[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 56 (Thursday, March 21, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11630-11633]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-6767]



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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Notice of Amendments to License Application Filed With the 
Commission

March 15, 1996.
    Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been 
filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection:
    a. Type of Application: New License.
    b. Project No.: 2188-030.
    c. Dates Filed: November 30, 1992. Dates Amended: (1) February 24, 
1994; (2) March 21, 1994; (3) March 2, 1995; (4) June 16, 1995; and (5) 
March 6, 1996.
    d. Applicant: Montana Power Company.
    e. Name of Project: Missouri-Madison Hydroelectric Project.
    f. Location: On the Madison and Missouri Rivers in Gallatin, 
Madison, Lewis and Clark, and Cascade Counties, Montana.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791(a)-825(r).
    h. Applicant Contact: Ms. Linda McGillan, Montana Power Company, 40 
East Broadway, Butte, MT 59701, (406) 723-5454, Ext. 73352.
    i. FERC Contact: Mr. John McEachern, (202) 219-3056.
    j. Comment Date: May 1, 1996.
    k. Description of Project: The existing Missouri-Madison Project 
consists of nine developments described as follows.
    The Hebgen Development which includes: a reservoir that stores and 
regulates flow from a 905 square mile drainage area and has a surface 
area of 13,000 acres at normal maximum reservoir water level of 
6,534.87 feet. Normal maximum reservoir storage is 386,184 acre-feet, 
of which 378,845 acre-feet are usable storage between elevations 6,473 
feet and 6,534.87 feet. Existing structures consist of a diversion dam, 
an outlet works, a side-channel spillway, several buildings, and two 15 
kW diesel-fueled generators. The dam is an earth-filled structure 721 
feet long and 85 feet above the streambed. The outlet works consists of 
an intake structure, an outlet conduit through the dam, and a terminal 
structure. The spillway, which is located on the right bank of the 
river, is 375 feet long and discharges to a discharge chute that varies 
from 47 feet wide at the inlet to 20 feet wide at the downstream end. 
The downstream end is equipped with a flip bucket that provides energy 
dissipation into a riprap-lined plunge

[[Page 11631]]
pool in the Madison River. The buildings include a residence, garage, 
recreation residences, and boathouse.
    The Madison Development which includes: a reservoir, known as Ennis 
Lake, that intercepts a drainage area of 2,181 square miles and has a 
normal maximum surface area of 3,900 acres at elevation 4,841 feet. 
Normal maximum reservoir storage is 41,917 acre-feet, of which 39,115 
acre-feet are usable storage between elevations 4,826 feet and 4,841 
feet. Existing structures consist of the diversion dam, intake, a flow 
line, a surge chamber, penstocks, a powerhouse, and a tailrace. The 
generating facilities at the powerhouse connect to a 100-kV power line 
that is part of Montana Power's transmission system. The dam, which is 
257 feet long and 38.5 feet high above the streambed, consists of a 
rock-filled spillway, a concrete intake structure, and two non-overflow 
abutment sections at each end. The spillway is 140 feet long with 
roller-equipped side panels for providing control of flow. The intake 
is at the right end of the spillway and provides flow control to the 
steel flow line. The flow line, which is 7,500 feet long and 13 feet in 
diameter, is located on the right side of the river and leads to the 
surge chamber and the powerhouse. The concrete surge chamber is 38 feet 
wide, 117 feet long, and 34 feet high, and has an overflow spillway 
over which water is discharged in the event of a plant trip. Four 
penstocks 9 feet in diameter and about 90 feet long convey water from 
the surge chamber to the powerhouse. The powerhouse is 203 feet long, 
67 feet wide, and 36 feet high, and contains four generating units and 
associated equipment.
