[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 116 (Monday, June 16, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34002-34004]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-13424]



[[Page 34002]]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No.: P-2146-111]


Alabama Power Company; Notice of Application and Applicant-
Prepared EA Accepted for Filing, Soliciting Motions to Intervene and 
Protests, and Soliciting Comments, and Final Recommendations, Terms and 
Conditions, and Prescriptions

June 6, 2008.
    Take notice that the following hydroelectric application and 
applicant-prepared environmental assessment has been filed with the 
Commission and is available for public inspection.
    a. Type of Application: New Major License.
    b. Project No.: P-2146-111.
    c. Date filed: July 28, 2005.
    d. Applicant: Alabama Power Company.
    e. Name of Project: Coosa River Hydroelectric Project, which 
includes the Weiss, H. Neely Henry, Logan Martin, Lay and Bouldin 
developments, the Mitchell Hydroelectric Project (P-82), and the Jordan 
Hydroelectric Project (P-618). Alabama Power Company (Alabama Power) 
has requested that Project Nos. 2146, 82, and 618 be consolidated into 
one project. We are processing these three projects under Project No. 
2146-111.
    f. Location: On the Coosa River, in the states of Alabama and 
Georgia. The Logan Martin development affects less than an acre of 
federal lands, the Lay development affects 133.5 acres of federal 
lands, the Mitchell Project affects 127.3 acres of federal lands, and 
the Jordan Project affects 10.1 acres of federal lands.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act 16 U.S.C. 791(a)-825(r)
    h. Applicant Contact: Mr. Jerry L. Stewart, Senior Vice President 
and Senior Production Officer, Alabama Power Company, 600 North 18th 
Street, P.O. Box 2641, Birmingham, AL 35291-8180.
    i. FERC Contact: Janet Hutzel, Telephone (202) 502-8675, and e-mail 
[email protected]
    j. Deadline for filing motions to intervene and protests, comments, 
and final recommendations, terms and conditions, and prescriptions is 
60 days from the issuance date of this notice; reply comments are due 
105 days from the issuance date of this notice.
    All documents (original and eight copies) should be filed with: 
Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 
First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426.
    The Commission's Rules of Practice require all intervenors filing 
documents with the Commission to serve a copy of that document on each 
person 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.
    Motions to intervene, protests, comments, recommendations, terms 
and conditions, and prescriptions may be filed electronically via the 
Internet in lieu of paper. The Commission strongly encourages 
electronic filings. 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. This application has been accepted for filing.
    l. The proposed Coosa River Project would consist of seven 
developments. The Weiss, H. Neely Henry, and Logan Martin developments 
would operate in peaking mode. The Lay, Mitchell, Jordan, and Bouldin 
developments would operate in run-of-river mode. The total capacity for 
all developments is 960.9 megawatts (MW). The project works would 
include the following:

Weiss Development

    The Weiss development consists of: (1) A total of 30,798 feet of 
water retaining structures which includes a diversion dam and gated 
spillway, powerhouse about 3.5 miles from the spillway, and earth 
embankments consisting of: (a) A 7,000-foot-long power canal which 
carries water from the main reservoir to the powerhouse forebay, (b) a 
1,300 foot-long tailrace canal which carries water from the tailrace to 
the Coosa River, (c) 1.7-mile-long east and 1.8-mile-long west 
earthfill embankments, extending from the powerhouse, (d) 1.35-mile-
long east and 1.0-mile-long west earth embankments extending from the 
spillway, (e) three freeboard dikes, (f) 120-foot-long and 140-foot-
long concrete gravity non-overflow structures to the left and right of 
the powerhouse, (g) a retaining wall to the left of the spillway and a 
non-overflow structure to the right of the spillway, (h) a concrete 
gated spillway equipped with five 40-foot-wide by 38-foot-high Tainter 
gates and one 16-foot-wide by 22-foot-high Tainter gate which serves as 
a trash gate, (i) a second trash gate of same dimension located to the 
right of the powerhouse, and (j) a 20-mile-long bypassed reach of the 
Coosa River; (2) a 52-mile-long, 30,200-acre reservoir at normal pool 
elevation 564 feet mean sea level (msl), and total storage capacity of 
704,404 acre-feet at maximum elevation 574 feet msl; (3) a 256-foot-
long concrete power house with a total rated capacity of 87.75 MW; (4) 
trashracks located at the turbine intakes with 6-inch bar spacing; (5) 
a substation; and (6) other appurtenances. The project annually 
generates an estimated 215,500 megawatt-hours (MWh) of energy.

