Notice of Temporary Variance Request and Soliciting Comments, Motions To Intervene, and Protests, 49278 [E5-4605]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
• Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 162 (Tuesday, August 23, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 49278]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-4605]



[[Page 49278]]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission


Notice of Temporary Variance Request and Soliciting Comments, 
Motions To Intervene, and Protests

August 17, 2005.
    Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been 
filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection:
    a. Type of Application: Request for Temporary Variance of Minimum 
Flow Requirement.
    b. Project No.: 405-064.
    c. Date Filed: August 15, 2005.
    d. Applicant: Susquehanna Electric Company and PECO Energy Power 
Company.
    e. Name of Project: Conowingo Project.
    f. Location: On the Susquehanna River, in Harford and Cecil 
Counties, Maryland, and York and Lancaster Counties, Pennsylvania. The 
project does not utilize federal or tribal lands.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: 18 CFR 4.200.
    h. Applicant Contact: Brian J. McManus, Attorney for Susquehanna 
Electric Company and PECO Energy Power Company, Jones Day, 51 Louisiana 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20001-2113, (202) 879-3939.
    i. FERC Contact: Robert H. Grieve, robert.grieve@ferc.gov, (202) 
502-8752.
    j. Deadline for filing comments, motions to intervene and protest: 
September 16, 2005.
    Please include the project number (P-405-064) on any comments or 
motions filed. All documents (original and seven copies) should be 
filed with: Magalie R. Salas, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426. Comments, 
protests, and interventions may be filed electronically via the 
Internet in lieu of paper, see 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the 
instructions on the Commission's Web site under the ``e-filing'' link. 
The Commission strongly encourages electronic filings. Please include 
the project number (P-405-064) on any comments or motions filed.
    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 in 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 Application: Susquehanna Electric Company (SEC) 
has requested Commission approval of a variance of the minimum flow 
requirement of the project license. Due to drought conditions and low 
river flows in the Susquehanna River, SEC requests that it be allowed 
immediately to include plant leakage of about 800 cubic feet per second 
(cfs) in the required minimum flow discharge until September 14, 2005, 
or until flow conditions improve where the Conowingo Project no longer 
requires leakage be included as part of the minimum flow requirement. 
According to the license, for the period June 1 through September 14, 
annually, SEC must provide a minimum flow release (not including 
leakage) below the dam of 5,000 cfs, or inflow (as measured at the USGS 
gage at Marietta, PA), whichever is less. During the fall period, 
September 15 through November 30, SEC is required to release a minimum 
flow of 3,500 cfs not including leakage, or inflow to the project 
whichever is less, as measured at the Marietta gage.
    The SEC is concerned about the ability of the Conowingo Project to 
maintain an adequate pond level and storage capacity during the current 
low flow period. Maintaining storage is necessary for generation and to 
ensure an adequate water supply for recreational and consumptive uses 
of the Conowingo Reservoir to include operation of Peach Bottom Atomic 
Power Station and Muddy Run Pumped Storage Project. Including plant 
leakage in the minimum flow discharge will contribute to the 
maintenance of these project water uses during this low flow period. 
During the period of the minimum flow variance the SEC will conduct 
daily monitoring of the Susquehanna River below the project for 
potential environmental effects. If any abnormal or adverse conditions 
are observed the SEC will promptly notify the Maryland Department of 
Natural Resources.
    l. Locations of the Application: Copies of this filing are on file 
with the Commission and are available for public inspection. This 
filing may be viewed on the Commission's Web site at http:www.ferc.gov 
using the ``FERRIS'' link. Enter the docket number excluding the last 
three digits in the docket number field to access the document. For 
assistance call (202) 502-8222 or for TTY (202) 208-1659.
    m. Individuals desiring to be included on the Commission's mailing 
list should so indicate by writing to the Secretary of the Commission.
    Protests or Motions to Intervene--Anyone may submit a protest or a 
motion to intervene in accordance with the requirements of Rules of 
Practice and Procedure, 18 CFR 385.210. 385.211, and 385.2114. In 
determining the appropriate action to take, the Commission will 
consider all protests 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 protests or motions to intervene must be 
received on or before the specified deadline date for the particular 
application.
    Filing and Service of Responsive Documents--Any filings must bear 
in all capital letters the title ``COMMENTS'', ``RECOMMENDATION FOR 
TERMS AND CONDITIONS'', ``PROTESTS, OR MOTION TO INTERVENE'', as 
applicable, and the Project Number of the particular application to 
which the filing refers. Any of the above-named documents must be filed 
by providing the original and the number of copies provided by the 
Commission's regulations to: The Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426. A copy of any 
motion to intervene must also be served upon each representative of the 
Applicant specified in the particular application.
    Agency Comments--Federal, state, and local agencies are invited to 
file comments on the described application. A copy of the application 
may be obtained by agencies directly from the Applicant. If an agency 
does not file comments within the time specified for filing comments, 
it will be presumed to have no comments. One copy of an agency's 
comments must also be sent to the Applicant's representatives.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E5-4605 Filed 8-22-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P