[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 176 (Tuesday, September 11, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 47201]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-22719]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission


Notice of Application Tendered for Filing With the Commission, 
Establishing Procedures for Relicensing and Deadlines for Commenting on 
Alternative Procedures, and Submission of Final Amendments

September 5, 2001.
    Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been 
filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection.
    a. Type of Application: New Major License.
    b. Project No.: 346-037.
    c. Date Filed: August 23, 2001.
    d. Applicant: Minnesota Power Inc.
    e. Name of Project: Blanchard Hydroelectric Project.
    f. Location: On the Mississippi River near the City of Little 
Falls, in Morrison County, MN. The project occupies federal lands of 
the Bureau of Land Management.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act 16 U.S.C. 791(a)-825(r).
    h. Applicant Contact: Bob Bohm, Minnesota Power, Inc., P.O. Box 60, 
Little Falls, MN 56345, [email protected] 320-632-2318, ext. 5042.
    i. FERC Contact: Tom Dean, [email protected], 202-219-2778.
    j. Deadline for filing comments: 30 days from the issuance date of 
this notice.
    All documents (original and eight copies) should be filed with: 
David P. Boergers, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commissions, 
888 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20426. Comments, protests and 
interventions may be filed electronically via the Internet in lieu of 
paper. See, 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the 
Commission's web site under the ``e-Filing'' link.
    k. The existing Blanchard Project consists of: (1) A 750-foot-long, 
62-foot-high concrete gravity dam comprising: (a) a 190-foot-long non-
overflow section; (b) a 437-foot-long gated spillway section; (c) eight 
44-foot-wide by 14.7-foot-high Taintor gates; and (d) a 124-foot-wide 
integral powerhouse; (2) approximately 3,540-foot-long earth dikes 
extending from both sides of the concrete dam; (3) a 1,152-acre 
reservoir at normal water surface elevation of 1,081.7 feet NGVD; (4) a 
powerhouse containing three generating units with a total installed 
capacity of 18,000 kW; and (5) other appurtenances.
    l. A copy of the application is available for inspection and 
reproduction at the Commission's Public Reference and Files Maintenance 
Branch, located at 888 First Street, NE., Room 2-A, Washington, DC 
20426, or by calling (202) 219-1371. Copies of this filing are on file 
with the Commission and are available for public inspection. This 
filing may also be viewed on the web at http://www.ferc.gov using the 
``RIMS'' link, select ``Docket#'' and follow the instructions (call 
202-208-2222 for assistance). A copy is also available for inspection 
and reproduction by contacting the applicant identified in item h 
above.
    m. Alternative procedures schedule and final amendments: The 
Commission staff proposes to issue one Environmental Assessment (EA) 
rather than issuing a draft and final EA. Staff intends to allow at 
least 30 days for entities to comment on the EA before final action is 
taken on the license application. If any person or organization objects 
to the staff proposed alternative procedure, they should file comments 
as stipulated in item j above, briefly explaining the basis for their 
objection. The application will be processed according to the following 
milestones, some of which may be combined to expedite processing:
Notice of application has been accepted for filing
Notice soliciting final terms and conditions
Notice of the availability of the NEPA document
Order issuing the Commission's decision on the application
    Final amendments to the application must be filed with the 
Commission no later than 45 days from the issuance date of the notice 
soliciting final terms and conditions.

David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-22719 Filed 9-10-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P