[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 50, Volume 7]
[Revised as of January 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 50CFR221.1]

[Page 92-93]
 
                    TITLE 50--WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES
 
  CHAPTER II--NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE, NATIONAL OCEANIC AND 
           ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
 
PART 221_PRESCRIPTIONS IN FERC HYDROPOWER LICENSES--Table of Contents
 
                      Subpart A_General Provisions
 
Sec. 221.1  What is the purpose of this part, and to what license


proceedings does it apply?

    (a) Hearing process. (1) The regulations in subparts A and B of this 
part contain rules of practice and procedure applicable to hearings on 
disputed issues of material fact with respect to mandatory prescriptions 
that the Department of Commerce, acting through the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) 
may develop for inclusion in a hydropower license issued by the Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) under subchapter I of the Federal 
Power Act (FPA), 16 U.S.C. 791 et seq. The authority to develop these 
prescriptions is granted by FPA section 18, 16 U.S.C. 811, which 
authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to prescribe fishways.
    (2) The hearing process under this part does not apply to 
recommendations that the Department of Commerce may submit to FERC under 
FPA section 10(a) or (j), 16 U.S.C. 803(a), (j).
    (3) The FPA also grants the Department of Agriculture and Interior 
the authority to develop mandatory conditions, and the Department of the 
Interior the authority to develop mandatory prescriptions, for inclusion 
in a hydropower license. Where the Department of Commerce and either or 
both of these other Departments develop conditions or prescriptions to 
be included in the same hydropower license and where the Departments 
agree to consolidate the hearings under Sec. 221.23:
    (i) A hearing conducted under this part will also address disputed 
issues of material fact with respect to any condition or prescription 
developed by one of the other Departments; or
    (ii) A hearing requested under this part will be conducted by one of 
the other Departments, pursuant to 7 CFR 1.601 et seq. or 43 CFR 45.1 et 
seq., as applicable.
    (4) The regulations in subparts A and B of this part will be 
construed and applied to each hearing process to achieve a just and 
speedy determination, consistent with adequate consideration of the 
issues involved and the provisions of Sec. 221.60(a).
    (b) Alternatives process. The regulations in subparts A and C of 
this part contain rules of procedure applicable to the submission and 
consideration of alternative prescriptions under FPA section 33, 16 
U.S.C. 823d. That section allows any party to the license proceeding to 
propose an alternative to a fishway prescribed by NMFS under section 18.
    (c) Reservation of authority. Where NMFS notifies FERC that it is 
reserving its authority to develop one or more prescriptions during the 
term of the license, the hearing and alternatives processes under this 
part for such prescriptions will be available if and when NMFS exercises 
its reserved authority. NMFS will consult with FERC and notify the 
license parties regarding how to initiate the hearing process and 
alternatives process at that time.
    (d) Applicability. (1) This part applies to any hydropower license 
proceeding for which the license has not been issued as of November 17, 
2005 and for which one or more preliminary prescriptions or 
prescriptions have been or are filed with FERC.

[[Page 93]]

    (2) If NMFS has already filed one or more preliminary prescriptions 
or prescriptions as of November 17, 2005, the special applicability 
provisions of Sec. 221.4 also apply.