[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 135 (Thursday, July 14, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45461-45462]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-16652]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 1494-433]


Grand River Dam Authority; Notice of Application for Amendment of 
License 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 Article 401 reservoir elevation 
rule curve in order to keep reservoir levels in the Grand Lake O' the 
Cherokees (Grand Lake) higher than normal from August 16 through 
October 31. As explained in (k) below, this notice only seeks comments, 
motions to intervene, and protests on a temporary variance from the 
rule curve, for the period from August 16 through October 31, 2016.
    b. Project No.: 1494-433.
    c. Date Filed: May 6, 2016; supplemented June 2, 2016 and June 30, 
2016.
    d. Applicant: Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA).
    e. Name of Project: Pensacola Hydroelectric Project.
    f. Location: The project is located on the Grand River in Craig, 
Delaware, Mayes, and Ottawa Counties, Oklahoma.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791(a)-825(r).
    h. Applicant Contact: Tamara E. Jahnke, Assistant General Counsel, 
Grand River Dam Authority, P.O. Box 409, Vinita, OK 74301-0409; 
telephone: (918) 256-5545.
    i. FERC Contact: Linda Stewart, telephone (202) 502-6680, email

[[Page 45462]]

[email protected]; or B. Peter Yarrington, telephone (202) 502-
6129, email [email protected].
    j. Deadline for filing comments, motions to intervene, and protests 
is 14 days from the issuance date of this notice by the Commission.
    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. 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 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 a copy to: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426. Please include 
the project number (P-1494-433) on any comments or motions filed.
    k. Description of Request: In its application, GRDA requests a 
permanent amendment of the project's Article 401 reservoir elevation 
rule curve to go into effect August 16, 2016, and remain in effect 
through the remaining term of the project license. GRDA requests, if a 
permanent amendment cannot be reviewed by the Commission by August 16, 
2016, that a temporary variance for August 16 through October 31, 2016 
only be considered while the Commission continues to process its 
request for a permanent amendment. This notice only seeks comments, 
motions to intervene, and protests on GRDA's request for a temporary 
variance for the period from August 16 through October 31, 2016.
    GRDA indicates that it seeks the rule curve change to reduce the 
risk of vessel groundings at Grand Lake in late summer, improve 
recreation during a peak recreation season, better balance competing 
stakeholder interests, and provide additional water storage so that, in 
the event of drought, water would be available for release to aid in 
maintaining water quality in the river downstream.
    Under GRDA's proposal, between August 16 and September 15, the 
reservoir would be maintained at elevation 743 feet Pensacola Datum 
(PD), which is up to two feet higher than the current rule curve. 
Between September 16 and September 30, the elevation would be lowered 
from 743 to 742 feet PD. Between October 1 and October 31, the 
reservoir would be maintained at elevation 742 feet PD, which is up to 
one foot higher than the current rule curve. After October 31, 
reservoir elevations would follow the project's current rule curve. 
With its application, GRDA includes a Storm Adaptive Management Plan 
that would be followed to address high water conditions upstream and 
downstream of Grand Lake during major precipitation events in the river 
basin. GRDA also includes a Drought Adaptive Management Plan that would 
be followed to determine project operation, including deviations from 
the rule curve elevations, to allow releases for maintenance of 
downstream water quality and reliable operation of GRDA's downstream 
Salina Pumped Storage Project if certain drought conditions occur.
    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/docs-filing/elibrary.asp. Enter the docket number excluding the last three digits 
in the docket number field to access the document. A copy is also 
available for inspection and reproduction at the address in item (h) 
above.
    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, contact FERC 
Online Support.
    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: All filings must (1) 
bear in all capital letters the title ``COMMENTS'', ``PROTEST'', 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). All comments, motions to intervene, or protests should relate 
to project works which are the subject of the amendment application. 
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 accordance with 18 CFR 4.34(b) and 
385.2010.

    Dated: July 8, 2016.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-16652 Filed 7-13-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P