[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 33 (Thursday, February 19, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8864-8866]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-03444]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 12514-074]


Northern Indiana Public Service Company; Notice of Application 
for Amendment of License, Modifying Abnormal River Conditions Under 
Article 405, and Reservoir Surface Elevations Under Article 403 and 
Soliciting Comments, Motions To Intervene and Protests

    Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been 
filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection:
    a. Application Type: Amendment of License and Modifying Abnormal 
River Conditions Definition.
    b. Project No: 12514-074.
    c. Date Filed: October 2, 2014.
    d. Applicant: Northern Indiana Public Service Company (licensee).
    e. Name of Project: Norway-Oakdale Hydroelectric Project.
    f. Location: The Norway-Oakdale Project is located on the 
Tippecanoe River near the town of Monticello, in Carroll and White 
counties, Indiana.

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The project consists of the upper Norway development and the lower 
Oakdale development each of which has a dam and powerhouse.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791a-825r.
    h. Applicant Contact: Mr. Justin Darling, Hydro Supervisor--
Chemical and Environmental Compliance, Northern Indiana Public Service 
Company, 1414 W. Broadway, Monticello, IN 47960, 574-583-1154.
    i. FERC Contact: Mr. Mark Pawlowski 202-502-6052, 
[email protected].
    j. Deadline for filing comments, motions to intervene, and 
protests: March 16, 2015.
    All documents may be filed electronically via the Internet. See, 18 
CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the Commission's Web 
site at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp. If unable to be 
filed electronically, documents may be paper-filed. To paper-file, an 
original and seven copies should be mailed to: Secretary, Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 
20426. 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.
    Please include the project number (P-12514) on any comments, 
motions, or recommendations filed.
    k. Description of Request: Northern Indiana Public Service Company, 
licensee for the Norway-Oakdale Hydroelectric Project, requests the 
Commission amend the definition of abnormal river conditions pursuant 
to article 405 of the project license. Under the proposed definition 
the licensee requests to amend article 405 to include a low flow 
trigger under which the licensee could deviate from the reservoir 
elevation requirements of article 403 of the license. Low flow 
conditions, also referred to herein as abnormal low flow (ALF), would 
be defined as a daily average river flow of <= 300 cubic feet per 
second (cfs) as measured at the United States Geological Survey (USGS) 
Winamac gage no. 03331753; or in the event of an equipment or operation 
issue at Oakdale dam unrelated to upstream flow conditions upstream, a 
24-hour daily average of river flow of <= 570 cfs at the USGS Oakdale 
gage no. 03332605. In order to implement the requirements of the U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service's (FWS) August 13, 2014, Technical Assistance 
Letter (TAL), the licensee also requests to amend the elevation 
requirements of article 403 to be within 0.75 feet above and 0.25 feet 
below elevation 647.47 feet National Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD) at 
Lake Shafer and 0.75 feet above elevation 612.45 feet NGVD at Lake 
Freeman.
    The TAL calls for the licensee to operate the Norway and Oakdale 
developments according to the following protocols under the ALF as 
defined above: (1) cease electric power generation at the Oakdale dam 
when the 24-hour daily average flow at the USGS Winamac gage no. 
03331753 is <= 300 cfs or the 24-hour daily average flow at the USGS 
Oakdale gage no. 03332605 is <=600 cfs; (2) discharge 1.9 times the 
flow of the previous 24-hour daily average flow measured at the USGS 
Winamac gage out of the Oakdale dam as measured at the USGS Oakdale 
gage (considered to be the run-of-river flow during the ALF); (3) 
continue ALF plan protocols until the 24-hour average at the USGS 
Winamac gage is >300 cfs; and (4) meet all monitoring and reporting 
requirements. Providing the required downstream flow could require the 
licensee to increase the release flow from Lake Freeman through 
drawdown of one or both lakes outside of the proposed limits (within 
0.75 feet above and 0.25 feet below elevation 647.47 feet NGVD for Lake 
Shafer and 0.75 feet above elevation 612.45 feet NGVD for Lake 
Freeman). Deviations outside of these ranges would result from efforts 
by the licensee to maintain a minimum flow of 500 cfs downstream of the 
Oakdale dam to protect federally endangered mussel species and their 
habitat. Such reservoir level deviations could include partial or 
complete drawdown of the Lake Shafer and/or Lake Freeman. Operating in 
accordance with these requirements under abnormal river flow conditions 
is intended to satisfy FWS' objectives to protect downstream mussel 
populations against the unlawful take of an endangered species. 
Reservoir drawdowns would have the potential to affect aquatic, 
terrestrial, recreation, and cultural resources associated with the 
lakes, as well as potential stability issues related to seawalls, 
docks, and piers.
    l. Locations of the Application: A copy of the application 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. 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. You may also 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, call 866-208-3676 or email 
[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. Filing and Service of Responsive Documents: Any filing must (1) 
bear in all capital letters the title ``COMMENTS''; ``PROTESTS'', or 
``MOTION TO INTERVENE'' as applicable; (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, motions to intervene, or protests 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. 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. 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

[[Page 8866]]

accordance with 18 CFR 4.34(b) and 385.2010.

    Dated: February 12, 2015.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-03444 Filed 2-18-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P