[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 4, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10232-10233]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-5104]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 2197-060]


Notice of Drought Contingency Plan and Soliciting Comments, 
Motions To Intervene, and Protests

February 26, 2003.
    Take notice that the following application has been filed with the 
Commission and is available for public inspection:
    a. Application Type: Alcoa Power Generating, Inc filed a Drought 
Contingency Plan describing the actions to be taken at the Yadkin River 
hydroelectric project in the event of a drought during the summer of 
2003.
    b. Project No: 2197-060.
    c. Date Filed: February 14, 2003.
    d. Applicant: Alcoa Power Generating, Inc.(licensee).
    e. Name of Project: Yadkin River.
    f. Location: The project is located on the Yadkin/Pee Dee River, in 
Montgomery, Stanley, Davidson, Rowan, and Davie Counties, North 
Carolina.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791(a)-825(r).
    h. Applicant Contact: Julian Polk, Alcoa Power Generating Inc., 293 
NC 740 Highway, PO Box 576, Badin, NC 28009-0576, (704) 422-5617.
    i. FERC Contact: Any questions on this notice should be directed to 
Mr. T.J. LoVullo at (202) 502-8900, or e-mail address: 
[email protected].
    j. Deadline for filing comments and or motions: March 28, 2003.
    All documents (original and eight copies) should be filed with: Ms. 
Magalie R. Salas, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 
First Street, NE., Washington DC 20426. Please include the project 
number ( P-2197) on any comments or motions filed.

[[Page 10233]]

    k. Description of Drought Plan: By letter dated December 20, 2002, 
the Commission stated that if precipitation during the winter of 2002/
2003 is below average and ground water tables have not completely 
recharged, severe drought conditions could return to the region during 
the summer of 2003. To minimize any adverse impacts associated with a 
drought, the Commission required the licensee to file a drought 
contingency plan for the summer of 2003.
    The licensee's Drought Contingency Plan discusses competing demands 
for water in the Yadkin-Pee Dee River Basin and describes a process for 
monitoring and responding to drought conditions. The licensee's plan 
includes: (1) Declaring the existence of a drought when the U.S. 
Drought Monitor elevates 10% or more of the Yadkin--Pee Dee River basin 
to a drought severity classification of D1 or higher; (2) developing 
action and communication plans should drought conditions emerge; (3) 
holding meetings with officials from North and South Carolina, Progress 
Energy and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to monitor conditions; (4) 
implementing operational changes to balance competing interests; and 
(5) continuing to study salt-water intrusion at fresh water intakes on 
the coast of South Carolina.
    l. Location 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) 502-8371. This filing may also be viewed 
on the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov , using the 
``FERRIS'' link. Enter Project No. 2197 excluding the last three digits 
in the docket number field to access the document. For assistance, 
contact FERC Online Support at [email protected] or toll-free 
at (866)208-3676, or for TTY, contact (202)502-8659. 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.
    n. 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, 
385.211, 385.214. 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.
    The Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure require all 
intervenors filing documents with the Commission to serve a copy of 
that document on each person whose name appears on the official service 
list for the project. Further, if an intervenor 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.
    o. Filing and Service of Responsive Documents: All filings must 
bear in capital letters the title ``COMMENTS'', ``PROTEST'', OR 
``MOTION TO INTERVENE'', as applicable, and the Project Number to which 
the filing refers.
    p. 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 deadline specified, it 
will be presumed to have no comments other than any included with the 
licensee's filing. One copy of an agency's comments should be sent to 
the Applicant's representatives.
    q. 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 at http://www.ferc.gov 
under the ``e-Filing'' link.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-5104 Filed 3-3-03; 8:45 am]
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