H. Neely Henry Development

    The H. Neely Henry development consists of: (1) A total of 4,705 
feet of water retaining structures, which includes a concrete dam and 
two earthen embankment sections consisting of: (a) A 305-foot-long 
spillway equipped with six 40-foot-wide by 29-foot-high Tainter gates, 
(b) a 300-foot-long intake section, (c) a 120-foot-long non-overflow 
bulk head section at the east end of the spillway, and (d) a 133-foot-
long non-overflow section at the west end of the spillway; (2) a 78-
mile-long, 11,235-acre reservoir at normal pool elevation 508 feet msl, 
with a total storage capacity of 30,640 acre-feet at normal elevation 
508 feet msl; (3) a 300-foot-long concrete power house with a total 
rated capacity of 72.9 MW; (4) trashracks located at the turbine 
intakes with 6-inch bar spacing; (5) a substation; and (6) other 
appurtenances. The project annually generates an estimated 210,700 MWh 
of energy.

Logan Martin Development

    The Logan Martin development consists of: (1) A total of 6,192 feet 
of water retaining structures, which includes a 100-foot-high concrete 
dam and gated spillway, a powerhouse and earthen embankment section 
consisting of: (a) A 327-foot-long concrete spillway equipped with six 
40-foot-wide by 38-foot-high Tainter gates, and one 17.5-foot-wide by 
21-foot-high vertical trash gate, (b) a 4,650-foot-long east earth 
embankment, (c) 850-foot-long west earth embankment, (d) a 120-foot-
long concrete powerhouse intake; (2) a 48.5-mile-long, 15,263-acre 
reservoir at normal pool elevation 465 feet msl, with a total storage 
capacity of 273,500 acre-feet at normal elevation 465 feet msl; (3) a 
295-foot-long concrete power house with a total rated capacity of 
128.25 MW; (4) trashracks located at the turbine intakes with 6-inch 
bar spacing; (5) a substation; and (6) other appurtenances. The project 
annually generates an estimated 400,200 MWh of energy.

[[Page 34003]]

Lay Development

    The Lay development consists of: (1) A total of 2,120 feet of water 
retaining structures, which includes a concrete dam and gated spillway, 
integrated powerhouse, and an earthen embankment section consisting of: 
(a) A 194-foot-long concrete bulkhead, (b) a 304-foot-long concrete 
intake section, (c) a 930-foot-long gated concrete spillway section 
equipped with twenty-six 30-foot-wide by 17-foot-high radial lift 
gates, (d) a 180-foot-long concrete bulkhead, and (e) a 512-foot-long 
earth embankment; (2) a 48.2-mile-long, 12,000-acre reservoir at normal 
pool elevation 465 feet msl; (3) a 376-foot-long concrete powerhouse 
with a total rated capacity of 177 MW; (4) a total of 144 trashracks 
located at the turbine intakes with 6-inch bar spacing; (5) a 
substation and (6) other appurtenances. The project annually generates 
an estimated 639,445 MWh of energy.

Mitchell Development

    The Mitchell development consists of: (1) A total of 1,264 feet of 
water retaining structures, which includes a concrete dam and gated 
spillway, and two powerhouses consisting of: (a) A 964-foot-long gated 
concrete spillway section equipped with twenty-three 30-foot-wide by 
15-foot-high timber faced radial lift gates, and three 30-foot-wide by 
25-foot-high steel faced radial gates; (2) a 14-mile-long 5,850-acre 
reservoir at normal pool elevation 312 feet msl; (3) two powerhouses, 
which include: (a) The original 449-foot-long concrete powerhouse with 
a total rated capacity of 20 MW and b) a new 300-foot-long concrete 
powerhouse with a total rated capacity of 150 MW; (4) a total of 124 
trashracks located at the turbine intakes with 6-inch bar spacing; (5) 
a substation; and (6) other appurtenances. The project annually 
generates an estimated 527,666 MWh of energy.

