[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 168 (Wednesday, August 31, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51771-51772]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-4734]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission


Notice of Applications Accepted for Filing and Soliciting 
Comments, Motions To Intervene, and Protests

August 23, 2005.
    Take notice that the following hydroelectric applications have been 
filed with the Commission and are available for public inspection:
    a. Type of Applications: Preliminary Permit (Competing).
    b. Applicants, Project Numbers, and Dates Filed: Western Hydro, 
LLC, filed the application for Project No. 12592-000 on May 19, 2005, 
at 8:32 a.m. and an amended application on July 18, 2005, at 3:21 p.m.
    Bear Creek Hydro Associates, LLC, filed the application for Project 
No. 12593-000 on May 24, 2005, at 11:34 a.m.
    c. Name of Project: Cascade Hydroelectric Project--P-12592; Bear 
Creek Hydroelectric Project--P-12593. The project will be located on 
Bear Creek, near the town of Concrete, in Skagit County, Washington. 
The existing dam is owned by Glacier Northwest, Inc.
    d. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791a-825r.
    e. Applicant Contacts: For Western Hydro, LLC: Mr. Edward F. 
Donohoe, Western Hydro, LLC, 212 Reed Circle, Mill Valley, CA 94941, 
(415) 380-0625. For Bear Creek Hydro Associates, LLC: Mr. Jace B. 
McMaster, Bear Creek Associates, LLC, 19536 Wallingford Avenue, N., 
Shoreline, WA 98133, (206) 769-7289.
    f. FERC Contact: Etta Foster, (202) 502-8769.
    g. Deadline for filing comments, protests, and motions to 
intervene: 60 days from the issuance date of this notice.
    The Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure require all 
interveners filing documents with the Commission to serve a copy of 
that document on each person in 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.
    h. Description of Projects: The project proposed by Western Hydro, 
LLC would consist of: (1) The existing 24-foot-high, 235-foot-long, 
concrete Bear Creek Dam; (2) a 1.7 acre reservoir with negligible 
storage; (3) a 48-inch, 2,800-foot-long, steel penstock; (4) an 
existing powerhouse containing two generating units with a capacity of 
3.5 megawatts; (5) a 2-mile-long, 34.5 kV transmission line; and (6) 
appurtenant facilities. The proposed project would operate in a run-of-
river mode and have an average annual generation of 16 million kWh. 
Generated power would be sold to regional investor owned utilities.
    The project proposed by Bear Creek Associates, LLC would consist of 
reconstructing the abandoned Upper and Lower Bear Creek hydro 
facilities. The Upper Bear Creek Project site will be evaluated, 
however, the Lower Bear Creek Project site will be the main focus of 
the studies during the permit period. The Lower Bear Creek would 
consist of: (1) The existing 24-foot-high, 235-foot-long, concrete Bear 
Creek Dam; (2) a 1.7 acre reservoir with negligible storage; (3) a new 
36-inch, 2,800-foot-long, steel penstock; (4) a renovated concrete 
powerhouse containing generating units with an installed capacity of 
1800 kW;

[[Page 51772]]

(5) a new 3.5-mile-long, 12.5 kV transmission line to be interconnected 
with the Puget Sound Energy's transmission lines at Lake Tyee; and (6) 
appurtenant facilities. The proposed project would operate in a run-of-
river mode. The estimated annual generation is 11.7 million kWh. 
Generated power would be sold to Puget Sound Energy.
    i. Locations of Applications: A copy of the application is 
available for inspection and reproduction at the Commission in the 
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 ``eLibrary'' link. Enter the docket number excluding the last 
three digits in the docket number field to access the document. For 
assistance, call toll-free 1-866-208-3676 or e-mail 
[email protected]. For TTY, call (202) 502-8659. A copy is 
also available for inspection and reproduction at the address in item 
h. above.
    j. Individuals desiring to be included on the Commission's mailing 
list should so indicate by writing to the Secretary of the Commission.
    k. Competing Preliminary Permit--Anyone desiring to file a 
competing application for preliminary permit for a proposed project 
must submit the competing application itself, or a notice of intent to 
file such an application, to the Commission on or before the specified 
comment date for the particular application (see 18 CFR 4.36). 
Submission of a timely notice of intent allows an interested person to 
file the competing preliminary permit application no later than 30 days 
after the specified comment date for the particular application. A 
competing preliminary permit application must conform with 18 CFR 
4.30(b) and 4.36.
    l. Competing Development Application--Any qualified development 
applicant desiring to file a competing development application must 
submit to the Commission, on or before a specified comment date for the 
particular application, either a competing development application or a 
notice of intent to file such an application. Submission of a timely 
notice of intent to file a development application allows an interested 
person to file the competing application no later than 120 days after 
the specified comment date for the particular application. A competing 
license application must conform with 18 CFR 4.30(b) and 4.36.
    m. Notice of Intent--A notice of intent must specify the exact 
name, business address, and telephone number of the prospective 
applicant, and must include an unequivocal statement of intent to 
submit, if such an application may be filed, either a preliminary 
permit application or a development application (specify which type of 
application). A notice of intent must be served on the applicant(s) 
named in this public notice.
    n. Proposed Scope of Studies Under Permit--A preliminary permit, if 
issued, does not authorize construction. The term of the proposed 
preliminary permit would be 36 months. The work proposed under the 
preliminary permit would include economic analysis, preparation of 
preliminary engineering plans, and a study of environmental impacts. 
Based on the results of these studies, the Applicant would decide 
whether to proceed with the preparation of a development application to 
construct and operate the project.
    o. 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.
    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 ``e-filing'' link. 
The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing.
    p. 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, NE., Washington, DC 20426. A copy of any 
motion to intervene must also be served upon each representative of the 
Applicant specified in the particular application.
    q. 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.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E5-4734 Filed 8-30-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P