[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 96 (Wednesday, May 18, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30213-30214]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-10677]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 2188-271]


Northwestern Corporation; Notice of Application Accepted for 
Filing 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: Temporary Variance of Article 403.
    b. Project No: 2188-271.
    c. Date Filed: April 29, 2022.
    d. Applicant: Northwestern Corporation (licensee).
    e. Name of Project: Missouri-Madison Hydroelectric Project.
    f. Location: The project consists of nine hydroelectric 
developments located on the Madison and Missouri Rivers in Gallatin, 
Madison, Lewis and Clark, and Cascade counties, Montana.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791a-825r.
    h. Applicant Contact: Mary Gail Sullivan, Director, Environmental 
and Lands, Northwestern Corporation, 11 East Park Street, Butte, 
Montana, 59701, (406) 497-3382, [email protected].
    i. FERC Contact: Holly Frank, (202) 502-6833, [email protected].
    j. Deadline for filing comments, motions to intervene, and 
protests: June 13, 2022.
    The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file 
comments, motions to intervene, and protests using the Commission's 
eFiling system 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], (866) 208-3676 (toll 
free), or (202) 502-8659 (TTY). In lieu of electronic filing, you may 
submit a paper copy. Submissions sent via the U.S. Postal Service must 
be addressed to: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, 888 First Street NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426. 
Submissions sent via any other carrier must be addressed to: Kimberly 
D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins 
Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852. The first page of any filing should 
include the docket number P-2188-271. Comments emailed to Commission 
staff are not considered part of the Commission record.
    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.
    k. Description of Request: The licensee requests a temporary 
variance from the minimum flow requirements for the Hebgen and Madison 
developments, to occur from June 15, 2022 to April 15, 2023, due to the 
severe drought conditions in the Madison River watershed. Section (3) 
of Article 403 for the Hebgen Development requires the licensee to 
limit changes in outflow from Hebgen Dam to no more than 10 percent per 
day for the entire year. The licensee requests a temporary variance 
allowing changes in outflow from Hebgen Dam to no more than 5 percent 
hourly for flow increases; the 10 percent daily limit would remain 
unchanged for flow decreases. Section (5) of Article 403 for the 
Madison Development requires ramping rates for flows in the Madison 
bypass reach, such that flows must not be reduced by more than 100 cfs 
per hour from 600 cfs to minimum flow (which varies seasonally between 
80-200 cfs, as required in Section (4) of Article 403 for the Madison 
Development), and not increased by more than 100 cfs per hour when 
flows are 600 cfs or less (except when needed to meet the 1,100-cfs 
minimum flow below the powerhouse as required in Section (2) of Article 
403 for the Madison Development, or to avoid overfilling Ennis Lake). 
The licensee will maintain the required ramping rate for flow 
reductions to minimize biological effects, but requests a temporary 
variance to remove the ramping rate of 100 cfs per hour for flow 
increases when the bypass flow is less than 600 cfs. The temporary 
variance would allow the licensee to make larger flow changes more 
quickly, which contributes to water conservation goals by limiting 
small increases of Hebgen and Madison dam outflows over longer 
durations in advance of forecasted needs of increased water downstream. 
The proposed temporary variance measures, in combination with the 
temporary minimum flow reductions

[[Page 30214]]

completed in April 2022, would reduce the drafting of Hebgen Reservoir 
and support higher Hebgen Reservoir elevations longer into the 
recreation season. The duration of the temporary variance, from June 
15, 2022 to April 15, 2023, would allow for water savings that ensure 
water availability through the pulse flow season to protect fishery 
resources in the lower Madison River and allow for flow changes during 
the fall/winter period.
    l. Locations of the Application: This filing may be viewed on the 
Commission's website 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 1-866-208-3676 or email 
[email protected], for TTY, call (202) 502-8659. Agencies may 
obtain copies of the application directly from the applicant.
    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, respectively. 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 Documents: Any filing 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 commenting, 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. Any filing made by an intervenor 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 
385.2010.

    Dated: May 12, 2022.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2022-10677 Filed 5-17-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P