Jordan Development

    The Jordan development consists of: (1) A total of 2,066 feet of 
water retaining structures, which includes a 125-foot-high concrete dam 
and gated spillway, and integrated powerhouse consisting of: (a) A 75-
foot-long non-overflow concrete bulkhead, (b) a 246-foot-long concrete 
intake section, (c) a 1330-foot-long gated concrete spillway equipped 
with eighteen 34-foot-wide by 8-foot-high radial lift gates, and 
seventeen 30-foot-wide by 18-foot-high vertical lift gates, and (d) a 
177-foot-long non-overflow concrete bulkhead; (2) an 18-mile-long, 
5,880-acre reservoir at normal pool elevation 252 feet msl; (3) a 300-
foot-long concrete power house with a total rated capacity of 100 MW; 
(4) four trashracks located at the turbine intakes with 4-inch bar 
spacing; (5) a substation; and (6) other appurtenances. The project 
annually generates an estimated 148,543 MWh of energy.

Bouldin Development

    The Bouldin development consists of: (1) A total of 9,428 feet of 
water retaining structures, which includes a 210-foot-high concrete 
dam, a powerhouse integrated with the project intake, and two earthen 
embankments consisting of: (a) A 2,200-foot-long earth embankment to 
the left of the intake, (b) a 228-foot-long concrete intake section 
equipped with three 40-foot-wide by 35.5-foot-high Tainter gates, and 
(c) a 7,000-foot-long earth embankment to the right of the intake; (2) 
a 3-mile-long, 920-acre intake canal at normal pool elevation 252 feet 
msl; (3) a 228-foot-long concrete powerhouse with a total rated 
capacity of 225 MW; (4) sixty-three trashracks located at the turbine 
intakes with 6-inch bar spacing; (5) a substation; and (6) other 
appurtenances. The project annually generates an estimated 822,000 MWh 
of energy.
    m. A copy of the application is available for review at the 
Commission in the Public Reference Room or may 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, contact 
FERC Online Support at [email protected] or toll-free at 1-
866-208-3676, or for TTY, 202-502-8659. A copy is also available for 
inspection and reproduction at the address in item h above.
    Register online at http://www.ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm to be 
notified via e-mail of new filings and issuances related to this or 
other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support.
    n. 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.
    All filings must (1) Bear in all capital letters the title 
``PROTEST,'' ``MOTION TO INTERVENE,'' ``COMMENTS,'' ``REPLY COMMENTS,'' 
``RECOMMENDATIONS,'' ``TERMS AND CONDITIONS,'' or ``PRESCRIPTIONS;'' 
(2) set forth in the heading the name of the applicant and the project 
number of the application to which the filing responds; (3) furnish the 
name, address, and telephone number of the person protesting or 
intervening; and (4) otherwise comply with the requirements of 18 CFR 
385.2001 through 385.2005. All comments, recommendations, terms and 
conditions or prescriptions must set forth their evidentiary basis and 
otherwise comply with the requirements of 18 CFR 4.34(b). Agencies may 
obtain copies of the application directly from the applicant. A copy of 
any protest or motion to intervene must be served upon each 
representative of the applicant specified in the particular 
application. A copy of all other filings in reference to this 
application must be accompanied by proof of service on all persons 
listed on the service list prepared by the Commission in this 
proceeding, in accordance with 18 CFR 4.34(b) and 385.2010.
    o. Procedural Schedule:
    At this time we do not anticipate the need for preparing a draft 
environmental assessment. Recipients will have 30 days to provide the 
Commission with any written comments on the environmental assessment 
(EA). All comments filed with the Commission will be considered in the 
Order taking final action on the license applications. However, should 
substantive comments requiring re-analysis be received on the EA, we 
will consider preparing a subsequent EA. The application will be 
processed according to the following revised Hydro Licensing Schedule. 
Revisions to the schedule may be made as appropriate.

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              Milestone                          Target date
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Filing of recommendations, terms and  (August 2008).
 conditions, and prescriptions.
Notice of Availability of the EA      (February 2009).
 (single EA).
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[[Page 34004]]

    p. Final amendments to the application must be filed with the 
Commission no later than 30 days from the issuance date of this notice.

Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E8-13424 Filed 6-13-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P