    The Hauser Development which includes: two connected reservoirs, 
Hauser Lake and Lake Helena, that have a surface area of 5,970 acres 
and intercept a drainage area of 16,876 square miles. Usable storage 
capacities are 52,893 acre-feet for Hauser Lake and 11,360 acre-feet 
for Lake Helena. Existing structures consist of a diversion dam, a 
forebay, six penstocks, a powerhouse, a tailrace, and two 69-kV 
transmission lines. A roadway embankment with a sluiceway connection to 
the main reservoir isolates Lake Helena from Hauser Lake, Hauser Dam is 
700 feet long and 80 feet high above the streambead. It consists of a 
spillway, a non-overflow section, a forebay intake section, a two 
abutment sections. The spillway is 493 feet long with slidegates and 
removable flashboards for flow control. The intake, which enters the 
forebay, is located between the non-overflow section and the right 
abutment section. The forebay is a concrete structure 250 feet long and 
39 feet wide, which directs flow to the powerhouse. Six steel penstocks 
12 to 14 feet in diameter convey water from the forebay to the six 
turbines in the powerhouse, which is 236 feet long and 57 feet wide. 
Each of the two transmission lines is 12 miles long and extends to the 
East Helena switching station.
    The Holter Development which includes: a reservoir that has a 
surface area of 4,550 acres at an elevation of 3,564 feet and 
intercepts an area of 17,150 square miles. Normal maximum reservoir 
storage is 240,000 acre-feet, of which 81,920 acre-feet are usable 
storage between elevations 3,543 feet and 3,564 feet. Existing 
structures consist of a diversion dam, a powerhouse, and a tailrace. 
The dam is 1,364 feet long and 124 feet high above the streambed. It 
consists of a central overflow spillway section, right and left non-
overflow sections, and a powerhouse intake section. The spillway is 682 
feet long with slide gates and removable flashboards for flow control 
The powerhouse is constructed integrally with the dam and averages 208 
feet long and 81 feet wide.
    The Black Eagle Development which includes: a reservoir that 
intercepts an area of 22,100 square miles and has a surface area of 402 
acres at the normal maximum reservoir water level of 3,290 feet 
elevation. Normal maximum reservoir storage is 1,820 acre-feet, of 
which 1,710 acre-feet are usable storage between elevations 3,279 feet 
3,290 feet. Existing structures consist of a diversion dam, a forebay, 
a powerhouse, and a tailrace. The dam is 782 feet long and 34.5 feet 
high above the streambed. It consists of a 646-foot-long overflow 
spillway with removable flashboards for flow control, a 105-foot-long 
wastegate section with slidegates for flow control, and a right 
abutment section. The forebay, which forms the left abutment of the 
dam, is 421 feet long and 96 feet wide and directs flow to the 
powerhouse. The intake and the powerhouse averages 135 feet long and 50 
feet wide and contains three generators. The tailrace channel is about 
1,500 feet long with concrete sidewalls.
    The Rainbow Development which includes: a reservoir that has a 
surface area of 126 acres at normal reservoir water level of 3,224 
feet. Normal maximum reservoir storage is 1,237 acre-feet, of which 
1,170 acre-feet are usable storage between elevations 3,212 feet and 
3,224 feet. Existing structures include a diversion dam, three flow 
lines, a surge tank, a surge chamber, 16 penstocks, a powerhouse, and a 
tailrace. The dam, which is 1,146 feet long and 44 feet high above the 
streambed, consists of an overflow spillway, a concrete intake section, 
and a wastegate structure on the right abutment. The spillway is 1,065 
feet long with rubber dams and removable flashboards for flow control. 
Two adjacent structures totaling about 200 feet wide form the intake, 
which discharges into flow lines that are about 2,400 feet long. Flow 
lines for units 7 and 8 have a surge tank 40 feet in diameter and 65 
feet high. A standpipe 12 feet in diameter and 45 feet high is upstream 
of the surge tank. Flow lines for units 1 through 6 lead to the surge 
chamber, which is 182 feet wide and 346 feet long and has a spillway 
for discharge of water in the event of a plant trip. Sixteen buried 
penstocks transfer water from the surge tank and surge chamber to the 
eight turbine generating units in the powerhouse. The powerhouse is 41 
feet wide and 415 feet long with smaller extensions. The tailrace below 
the powerhouse is about 60 feet wide and 850 feet long.
