[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 105 (Friday, May 31, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38098-38099]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-13664]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission


Notice of Request To Use Alternative Procedures in Preparing a 
License Application

May 24, 2002.
    Take notice that the following request to use alternative 
procedures to prepare a new license application has been filed with the 
Commission.
    a. Type of Application: Request to use alternative procedures to 
prepare a license application.
    b. Project No.: 2150.
    c. Date filed: May 20, 2002.
    d. Applicant: Puget Sound Energy, Inc.
    e. Name of Project: Baker River Hydroelectric Project.
    f. Location: On the Baker River in Skagit and Whatcom Counties, 
Washington. The project occupies 5,335 acres of United States lands 
managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791(a)--825(r).
    h. Applicant Contact: Connie Freeland, Puget Sound Energy, Inc., 
P.O. Box 97034, Bellevue, WA, 98009-9734; [email protected] (425) 462-
3556.
    i. FERC Contact: Steve Hocking, [email protected] (202) 219-
2656.
    j. Deadline for Comments: 30 days from the date of this notice.
    All documents (an original and eight copies) should be filed with: 
Magalie R. Salas, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 
First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426.
    Comments 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. The existing Baker River Project has two developments. The Upper 
Baker Development is located at river mile 9.35 on the Baker River 
about 8 miles upstream of the City of Concrete, Washington. This 
development has the following existing facilities: (1) A 312-foot-high 
and 1,200-foot-long dam with an ogee-type spillway containing three 
radial gates that are each 25 feet wide and 30 feet high; (2) a 115-
foot-high and 1,200-foot-long West Pass dike; (3) a 9-mile-long 
reservoir (Baker Lake) with a surface area of 4,797 acres at a normal 
maximum pool elevation of 724 feet mean sea level (fmsl); (4) a 122-
foot-long and 59-foot-wide reinforced concrete powerhouse located in 
the north half of the existing riverbed and housing two turbine-driven 
generators with an authorized capacity of 90.7 megawatts (MW) and a 
hydraulic capacity of 5,100 cubic feet per second (cfs); (5) 
transmission lines; (6) downstream fish passage facilities and 
artificial spawning beaches; and (7) appurtenant facilities.
    The Lower Baker Development is located 0.5 mile upstream of the 
confluence of the Baker and Skagit Rivers. This development has the 
following existing facilities: (1) A 285-foot-high and 570-foot-long 
concrete gravity arch dam with a spillway containing 23 vertical slide 
gates that

[[Page 38099]]

are each 14 feet high and 9.5 feet wide; (2) a concrete intake equipped 
with trashracks and gatehouse located near the left dam abutment; (3) 
one concrete and steel-lined penstock; (4) a 7-mile-long reservoir 
(Lake Shannon) with a surface area of 2,190 acres at a normal maximum 
pool elevation of 438.6 fmsl; (5) a reinforced concrete powerhouse that 
is 90 feet long and 66 feet wide housing a single turbine-generator 
with an authorized capacity of 71.4 MW and a hydraulic capacity of 
4,100 cfs; (6) transmission lines; (7) a barrier dam; (8) upstream and 
downstream fish passage facilities; and (9) appurtenant facilities.
    l. A copy of the request to use alternative procedures is on file 
with the Commission and is 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 at the address in item h above.
    m. Puget Sound Energy, Inc. has demonstrated that it has made an 
effort to contact all federal and state resources agencies, non-
governmental organizations (NGO), and others affected by the project. 
Puget Sound Energy Inc. has also demonstrated that a consensus exists 
that the use of alternative procedures is appropriate in this case. 
Puget Sound Energy Inc. has submitted a communications protocol that is 
supported by the stakeholders.
    The purpose of this notice is to invite any additional comments on 
Puget Sound Energy Inc.'s request to use the alternative procedures, 
pursuant to Section 4.34(i) of the Commission's regulations. Additional 
notices seeking comments on the specific project proposal, 
interventions and protests, and recommended terms and conditions will 
be issued at a later date. Puget Sound Energy Inc. will develop and 
file a preliminary National Environmental Policy Act Document, in lieu 
of an exhibit E in its license application. This differs from the 
traditional process, in which an applicant consults with agencies, 
Indian tribes, NGOs, and other parties during preparation of the 
license application and before filing the application, but the 
Commission staff performs the environmental review after the 
application is filed. The alternative procedures are intended to 
simplify and expedite the licensing process by combining the pre-filing 
consultation and environmental review processes into a single process, 
to facilitate greater participation, and to improve communication and 
cooperation among the participants.
    Puget Sound Energy Inc. has met with federal and state resources 
agencies, NGOs, elected officials, environmental groups, business and 
economic development organizations, and members of the public regarding 
the Baker River Project. Puget Sound Energy Inc. intends to file 6-
month progress reports during the alternative procedures process that 
leads to the filing of a license application by April 30, 2004.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 02-13664 Filed 5-30-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P