E5-346. Notice Soliciting Comments, and Final Recommendations, Terms and Conditions, and Prescriptions

January 19, 2005.

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

a. Type of Application: New Major License.

b. Project No.: 2150-033.

c. Date Filed: April 30, 2004.

d. Applicant: Puget Sound Energy.

e. Name of Project: Baker River Hydroelectric Project.

f. Location: On the Baker River, near the Town of Concrete, in Whatcom and Skagit Counties, Washington. The project occupies about 5,207 acres of lands within the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

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

h. Applicant Contact: Connie Freeland, Puget Sound Energy, P.O. Box 97034 PSE-09S Bellevue, WA 98009-9734; [phone] or [e-mail].

i. FERC Contact: Steve Hocking, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426; [phone] or [e-mail]

j. Deadline for filing comments and final recommendations, terms and conditions, and prescriptions is 60 days from the issuance of this notice; reply comments are due 105 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 Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426. Please put the project name “Baker River Project” and project number “P-2150-033” on the first page of all documents.

The Commission's Rules of Practice 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.

Comments and final recommendations, terms and conditions, and prescriptions 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.

k. This application has been accepted for filing.

l. Project Description: The Baker River Project has two developments. The Upper Baker development consists of the following existing facilities: (1) A 312-foot-high by 1,200-foot-long concrete gravity dam impounding Baker Lake with a surface area of about 4,980 acres at a normal full pool elevation of 727.77 feet mean sea level (msl); (2) a 122-foot-long, 59-foot wide concrete and steel powerhouse at the base of the dam containing two turbine-generator units, Unit No. 1 with an authorized capacity of 52,400 kilowatts (kW) and Unit No. 2 with an authorized capacity of 38,300 kW; (3) a 115-foot-high by 1,200-foot-long earth and rock-fill dam, known as West Pass dike, located in a depression about 1,500 feet north of Upper Baker dam; (4) a 22-foot-high by 3,000-foot-long earth-filled dike, known as Pumping Pond dike, which impounds Depression Lake with a surface area of 44 acres at a normal full pool elevation of 699 feet msl; (5) a water recovery pumping station adjacent to Pumping Pond; (6) fish passage facilities and fish spawning facilities; and (7) appurtenant facilities.

The Lower Baker development consists of the following existing facilities: (1) A 285-foot-high by 550-foot-long concrete thick arch dam impounding Lake Shannon with a surface area of about 2,278 acres at a normal full pool elevation of 442.35 feet msl; (2) a concrete intake equipped with trashracks and gatehouse located at the dam's left abutment; (3) a 1,410-foot-long concrete and steel-lined pressure tunnel; (4) a concrete surge tank near the downstream end of the pressure tunnel; (5) a 90-foot-long, 66-foot-wide concrete and steel powerhouse containing one turbine-generator unit, Unit No. 3 with an authorized capacity of 79,330 kW; (6) a 750-foot-long, 115-kilovolt transmission line; (7) fish passage facilities including a 150-foot-long by 12-foot-high barrier dam; and (8) appurtenant facilities.

m. A copy of the application is available for review in the Commission's Public Reference Room or may be viewed on the Commission's Web site 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.

n. 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 responds; (3) furnish the name, address, and telephone number of the person submitting the filing; 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 filing must be accompanied by proof of service on all persons listed on the service list prepared by the Commission in this proceeding, in accordance with 18 CFR 4.34(b) and 385.2010.

You may 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.

o. Revised Procedural Schedule: The application will be processed according to the following Revised Hydro Licensing Schedule:

Amended PDEA and Draft Biological Assessment Due: January 31, 2005.

Final Terms and Conditions Due: March 21, 2005.

Last Day to Request Water Quality Certificate: March 21, 2005.

Issue Notice of Draft Environmental Assessment (EA): May 2005.

Issue Notice of Final EA: August 2005.

Ready for Commission Decision on Application: December 2005.

Magalie R. Salas,

Secretary.