    The Cochrane Development which includes: a reservoir that 
intercepts an area of 23,270 square miles and has a surface area of 249 
acres at the normal maximum reservoir water level of 3,116.5 feet 
elevation. Normal maximum reservoir storage is 8,464 acre-feet, of 
which 4,503 acre-feet are usable storage between elevations 3,090 feet 
and 3,116.5 feet. Existing structures consist of a diversion dam, a 
powerhouse, a tailrace, and a 100-kV transmission line. The diversion 
dam is 856 feet long and 100 feet high above the streambed. It has a 
spillway section, a powerhouse/intake section, and left and right non-
overflow sections. The spillway has radial gates for flow control and a 
standby generator for emergency gate operation. The intake, penstocks, 
and powerhouse are constructed integrally with the dam. The left and 
right non-overflow sections are 190 and 144 feet long, respectively. 
The transmission line is 2.9 miles long and connects the Cochrane 
Development to the Rainbow Development switchyard.
    The Ryan Development which includes: a reservoir that intercepts a 
drainage area of 23,080 square miles and has a surface area of 168 
acres at normal maximum elevation of 3,037 feet. Normal maximum 
reservoir storage is 3,653 acre-feet, of which 2,440 acre-feet are 
usable storage between elevations 3,020 feet and 3,037 feet. Existing 
structures consist of a diversion dam, penstocks, a powerhouse, a 
tailrace, and two adjacent 100-kV transmission lines. The diversion dam 
is 1,465 feet long

[[Page 11632]]
and 82 feet high above the streambed. It consists of an overflow 
spillway, a wastegate section, an intake section, and left and right 
abutment sections. The spillway is 1,000 feet long with removable 
flashboards for flow control. The wastegate is 129 feet long with gates 
for flow control and a skimmer gate. The intake section is between the 
wastegate section and the left abutment and is 135 feet long. The left 
and right abutments are 150 and 100 feet long, respectively. eight 
buried 327-foot-long penstocks convey water from the intake to the 
powerhouse, which is 253 feet long and 80 feet wide with six main 
generators and two exciters. The tailrace is about 1,500 feet long and 
tapers from 220 feet wide at its upstream end to 100 feet wide at the 
discharge. The two adjacent power lines are 4.6 miles long and 
terminate at the Rainbow Development switching station.
    The Morony Development which includes: a reservoir that intercepts 
a total drainage area of 23,292 square miles and has a surface of 304 
acres at normal maximum reservoir water level of 2,887 feet elevation. 
Normal maximum reservoir storage is 13,598 acre-feet, of which 7,595 
acre-feet are usable storage between elevations 2,887 feet and 2,861 
feet. Existing structures consist of a diversion dam, a powerhouse 
integral with the dam, a tailrace, and a 100-kV transmission line. The 
dam is 842 feet long and 96 feet high above the streambed. It consists 
of an overflow spillway section, a powerhouse/intake section, and left 
and right non-overflow sections. The spillway is 390 feet long with 
nine radial gates for regulating flow and a slide gate for handling 
trash. The powerhouse/intake section is 195 feet long and contains the 
penstocks leading to the powerhouse, which is 162 feet long and 58 feet 
wide. Water is discharged through a short tail race. The left and right 
non-overflow sections of the dam are 199 and 68 feet long, 
respectively. The 100-kV transmission line is 8.5 miles long and 
terminates at the Great Falls switchyard. The original license included 
a 7.4-mile-long, 100-kV transmission line to the Rainbow Development 
switchyard.
    Amendment 1: On page E-2-60 of the application, Montana Power 
proposed development of a day use recreation area on the north shore of 
Ennis Lake at the Madison Development. Montana Power amends this 
proposal by substituting development of Sandy Beach, also on the north 
shore of Ennis Lake, as the day use area site. In addition, Montana 
Power amends its application to reallocate $1 million from the $1.5 
million originally proposed for the Black Eagle Recreation Area (page 
E-5-52 of the application) and $100,000 from the $200,000 originally 
proposed for the Sulfur Springs Trailhead (page E-5-54 of the 
application) to partially fund construction of the Lewis and Clark 
Interpretive Center in Great Falls.
