E9-748. Granite County; Notice of Application Accepted for Filing and Soliciting Motions To Intervene and Protests

January 9, 2009.

Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection.

a. Type of Application: A New License. (Major Project).

b. Project No: 12107-003.

c. Date Filed: August 8, 2008.

d. Applicant: Granite County.

e. Name of Project: Flint Creek Hydroelectric Project.

f. Location: The proposed project would be located on Flint Creek at the Georgetown Lake Dam, near Philipsburg, in Granite County and Deer Lodge County, Montana. The proposed project would affect about 1266.33 acres of Federal lands within the Beaverhead-Deer Lodge National Forest.

g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act 16 U.S.C. 791 (a)-825(r).

h. Applicant Contact: Granite County, Maureen Connor, Chairman, Board of County Commissioners, PO Box 925, Philipsburg, Montana 59858-0925; [phone], or Roger Kirk, Agent, PO Box 1136, Bozeman, Montana 59771; [phone].

i. FERC Contact: Gaylord Hoisington, [phone] or [e-mail].

j. Cooperating agencies: We are asking Federal, State, local, and tribal agencies with jurisdiction and/or special expertise with respect to environmental issues to cooperate with us in the preparation of the environmental document. Agencies who would like to request cooperating status should follow the instructions for filing such requests described in item k below. Cooperating agencies should note the Commission's policy that agencies that cooperate in the preparation of the environmental document cannot also intervene. See, 94 FERC ¶ 61,076 (2001).

k. Deadline for filing motions to intervene and protest and request for cooperating agency status: 60 days from the issuance date of this notice (March 10, 2009).

All documents (original and eight copies) should be filed with: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426.

The Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedures require all intervenors filing documents with the Commission to serve a copy of that document on each person 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.

Motions to intervene and protests and requests for cooperating agency status may be filed electronically via the Internet in lieu of paper. The Commission strongly encourages electronic filings. See 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the Commission's Web site (http://www.ferc.gov) under the “e-Filing” link.

l. This application has been accepted for filing, but is not ready for environmental analysis at this time.

m. The Flint Creek project consists of: (1) An existing 2,850 acre reservoir with 31,034 acre-feet of storage at elevation 6,378 feet above mean sea level; (2) an existing 330-foot-long and 44-foot-high earth with masonry-core dam; (3) a new 36-inch-diameter by 6,282-foot-long polymer and/or steel pipeline; (4) a surge tank; (5) a new 36-inch-diameter by approximately 1,463-foot-long buried penstock connecting the surge tank to the new powerhouse; (6) a new approximately 30-foot by 40-foot powerhouse containing one Pelton turbine-generator unit rated at 2 megawatts; (7) a new approximately 95-foot-long buried tailrace; (8) a new approximately 10-foot by 10-foot fenced substation located next to the powerhouse; and (9) all appurtenant structures. The average annual generation of the project is approximately 10 gigawatthours.

n. A copy of the application is available for review at the Commission in the Public Reference Room or may 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. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support at [e-mail] or toll-free at 1-866-208-3676, or for TTY, [phone]. 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 e-mail of new filings and issuances related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support.

o. Any qualified applicant desiring to file a competing application must submit to the Commission, on or before the specified intervention deadline date, a competing development application, or a notice of intent to file such an application. Submission of a timely notice of intent allows an interested person to file the competing development application no later than 120 days after the specified intervention deadline date. Applications for preliminary permits will not be accepted in response to this notice.

A notice of intent must specify the exact name, business address, and telephone number of the prospective applicant, and must include an unequivocal statement of intent to submit a development application. A notice of intent must be served on the applicant(s) named in this public notice.

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 385.214. 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.

When the application is ready for environmental analysis, the Commission will issue a public notice requesting comments, recommendations, terms and conditions, or prescriptions.

All filings must (1) Bear in all capital letters the title “PROTEST” or “MOTION TO INTERVENE,” “NOTICE OF INTENT TO FILE COMPETING APPLICATION,” or “COMPETING APPLICATION;” (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. 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.

Kimberly D. Bose,

Secretary.