in lieu of
paper; see 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the
Commission's Web site under the ``e-Filing'' link. The Commission
strongly encourages electronic filings. Please include the project
number (P-13054-000) on any comments or motions filed.
The Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure require all
intervenors filing documents with the Commission to serve a copy of
that document on each person in the official service list for the
project. Further, if an intervenor 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.
j. Description of Existing Facilities and Proposed Project: The
proposed Abert Rim Pumped Storage Project will consist of the existing
Mule Lake, which is an existing small lake, and Lake Abert, which is an
existing alkali lake. Both water bodies are located on BLM lands. Under
the proposed project, Mule Lake Reservoir and Lake Abert will be
connected by a 6,200 foot-long pipeline consisting of two eight-foot-
diameter steel pipes with a hydraulic capacity of approximately 700
cubic feet per second (cfs) each. The pipeline will include a 6,200-
foot-long tunnel immediately below Abert Rim Wilderness Study Area. A
powerhouse/pumphouse will be located near the shore of Lake Abert,
containing two 67 megawatt (MW)/700 cfs pump-turbines, and appurtenant
facilities. The powerhouse/pumphouse would be a metal building with a
concrete foundation, approximately 120-foot-wide by 60-foot-long and
30-foot-high.
Mule Lake, which stores runoff from intermittent streams, has a
normal maximum water surface elevation of approximately 5,605 feet
above sea level (ASL). USGS topographic data indicate that Mule Lake
occurs within a closed basin, with no outlet streams. Currently, Mule
Lake has an approximate storage capacity of 1,600 acre-feet. Under the
proposed project, storage in Mule Lake would be increased to about
4,000 acre-feet by increasing the lake level 20 feet. Because Mule Lake
is in a closed basin, no new dam would be required to increase the lake
level and storage. Lake Abert, which receives water from Chewaucan
River, various springs and intermittent runoff streams, has a normal
maximum water surface elevation of approximately 4,254 feet ASL.
Currently, water entering Lake Abert remains in Lake Abert until it
evaporates, i.e. Lake Abert occurs within a closed topographic basin
with no outlets. Lake Abert has an approximate storage capacity of
400,000 acre-feet.
A new 45-mile-long 128-kV transmission line will be constructed to
interconnect the proposed project with an existing Bonneville Power
Administration 500-kV, AC transmission line located northwest of Lake
Abert. This interconnection will link the proposed project with the
both the California-Nevada and Pacific Northwest power grids. A new
substation would be constructed at the point of interconnection. The
proposed project would have an annual generation of 489.1 GWh.
k. Location of Applications: A copy of the application is available
for inspection and reproduction 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 to access
the document. For assistance, call toll-free 1-866-208-3676 or e-mail
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. For TTY, call (202) 502-8659. A copy is
also available for inspection and reproduction at the address in item g
above.
l. Individuals desiring to be included on the Commission's mailing
list should so indicate by writing to the Secretary of the Commission.
m. Competing Preliminary Permit--Anyone desiring to file a
competing application for preliminary permit for a proposed project
must submit the competing application itself, or a notice of intent to
file such an application, to the Commission on or before the specified
comment date for the particular application (see 18 CFR 4.36).
Submission of a timely notice of intent allows an interested person to
file the competing preliminary permit application no later than 30 days
after the specified comment date for the particular application. A
competing preliminary permit application must conform with 18 CFR
4.30(b) and 4.36.
n. Competing Development Application--Any qualified development
applicant desiring to file a competing development application must
submit to the Commission, on or before a specified comment date for the
particular application, either a competing development application or a
notice of intent to file such an
[[Page 6954]]
application. Submission of a timely notice of intent to file a
development application allows an interested person to file the
competing application no later than 120 days after the specified
comment date for the particular application. A competing license
application must conform with 18 CFR 4.30(b) and 4.36.
o. Notice of Intent--A notice of intent must specify the exact
name, business address, and telephone number of the prospective
applicant, and must include an unequivocal statement of intent to
submit, if such an application may be filed, either a preliminary
permit application or a development application (specify which type of
application). A notice of intent must be served on the applicant(s)
named in this public notice.
p. Proposed Scope of Studies under Permit--A preliminary permit, if
issued, does not authorize construction. The term of the proposed
preliminary permit would be 36 months. The work proposed under the
preliminary permit would include economic analysis, preparation of
preliminary engineering plans, and a study of environmental impacts.
Based on the results of these studies, the Applicant would decide
whether to proceed with the preparation of a development application to
construct and operate the project.
q. Comments, Protests, or Motions to Intervene--Anyone may submit
comments, a protest, or a motion to intervene in accordance with the
requirements of Rules of Practice and Procedure, 18 CFR 385.210, .211,
.214. In determining the appropriate action to take, the Commission
will consider all protests or other comments filed, but only those who
file a motion to intervene in accordance with the Commission's Rules
may become a party to the proceeding. Any comments, protests, or
motions to intervene must be received on or before the specified
comment date for the particular application.
r. Filing and Service of Responsive Documents--Any filings must
bear in all capital letters the title ``COMMENTS'', ``NOTICE OF INTENT
TO FILE COMPETING APPLICATION'', ``COMPETING APPLICATION'',
``PROTEST'', or ``MOTION TO INTERVENE'', as applicable, and the Project
Number of the particular application to which the filing refers. Any of
the above-named documents must be filed by providing the original and
the number of copies provided by the Commission's regulations to: The
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE.,
Washington, DC 20426. An additional copy must be sent to Director,
Division of Hydropower Administration and Compliance, Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, at the above-mentioned address. A copy of any
notice of intent, competing application or motion to intervene must
also be served upon each representative of the Applicant specified in
the particular application.
s. Agency Comments--Federal, state, and local agencies are invited
to file comments on the described application. A copy of the
application may be obtained by agencies directly from the Applicant. If
an agency does not file comments within the time specified for filing
comments, it will be presumed to have no comments. One copy of an
agency's comments must also be sent to the Applicant's representatives.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8-2117 Filed 2-5-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P