    Amendment 2: In the application, Montana Power proposed to conduct 
a study to evaluate the effects of flow reductions on fisheries and 
fish habitat in the bypass reach of the Madison River (pages E-2-15 and 
E-2-16 of the application) and to fund a flushing flow (sediment 
transport) study in the Madison and Missouri rivers (pages E-1-15, E-2-
13, E-4-12, and E-9-9 of the application). Montana Power has 
subsequently completed final reports on these studies, and amends the 
application by proposing additional measures to protect, mitigate, and 
enhance fisheries resources in the Madison River bypass reach and 
measures to maintain adequate flushing flows in the Madison River 
Downstream of Hebgen and Madison dams. Additional measures proposed for 
the Madison River bypass include:
    (1) Funding for initial supplementation of spawning gravels at 
three key locations within the bypass reach ($27,000);
    (2) Funding for annual replacement of spawning gravels transported 
by high flows at key locations within the bypass reach. The proposed 
Madison River fisheries biologist (page E-2-14 of the application) 
would evaluate the feasibility of introducing replacement gravels at 
upstream reaches in the bypass (e.g., below Madison Dam). If feasible, 
this method could replenish spawning gravels at key sites by natural 
downstream transport during high flows ($5,500 per year for gravel 
replacement at three key sites; $2,000 per year if gravel replacement 
at a single upstream site is feasible);
    (3) Maintaining an instantaneous minimum spawning flow of 200 cfs 
in the bypass reach from April 1 through June 30, and an instantaneous 
minimum (maintenance) flow of 80 cfs in the bypass reach from July 1 
through March 31 ($97,693 per year);
    (4) In the bypass reach, flow reductions from 600 cfs to minimum 
flow would not exceed 100 cfs per hour, and flow increases from less 
than 600 cfs to 600 cfs would not exceed 100 cfs per hour (except when 
needed to meet the 1,100 cfs minimum flow below the powerhouse or to 
avoid overfilling Ennis Lake);
    (5) Establishing a permanent flow gauge station in the bypass reach 
to monitor instantaneous minimum flow and flow ramping rate (at bypass 
streamflows less than 600 cfs); and
    (6) Activities of the proposed Madison River fisheries biologist 
(page E-2-14 of the application) may include: (1) monitoring of 
salmonid species specific habitat usage and preference in the bypass 
reach; (2) analysis of invertebrate drift and fish populations relative 
to bypass reach flows; (3) spawning gravel supplementation and 
evaluation; and, (4) additional fish outmigration trapping and standing 
surveys during bypass reach upramping and downramping periods.
    Additional measures proposed for flushing flows include:
    (1) Operating Hebgen Dam (pages E-1-7 to E-1-9 of the application) 
and Madison Dam (pages E-2-4 to E-2-6 of the application) in 
recognition of continued flushing flow needs in the Upper Madison River 
and funding further investigation of flushing flow needs in the Lower 
Madison River near Norris and Greycliff;
    (2) Cooperating with the Bureau of Reclamation, in consultation 
with other agencies, and the public to determine appropriate releases 
from Canyon Ferry Dam to meet flushing flow needs in the Missouri River 
below Canyon Ferry, Holter, and Hauser dams; and
    (3) Monitoring flushing flow needs in the Upper and Lower Madison 
River near Kirby Ranch, Ennis, Norris, and Greycliff for 3 consecutive 
years (1995-1997) to establish baseline conditions, and every 5 years 
thereafter for the term of the new license.
    Amendment 3: On pages A-2-1 through A-2-6 of the application, 
Montana Power proposed replacing the existing four Madison Development 
horizontal turbines and generators with four vertical Francis turbines 
and four vertical shaft generators. Montana Power amends this proposal 
by substituting rehabilitation and upgrade modifications to the four 
existing horizontal turbines and generators.
