[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 62 (Monday, April 1, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15383-15384]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-7748]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 346-037]


Notice of Application Ready for Environmental Analysis and 
Soliciting Comments, Terms and Conditions, Recommendations and 
Prescriptions

March 26, 2002.
    Take notice that the following hydroelectric application and 
applicant prepared environmental assessment (APEA) have been filed with 
the Commission and are available for public inspection.
    a. Type of Application: New Major License.
    b. Project No.: 346-037.
    c. Date Filed: August 23, 2001.
    d. Applicant: Minnesota Power Inc.
    e. Name of Project: Blanchard Hydroelectric Project.
    f. Location: On the Mississippi River near the City of Little 
Falls, in Morrison County, MN. The project occupies Federal lands of 
the Bureau of Land Management.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act 16 U.S.C. 791(a) 825(r).
    h. Applicant Contact: Bob Bohm, Minnesota Power, Inc., P.O. Box 60, 
Little Falls, MN 56345, [email protected] 320-632-2318, ext. 5042.
    i. FERC Contact: Tom Dean, [email protected], 202-219-2778.
    j. Deadline for filing comments, final terms and conditions, 
recommendations, and prescriptions: 60 days from the issuance date of 
this notice.
    All documents (original and eight copies) should be filed with: 
Magalie R. Salas, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commissions, 888 
First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426. Comments, recommendations, 
terms and conditions, and prescriptions may be filed electronically via 
the internet in lieu of paper. See 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(l)(iii) and the 
instructions on the Commission's web site at under the ``e-Filing'' 
link.
    The Commission's Rules of Practice require all intervenors filing 
documents with the Commission to serve a copy of that document on each 
person that is 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. The license application and the APEA have been accepted for 
filing and are now ready for environmental analysis. No additional 
information or studies are needed to prepare the Commission's 
environmental assessment. Comments are now being requested from 
interested parties. The applicant will have 45 days following the end 
of this comment period to respond to any comments filed within the 
comment period.
    l. The existing Blanchard Project consists of: (1) a 750-foot-long, 
62-foot-high concrete gravity dam comprising: (a) a 190-foot-long non-
overflow section; (b) a 437-foot-long gated spillway section; (c) eight 
44-foot-wide by 14.7-foot-high Taintor gates; and (d) a 124-foot-wide 
integral powerhouse; (2) approximately 3,540-foot-long earth dikes 
extending from both sides of the concrete dam; (3) a 1,152-acre 
reservoir at normal water surface elevation of 1,081.7 feet NGVD; (4) a 
powerhouse containing three generating units with a total installed 
capacity of 18,000 kW; and (5) other appurtenances.
    m. Copies of this filing are on file with the Commission and are 
available for public inspection. This filing may also be viewed on the 
web at http://www.ferc.gov using the ``RIMS'' link, select ``Docket#'' 
and follow the instructions (call 202-208-2222 for assistance). A copy 
is also available for inspection and reproduction by contacting the 
applicant identified in item h above.
    n. The Commission directs, pursuant to Section 4.34(b) of the 
Regulations (see Order No. 533 issued May 8, 1991, 56 FR 23108, May 20, 
1991) that all comments, recommendations, terms and conditions and 
prescriptions concerning the application and APEA be filed with the 
Commission within 60 days from

[[Page 15384]]

the issuance date of this notice. All reply comments must be filed with 
the Commission within 105 days from the date of this notice.
    These deadlines may be extended by the Commission, but only upon a 
showing of good cause or extraordinary circumstances in accordance with 
18 CFR 385.2008.
    All filings must; (1) Bear in all capital letters the title 
``COMMENTS,'' ``REPLY COMMENTS,'' ``RECOMMENDATIONS,'' ``TERMS AND 
CONDITIONS,'' or ``PRESCRIPTIONS;'' (2) set forth in the heading the 
name of the applicant, and the project number of the application, to 
which the filing pertains; (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. Each filings 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.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 02-7748 Filed 3-29-02; 8:45 am]
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