[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 169 (Thursday, August 30, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52709-52710]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-21440]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 1256-031]


Loup River Public Power District; Notice of Application Accepted 
for Filing, Soliciting Motions To Intervene and Protests, Ready for 
Environmental Analysis, and Soliciting Comments, Recommendations, 
Preliminary Terms and Conditions, and Preliminary Fishway Prescriptions

    Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been 
filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection.
    a. Type of Application: New Major License.
    b. Project No.: 1256-031.
    c. Date filed: April 16, 2012.
    d. Applicant: Loup River Public Power District (Loup Power 
District).
    e. Name of Project: Loup River Hydroelectric Project.
    f. Location: The existing project is located on the Loup River, 
Loup Canal (a diversion canal off the Loup River), and Platte River in 
Nance and Platte counties, Nebraska. The project does not occupy 
federal lands.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act 16 U.S.C. 791 (a)-825(r).
    h. Applicant Contact: Neal Suess, President/CEO, Loup Power 
District, P.O. Box 988, 2404 15th Street, Columbus, Nebraska 68602, 
Telephone (866) 869-2087.
    i. FERC Contact: Lee Emery, Telephone (202) 502-8379 or email 
[email protected].
    j. Deadline for filing motions to intervene and protests, comments, 
recommendations, preliminary terms and conditions, and preliminary 
prescriptions: 60 days from the issuance date of this notice; reply 
comments are due 105 days from the issuance date of this notice.
    Motions to intervene, protests, comments, recommendations, 
preliminary terms and conditions, and preliminary fishway prescriptions 
may be filed electronically via the Internet. See 18 CFR 
385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the Commission's Web site 
http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp. Commenters can submit 
brief comments up to 6,000 characters, without prior registration, 
using the eComment system at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ecomment.asp. You must include your name and contact information at the 
end of your comments. For assistance, please contact FERC Online 
Support at [email protected] or toll

[[Page 52710]]

free at 1-866-208-3676, or for TTY, (202) 502-8659. Although the 
Commission strongly encourages electronic filing, documents may also be 
paper-filed. To paper-file, mail an original and seven copies to: 
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.
    k. This application has been accepted for filing and is now is 
ready for environmental analysis.
    l. The project consists of (upstream to downstream): (1) A 1,320-
foot-long, 6-foot-high diversion dam on the Loup River; (2) an intake 
structure composed of eleven 24-foot-long by 5-foot-high steel intake 
gates located on the north bank of the Loup River immediately upstream 
of the diversion dam; (3) three 20-foot-long by 6-foot-high steel 
sluice gates located between the diversion dam and the intake 
structure; (4) the 35-mile-long Loup Canal; (5) a 2-mile-long settling 
basin located in the upper portion of the Loup Canal and containing a 
floating hydraulic dredge and skimming weir; (6) the Monroe Powerhouse 
containing three Francis-type, turbine-generating units each with a 
rated capacity of 2.612 megawatts (MW); (7) a 760-acre regulating 
reservoir, Lake Babcock, with a storage capacity of 2,270 acre-feet at 
its full pool elevation of 1,531 feet mean sea level (msl); (8) a 200-
acre regulating reservoir, Lake North, with a storage capacity of 2,080 
acre-feet at an elevation of 1,531 feet msl; (9) a concrete control 
structure in the south dike linking the two reservoirs; (10) a 60-foot-
long by 104-foot-wide by 40-foot-high inlet structure with trashracks; 
(11) three 20-foot-diameter by 385-foot-long steel penstocks connecting 
the inlet structure with a powerhouse (Columbus Powerhouse); (12) the 
Columbus Powerhouse containing three Francis-type, turbine-generating 
units each with a rated capacity of 15.2 MW; and (13) appurtenant 
facilities. The project has a combined installed capacity of 53.4 MW.
    The Monroe Powerhouse operates in a run-of-river mode (i.e., 
outflow from the powerhouse equals inflow from the Loup Canal). The 
maximum hydraulic capacity of the canal at the Monroe Powerhouse is 
3,500 cubic feet per second (cfs). The Monroe Powerhouse spans the 
canal and functions as an energy-producing canal drop structure.
    The Columbus Powerhouse operates as a daily peaking facility. The 
water levels in Lake Babcock and Lake North are generally drawn down 
about 2 to 3 feet a day to produce power during times of peak 
electrical demand. In off-peak hours, when there is less demand for 
electricity, the turbines are turned down or shut off, which allows 
Lake Babcock and Lake North to refill. The hydraulic capacity of the 
canal at the Columbus Powerhouse is 4,800 cfs.
    Loup Power District proposes to remove three parcels of land from 
the project boundary that it finds are not necessary for project 
operations or purposes. In addition, Loup Power District proposes to 
add three parcels of land to the project boundary that it finds are 
needed for project purposes.
    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. A copy is also available for inspection and 
reproduction at the address in item h above.
    Register online at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp to be notified via email 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, and .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,'' ``PRELIMINARY TERMS AND CONDITIONS,'' or 
``PRELIMINARY FISHWAY 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 in the service list prepared by the 
Commission in this proceeding, in accordance with 18 CFR 4.34(b) and 
385.2010.
    o. Procedural Schedule:
    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, preliminary    October 2012.
 terms and conditions, and preliminary
 fishway prescriptions.
Commission issues Draft EA..............  April 2013.
Comments on Draft EA....................  May 2013.
Modified Terms and Conditions...........  July 2013.
Commission Issues Final EA..............  October 2013.
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    p. Final amendments to the application must be filed with the 
Commission no later than 30 days from the issuance date of this notice.
    q. A license applicant must file no later than 60 days following 
the date of issuance of the notice of acceptance and ready for 
environmental analysis provided for in 5.22: (1) A copy of the water 
quality certification; (2) a copy of the request for certification, 
including proof of the date on which the certifying agency received the 
request; or (3) evidence of waiver of water quality certification.

    Dated: August 23, 2012.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012-21440 Filed 8-29-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P