    Amendment 4: On pages C-2-1, C-3-1, C-6-1, and C-8-1 of the 
application, Montana Power proposed schedules for completing 
modifications and/or expansions at the Madison, Hauser, Rainbow, and 
Ryan developments, respectively. All construction dates were based on 
the assumption that a new license would be issued in 1994. Montana 
Power amends this proposal by changing the construction dates for the 
Madison, Hauser, and Rainbow developments and by deleting the proposed 
modification to the Ryan Development, as follows:

[[Page 11633]]


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                                 Application construction     Amendment construction                            
       Development name                 start date                start date\1\           Amended on-line date  
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Madison.......................  1995......................  2001.....................  Late 2002.               
Hauser........................  1998......................  2000.....................  Late 2002.               
Rainbow.......................  1996......................  2006.....................  2010                     
Ryan..........................  Subject to additional       None. No plans for         None at this time.       
                                 study.                      construction at this                               
                                                             time.                                              
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\1\ These dates assume that a new license will be issued in the last quarter of 1996.                           

    Amendment 5: Montana Power's fifth amendment to the license 
application includes the revisions and material listed below.
    (1) Throughout the application, Montana Power refers to the 
operating level of Cochrane Reservoir as 3,115.0 feet. This amendment 
is to change all references to the operating level of Cochrane 
Reservoir from 3,115.0 feet to 3,116.5.
    (2) Montana Power submitted at Madison Thermal Mitigation Plan to 
the Commission on June 30, 1995. This amendment includes a revised 
Final Madison Thermal Mitigation Plan.
    (3) In its August 21, 1995, filing with the Commission, Montana 
Power stated that it would submit the Comprehensive Recreation Plan 
Executive Summary upon its completion. This amendment includes the 
Comprehensive Recreation Plan Executive Summary.
    (4) In its August 21, 1995, filing with the Commission, Montana 
Power stated that the 1995 Madison River temperature and meteorological 
field data would be available in November. This amendment includes the 
1995 temperature and meteorological data.
    (5) Since filing the final application, Montana Power has completed 
some of the proposed enhancement measures in Exhibit E, and some of the 
cost estimates of enhancements have been updated. This amendment 
includes revised Exhibit E tables that depict these changes in cost 
estimates and summarize the funds Montana Power has spent on various 
enhancement measures since filing the application in 1992.
    (6) In its August 21, 1995, filing with the Commission, Montana 
Power provided updated Benefit/Cost Work Papers for all the Missouri-
Madison developments based on its 1995 Electric Integrated Least Cost 
Resources Plan (ILCP). This amendment includes newly updated and 
revised Benefit/Cost Work Papers.
    l. Available Location of Application: A copy of the application, as 
amended and supplemented, is available for inspection and reproduction 
at the Commission's Public Reference and Files Maintenance Branch, 
located at 888 1st Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426, or by calling 
(202) 208-1371. A copy is also available for inspection and 
reproduction at Montana Power Company, 40 East Broadway, Butte, MT 
59701 or by calling (406) 723-5454.
    m. Refiling of comments on the original application or motions to 
intervene in this docket is not necessary. This notice supplements the 
notice issued April 6, 1995, for Montana Power Company's Project No. 
2188-030. Comments on the amendments to the license application should 
be filed by May 1, 1996.
    n. Montana Power's responses to comments on the amendments to the 
license application should be filed by June 1, 1996.
    o. Filing and Service of Responsive Documents--Any filings must 
bear in all capital letters and title ``COMMENTS,'' ``RECOMMENDATIONS 
FOR TERMS AND CONDITIONS,'' or ``PROTEST'', ``MOTION TO INTERVENE,'' as 
applicable, and the project number of the particular application to 
which the filing is in response. Any of these documents must be filed 
by providing the original and the number of copies required by the 
Commission's regulations to: The Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, 888 1st Street, NE., Washington, DC 20436. An additional 
copy must be sent to: the Director, Division of Project Review, Office 
of Hydropower Licensing, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, at the 
above 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.
    p. This notice also consists of the following standard paragraph: 
B.
    B. Comments, Protests, or Motions to Intervene--Anyone may submit 
comments, a protest, or a motion to intervene in accordance with the 
requirements of Rules and 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.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-6767 Filed 3-20-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M