[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 71 (Friday, April 12, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17989-17990]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-8919]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission


Notice of Application Accepted for Filing and Soliciting Motions 
To Intervene and Protests

April 5, 2002.
    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.: 7000-015.
    c. Date filed: January 30, 2002.
    d. Applicant: Newton Falls Holdings, LLC (NFH).
    e. Name of Project: Newton Falls Hydroelectric Project.
    f. Location: The existing project is located on the Oswegatchie 
River in St. Lawrence County, New York. The project does not affect 
federal lands.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791 (a)--825(r).
    h. Applicant Contact: Harold G. Slone, Manager, Newton Falls 
Holdings, LLC, 1930 West Wesley Road, NW., Atlanta, GA 30327; Telephone 
(770) 638-1172.
    i. FERC Contact: Jim Haimes, (202) 219-2780 or 
[email protected]
    j. Deadline for filing motions to intervene and protests: 60 days 
from the issuance date of this notice.
    All documents (original and eight copies) should be filed with: 
Magalie R. Salas, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 
First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426.
    The Commission's rules of practice require all interveners filing 
documents with the Commission to serve a copy of that document on each 
person on the official service list for the project. Further, if an 
intervener files comments or documents with the Commission relating to 
the merits of an issue that may affect the responsibilities of a 
particular resource agency, they must also serve a copy of the document 
on that resource agency.
    Motions to intervene and protests 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 (http://www.ferc.gov) under 
the ``e-Filing'' link.
    k. This application has been accepted, but is not ready for 
environmental analysis at this time.
    l. The constructed and operating Newton Falls Hydroelectric Project 
consists of an upper and a lower development with a combined installed 
capacity of 2, 220 kilowatts (kW). The project produces an average 
annual generation of 9,500,000 kilowatt-hours. From approximately 1927 
until late 2000, the electricity produced by the project was consumed 
by the adjacent Newton Falls Paper Mill. Since this facility ceased 
manufacturing operations, almost all electricity produced at the 
project has been sold to the Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation.
    The upper development includes the following constructed 
facilities: (1) A 40-foot-high, 600-foot-long, concrete gravity dam 
with 3-foot-high flash boards mounted on the 58-foot-long spillway; (2) 
a 42-foot-long floodgate structure with four gates; (3) a 650-acre 
reservoir with a gross storage capacity of 5,930 acre-feet; (4) a 
reinforced concrete intake structure with a maximum height of 25 feet, 
equipped with trash racks having 2-inch spacing; (5) a 9-foot-diameter, 
1,200-foot-long, wood stave penstock supported on timber cradles and 
mud sills; (6) a riveted steel surge tank; (7) a 49-foot-long, 26-foot-
wide, and 45-foot-high, reinforced concrete and brick powerhouse, 
containing three vertical Francis turbines with a combined maximum 
hydraulic capacity of 464 cubic feet per second (cfs) and a net head of 
46 feet, directly connected to three generator units having a total 
installed capacity of 1,540 kilowatts (kW); (8) a 375-foot-long, 60 
Hertz transmission line; and (9) appurtenant facilities.
    The lower development includes the following constructed 
facilities: (1) A 28-foot-high, 350-foot-long, concrete gravity dam 
with 3-foot-high flash boards mounted on the 120-foot-long spillway; 
(2) a 9-acre impoundment with a gross storage capacity of 115 acre-
feet; (3) a 15-foot-high, reinforced concrete intake structure, 
equipped with trash racks having 2-inch spacing; (4) a 60-foot-long by 
40-foot-wide, reinforced concrete powerhouse located immediately 
downstream of the dam, containing one vertical Francis turbine with a 
maximum hydraulic capacity of 486 cfs and a net head of 22 feet, 
directly connected to a 680-kW generator unit; (5) a 2,200-foot-long, 
60 Hertz transmission line; and (6) appurtenant facilities.
    With the exception of periods of high inflows, the upper 
development is operated as a daily peaking facility with most 
generation taking place during the hours of peak electricity demand. 
This store and release operation is restricted during the months of May 
and June, the spawning period for smallmouth bass and northern pike, 
such that daily reservoir drawdowns do not exceed 1 foot from the top 
of the flash boards. During the remainder of the year, daily peaking 
causes reservoir drawdowns of up to 2.2 feet from the top of the flash 
boards.
    The tailrace of the upper development discharges directly into the 
lower development's reservoir. Generally, the hydraulic output of the 
lower powerhouse is established such that it releases approximately the 
same flow as the upper one. Consequently, daily drawdowns of the lower 
reservoir are minimal.
    Although the project's current license does not mandate the 
provision of minimum flows in the project's bypassed reaches, the 
licensee is required to provide a continuous minimum flow of 100 cfs or 
project inflow, whichever is less, below the lower development. 
Further, the existing license does not require the provision of public 
recreational facilities at the project.
    Currently, the applicant and concerned agencies and non-
governmental organizations are discussing a settlement agreement that 
would require NFH to implement various environmental enhancement 
measures at the project.
    m. Locations of the Application: A copy of the application is 
available for inspection and reproduction at the Commission's Public 
Reference Room, Room 2A, located at 888 First Street, NE., Washington, 
DC 20426, or by calling (202) 208-1371. The application may be viewed 
on the web at http://www.ferc.gov using the ``RIMS'' link--select 
``Docket P-7000'' and follow the instructions (call (202)208-2222 for 
assistance). A copy is also available for inspection and reproduction 
at the address in item h above.
    n. 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

[[Page 17990]]

party to the proceeding. Any protests or motions to intervene must be 
received on or before the specified deadline date for the particular 
application.
    All filings must (1) bear in all capital letters the title 
``PROTEST'' or ``MOTION TO INTERVENE;'' (2) set forth in the heading 
the name of the applicant and the project number of the application to 
which the filing responds; (3) furnish the name, address, and telephone 
number of the person protesting or intervening; and (4) otherwise 
comply with the requirements of 18 CFR 385.2001 through 385.2005. 
Agencies may obtain copies of the application directly from the 
applicant. A copy of any protest or motion to intervene must be served 
upon each representative of the applicant specified in the particular 
application.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 02-8919 Filed 4-11-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P