[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 175 (Monday, September 11, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47166-47167]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-22425]



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[[Page 47167]]


DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Project No. 2493-006]


Puget Sound Power & Light Company; Notice of Amendment to 
Application

September 5, 1995.
    On June 28, 1995, Puget Sound Power & Light Company (Puget) filed 
an amendment to its application for a new license for the Snoqualmie 
River Project No. 2493-006. Puget's application for a new license 
proposed to make extensive structural modifications to the project to 
add 31 megawatts (MW) to the existing generation capacity of 42 MW. The 
amendment was filed as a result of Puget's inability to obtain 
additional water rights necessary to support its original application.
    Puget is now proposing a Refurbished Project that would (1) 
refurbish the existing diversion dam foundation, in the same location, 
(2) install an inflatable dam or spillgate system to replace the 
existing flashboard system, (3) add a 75-foot-long inflatable spillway 
for flood control, (4) add a sediment exclusion channel to transfer bed 
load from the Plant 2 intake to pass under the new diversion dam, (5) 
modify the Plant 1 intake, (6) modify the Plant 1 tailrace channel, (7) 
remove Units 1-5 penstocks in Plant 1, (8) install new 6-foot and 8-
foot diameter penstocks for new Plant 1, Units 1 and 2, (9) install a 
new Unit 1, sized for 600 cfs, (10) install a new Unit 2, sized for 200 
cfs, (11) replace the Plant 1 elevator and elevator house, (12) 
stabilize the transformer house and machine shops for seismic 
stability, (13) remove Units 1 through 3 and Unit 5 from Plant 1, (14) 
retire (in place) Unit 4 in Plant 1, (15) refurbish the existing Plant 
2 intake and tunnel, (16) refurbish the existing gatehouse and 
penstocks for Plant 2, (17) modify the existing Plant 2 forebay for 
improved safety and operation, (18) upgrade Units 1 and 2 in Plant 2, 
(19) install a flow bypass system, and (20) refurbish the Plant 2 
powerhouse for seismic stability. The Refurbished Project would add 7 
MW to the existing 42 MW of generation.
    The Refurbished Project proposal also includes instream flows that 
were identified as potential conditions of a Water Quality 
Certification by the Washington State Department of Ecology, in a 
letter dated May 12, 1995.
    These proposed minimum instream flows over Snoqualmie Falls are:

From 10 AM to sunset.
March 16-March 31...............................................200 cfs
April 1-April 30................................................450 cfs
May 1-May 31....................................................700 cfs
June 1-June 30..................................................450 cfs
July 1-July 15..................................................200 cfs
July 16-March 15................................................100 cfs

Nighttime flows over the falls would not be less than 25 cfs.

    A Minor Upgrade alternative that is substantially similar to the 
Refurbished Project proposal described above was addressed in the draft 
Environmental Impact Statement issued on November 18, 1994. The 
Refurbished Project, like the Minor Upgrade alternative, would not 
increase the 2,500 cubic feet per second (cfs) hydraulic capacity of 
the existing project.
    Some minor differences between the Minor Upgrade alternative and 
the Refurbished Project proposal are that the Refurbished Project 
proposal includes: (1) a flow continuation system, (2) minor expansion 
of the Plant 2 forebay to improve removal of suspended sediments for 
Plant 2, (3) leaving Unit 4 of Plant 1 in place for historic 
preservation values, and (4) retaining and refurbishing the existing 
foot bridge.
    Although the Refurbished Project alternative is substantially 
similar to the Minor Upgrade alternative already addressed in the draft 
Environmental Impact Statement, we are providing an opportunity for 
additional interventions, and for entities to reconsider their terms, 
conditions, prescriptions and comments submitted previously with 
respect to this application. Comments and/or petitions for intervention 
will be due 30 days from the date of issuance of this notice with 
response comments due 45 days from the date of issuance.
    A copy of the application and amendment are available for 
inspection and reproduction at the Commission's Public Reference and 
Files Maintenance Branch located at 941 North Capitol Street NE., Room 
3104, Washington, DC 20426 or by calling (202) 208-1371. A copy is also 
available for inspection and reproduction at Puget Sound Power & Light 
Company, P.O. Box 97034, Bellevue, WA 98009-9734, or by calling (206) 
462-3058. The applicant contact for this project is Ms. Virginia 
Howell.
    Contact Ms. Kathleen Sherman at (202) 219-2834 for questions 
relating to this proceeding.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 95-22425 Filed 9-8-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M