[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 248 (Wednesday, December 28, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76793-76794]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-7938]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 2618-015-Maine]


Domtar Maine Corporation; Notice Soliciting Applications

December 21, 2005.
    On August 21, 1995, Georgia-Pacific Corporation, the licensee for 
the West Branch Project No. 2618, filed a notice of intent to file an 
application for a new license, pursuant to section 15(b)(1) of the 
Federal Power Act (FPA).\1\ The original license was issued September 
4, 1980, became effective April 1, 1962, and expired September 30, 
2000. The project is currently operating under an annual license.\2\ 
The project is a storage reservoir located on the St. Croix River in 
Washington County, Maine.
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    \1\ The project was transferred to Domtar Maine Corporation 
(Domtar) on October 26, 2001. 97 FERC ] 62,078.
    \2\ Notice authorizing continued project operation was issued 
October 17, 2000.
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    The West Branch Project includes two developments, West Grand Lake 
and Sysladobsis Lake. The West Grand Lake development consists of a 13-
foot-high, 485-foot-long dam and a 23,825-acre reservoir. The 
Sysladobsis Lake development consists of a 5.5-foot-high, 25-foot-long 
dam and a 5,400-acre reservoir. There are no generating facilities at 
either of these developments. Water flows from the Sysladobsis Lake 
development to the West Grand Lake development, and from there travels 
ten miles downstream to the Grand Falls project and on to the Woodland 
project. The Grand Falls and Woodland Projects, both of which generate 
electricity, have been found not to require licensing, because they 
were authorized by a 1916 Act of Congress that predated the 1920 
enactment of what is now part I of the FPA.\3\
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    \3\ 39 Stat. 534. 45 FERC ] 62,070 and 45 FERC ] 62,071.
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    Pursuant to Sec.  16.9 of the Commission's regulations, the 
deadline for filing an application for new license and any competing 
license application was September 30, 1998. No application for license 
for this project was filed. Normally, pursuant to section 16.25 of the 
Commission's regulations, the Commission would solicit applications 
from potential applicants other than the existing licensee. However, 
the Commission's Order On Rehearing, On Clarification, and Lifting 
Stay,\4\ concludes that it would be in the public interest to allow 
Domtar the opportunity to file an application for new license for

[[Page 76794]]

this project and confirms that the incumbent preference will apply in 
any licensing proceedings that ensue. In the rehearing order, the 
Commission waived those parts of 18 CFR 16.24(a)(2) and 16.25(a) that 
would otherwise bar Domtar from filing an application in response to 
this notice.
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    \4\ 99 FERC ] 61,276.
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    The licensee is required to make available certain information 
described in section 16.7 of the Commission's regulations. Such 
information is available from the licensee at Domtar Industries, Inc., 
Woodland Mill, 144 Main Street, Baileyville, Maine 04694.
    A potential applicant that files a notice of intent and pre-
application document within 90 days from the date of issuance of this 
notice: (1) May apply for a license under part I of the FPA and part 4 
(except section 4.38) of the Commission's regulations within 36 months 
of the date on which it files its notice; \5\ and (2) must comply with 
the requirements of section 16.8 of the Commission's regulations.
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    \5\ The Commission's regulation requires license applications to 
be filed within 18 months of the date a license applicant files its 
notice of intent. However, because the Commission's Integrated 
Licensing Process calls for a three year pre-application process, 
section 16.25(b)(1) is extended for this project.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E5-7938 Filed 12-27-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P