[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 196 (Thursday, October 11, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57931-57932]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-20021]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 618-161]


Alabama Power Company; Notice of Application for Amendment of 
License and Soliciting Comments, Motions To Intervene, and Protests

October 3, 2007.
    Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been 
filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection:
    a. Application Type: Request for Temporary Variance of Minimum Flow 
Requirement.
    b. Project No.: 618-161.
    c. Date Filed: September 26, 2007.
    d. Applicant: Alabama Power Company.
    e. Name of Project: Jordan Dam.
    f. Location: On the Coosa River, in Elmore, Chilton, and Coosa 
Counties, Alabama.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791a-825r.
    h. Applicant Contact: Barry K. Lovett, Alabama Power Company, 600 
N. 18th Street, P.O. Box 2641, Birmingham, AL 35291, (205) 257-1258.
    i. FERC Contact: Peter Yarrington, [email protected], (202) 
502-6129.
    j. Deadline for filing comments, motions to intervene and protests: 
October 19, 2007.

[[Page 57932]]

    All documents (original and eight copies) should be filed with: 
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., 
Washington, DC 20426.
    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. A copy 
of any motion to intervene must also be served upon each representative 
of the Applicant specified in the particular application.
    k. Description of Request: The Alabama Power Company (APC) is 
requesting a temporary variance of the minimum flow requirement of the 
project license in order to resume a study of the effects of minimum 
flow reductions on aquatic resources, including the federally 
endangered Tulotoma snail, Tulotoma magnifica. Flow reductions are 
being studied because of a worsening drought in the Coosa Basin, rated 
``exceptional,'' the most severe category recognized by the U.S. 
Drought Monitoring Program.
    The project license requires a flow release of 2,000 cfs July 1 
through March 31. Study flow reductions were originally approved in a 
July 18, 2007 Commission order. The July 18, 2007 approval allowed a 
reduction to 1,000 cfs, made in 250-cfs increments. The licensee and 
resource agencies would assess habitat conditions downstream of Jordan 
Dam at each flow increment. However, in mid-August, when study flows 
were 1,600 cfs, high water temperatures caused concerns for the 
Tulotoma snail, and the study was suspended.
    With seasonal water temperatures decreasing, the licensee now 
proposes to resume the study, based on resource agency consultations 
and written concurrences. Flow releases would be reduced over a period 
of 6 days, to 1,600 cfs, by October 1. A target flow of 1,600 cfs, 
within +/-5 percent, would be maintained until December 1, 2007, unless 
a 7-day inflow of at least 2,000 cfs occurs, in which case flow 
releases would be increased to 2,000 cfs. The licensee would hold 
weekly teleconferences with the resource agencies regarding the study 
and flows, and would produce aerial photographs of the downstream area 
at the reduced flow rate.
    l. Locations of the Application: The filing 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, or by calling (202) 502-8371. This filing may 
also be viewed on the Commission's Web site at http://ferc.gov using 
the ``eLibrary'' link. Enter the docket number excluding the last three 
digits in the docket number field to access the document. You may also 
register online at http://www.ferc.gov/docsfiling/esubscription.asp to 
be notified via e-mail of new filings and issuances related to this or 
other pending projects. For assistance, call 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.
    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, .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.
    o. Any filings must bear in all capital letters the title 
``COMMENTS'', ``PROTEST'', or ``MOTION TO INTERVENE'', as applicable, 
and the Project Number of the particular application 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 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.
    q. Comments, protests and interventions may be filed electronically 
via the Internet in lieu of paper. See, 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(I)(iii) and 
the instructions on the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov 
under the ``e-Filing'' link.

Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E7-20021 Filed 10-10-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P