[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 156 (Friday, August 13, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44214-44215]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-20984]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission


Notice of Temporary Variance Request and Soliciting Comments, 
Motions To Intervene and Protests

August 9, 1999.
    Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been 
filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection:
    a. Type of Application: Request for Temporary Variance of Minimum 
Flow Requirement.
    b. Project No: 405-048
    c. Date Filed: August 6, 1999.
    d. Applicant: Susquehanna Power Company and Philadelphia Electric 
Power Company.

[[Page 44215]]

    e. Name of Project: Conowingo Project.
    f. Location: On the Susquehanna River, in Harford and Cecil 
Counties, Maryland and York and Lancaster Counties, Pennsylvania. The 
project does not utilize federal or tribal lands.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: 18 CFR 4.200.
    h. Applicant Contact: William Jefferson, Jr., Susquehanna Electric 
Company, 2569 Shures Landing Road, Darlington, MD 21034, (410) 457-
2401.
    i. FERC Contact: John Mudre, [email protected], (202) 219-
1208.
    j. Deadline for filing comments, motions to intervene and protest: 
10 days from the issuance date of this notice. Please include the 
project number (405-048) on many comments or motions filed. All 
documents (original and eight copies) should be filed with: David P. 
Boergers, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First 
Street, NE, Washington, DC 20426.
    k. Description of Application: On August 6, 1999, the Conowingo 
licensees requested Commission approval of a variance of the minimum 
flow requirements of the project license. According to the license, for 
the period June 1 to September 14, annually, the licensees must provide 
a minimum flow release (not including leakage) below the dam of 5,000 
cubic feet per second (cfs), or inflow (as measured at the USGS gaging 
station in Marietta, PA), whichever is less. As of August 5, 1999, the 
river flow at Marietta was 2,960 cfs.
    Because of the continuing drought, the City of Baltimore is 
preparing to withdraw water from the Conowingo Reservoir for 
consumptive purposes. The licensees and the Susquehanna River Basin 
Commission are concerned that the combination of continued drought, the 
minimum flow requirement, and the City's withdrawals will negatively 
impact the water levels in the Conowingo reservoir. Depending on its 
extent, a drawdown could impact generating capacity for system 
emergencies and recreation on the reservoir, as well as energy 
production of the Muddy Run Pumped Storage Project and the Peach Bottom 
Atomic Power Station.
    To ensure their ability to maintain the elevation of the Conowingo 
reservoir, the licensees are requesting a variance of their minimum 
flow requirement to: (1) count leakage at the dam (about 800 cfs) 
towards the required minimum flow; and (2) subtract up to 240 cfs from 
their minimum flow requirement to compensate for consumptive losses 
from the reservoir to the City of Baltimore (up to 225 cfs) and the 
City of Chester (up to 15 cfs). As of August 5, 1999, a 240 cfs 
variance equals about 8% of the required flow release.
    The licensees are requesting the minimum flow variance for the 
duration of the consumptive water withdrawal period, which is uncertain 
at this time. The noticing of the request for this longer-term period 
does not preclude the Commission from approving a variance for an 
interim period.
    l. Locations of the Application: A copy of the application is 
available for inspection and reproduction at the Commission's Public 
Reference Room, located at 888 First Street, NE, Room 2A, Washington, 
DC 20426, or by calling (202) 208-1371. This filing may be viewed on 
http://www.ferc.fed.us/online/rims.htm (call (202) 208-2222 for 
assistance) A copy is also available for inspection and reproduction at 
the address in item h above.
    m. Individuals desiring to be included on the Commission's mailing 
list should so indicate by writing to the Secretary of the Commission.
    Protests or Motions to Intervene--Anyone may submit a protest or a 
motion to intervene in accordance with the requirements of Rules of 
Practice and Procedure, 18 CFR 385.210, 385.211, and 385.214. In 
determining the appropriate action to take, the Commission will 
consider all protests 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 protests or motions to intervene must be 
received on or before the specified deadline date for the particular 
application.
    Filing and Service of Responsive Documents--Any filings must bear 
in all capital letters the title ``COMMENTS'', ``RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 
TERMS AND CONDITIONS'', ``PROTEST'', OR ``MOTION TO INTEVENE'', 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, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20426. A copy of 
any motion to intervene must also be served upon each representative of 
the Applicant specified in the particular application.
    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.
Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-20984 Filed 8-12-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M