[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 37 (Thursday, February 24, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9263-9264]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-4321]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission


Notice of Amendment of License and Soliciting Comments, Motions 
To Intervene, and Protests

February 17, 2000.
    Take notice that the following application has been filed with the 
Commission and is available for public inspection.
    a. Type of Application: Amendment of license for the modification 
of license Article 401.
    b. Project No. 2582-016.
    c. Dates Filed: January 27 and 31, 2000.

[[Page 9264]]

    d. Applicant: Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation.
    e. Name of Project: Station 2 Project.
    f. Location: Genesee River in the city of Rochester, Monroe County, 
New York.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. Sec. 791(a)-
825(r).
    h. Applicant Contact: Mr. Hugh J. Ives, Hydro License Coordinator, 
Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation, 89 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 
14649-0001, (716) 724-8209, e-mail address: [email protected].
    i. FERC Contact: Any questions on this notice should be addressed 
to Jim Haimes at (202) 219-2780, or e-mail address: 
[email protected].
    j. Deadline for filing comments and or motions: 30 days from the 
issuance date of this notice. All documents should be filed by 
providing an original and eight copies, as required by the Commission's 
regulations, to: David P. Boergers, Secretary, Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20426.
    Please include the project name and number (Station 2 Project, No. 
2482-016) on any comments or motions filed.
    k. Description of Amendment: License Article 401 of the existing 
license, issued February 22, 1996, requires the licensee: (1) to 
operate the subject hydropower project in a modified run-of-river mode 
whereby flows downstream of the project tailrace approximate inflows to 
the project reservoir; and (2) to maintain the elevation of the 
project's 16-acre impoundment between 482.3 and 482.9 feet mean sea 
level (msl). Therefore, the reservoir elevation is currently authorized 
to fluctuate up to 0.6-foot per day.
    Further, license Article 402 requires the licensee to release from 
the Station 2 dam into the project's bypass reach: (1) a continuous 
flow of at least 300 cubic feet per second (cfs) between 11:00 a.m. and 
11 p.m. daily; and (2) a continuous flow of at least 25 cfs between 
11:00 p.m. and 11:00 a.m. daily, or inflow, whichever is less. The 300 
cfs releases provide a veil flow over the 90-foot-high Upper Falls, an 
important local aesthetic resource located immediately downstream of 
the project dam.
    The subject filing indicates that the license-mandated reservoir 
elevation range has made it difficult to generate hydropower 
efficiently while at the same time providing the required veil flow. 
These operating difficulties have resulted in significant excess 
spillage and, consequently, generation loss of 1 to 2 megawatts per 
hour for 40 percent of the year. For example, with river flows between 
1,500 cfs and 3,000 cfs, and the maximum allowable reservoir elevation 
set at 482.9 feet msl, the licensee can only provide the required 300 
cfs veil flow by opening the dam gates, which results in generation 
loss.
    To remedy this situation, the licensee proposes to provide the 
required veil flow by usually maintaining a minimum reservoir elevation 
of 483.3 feet msl, which would result in the spillage of 300 cfs over 
the dam gates. Infrequently, the licensee would provide the veil flow 
by raising one or more gates. When this method is used, the elevation 
of the impoundment would be maintained at not less than 482.3 feet msl. 
Lastly, between 11:00 p.m. and 11:00 a.m., when bypass flow may consist 
only of dam leakage of 25 cfs, the licensee would maintain the 
reservoir elevation at not less than 482.3 feet msl. Thus, under the 
proposed operating regime, the reservoir elevation could fluctuate by 
one foot per day, from 482.3 to 483.3 feet msl.
    l. Locations of application: Copies of the application are 
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. The application also may be 
viewed on the Web at www.ferc.fed.us/online/rims.htm. Call (202) 208-
2222 for assistance. Copies of the application also are available for 
inspection and reproduction at the addresses in item h above.
    m. Individuals desiring to be included on the Commission's mailing 
list for the proposed amendment of license should so indicate by 
writing to the Secretary of the Commission.
    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.
    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 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, N.W., 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.

David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-4321 Filed 2-23-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M