2020-21715. Puget Sound Energy, Inc.; 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. Type of Application: Non-Capacity Amendment of License.

b. Project No.: 2150-152.

c. Date Filed: August 27, 2020, and supplemented on September 24, 2020.

d. Applicant: Puget Sound Energy, Inc.

e. Name of Project: Baker River Hydroelectric Project.

f. Location: The project is located on the Baker River in Skagit and Whatcom counties, Washington. The project occupies federal lands administered by the U.S. Forest Service within the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.

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

h. Applicant Contact: Mr. Jory Oppenheimer, Consulting Engineer, Puget Sound Energy, P.O. Box 97034, Bellevue, WA 98009-9734; telephone [phone] and email [e-mail].

i. FERC Contact: Linda Stewart, [phone], [e-mail].

j. Deadline for filing comments, motions to intervene, and protests is 30 days from the issuance date of this notice by the Commission.

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 [e-mail], [phone] (toll free), or [phone] (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 docket number P-2150-152. 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, it must also serve a copy of the document on that resource agency.

k. Description of Request: Puget Sound Energy, Inc. (licensee) proposes to upgrade the turbine generating unit known as Unit 2 at the Upper Baker Development, which has reached the end of its expected life. The proposed upgrade would include installing a new turbine runner, refurbishing the turbine, refurbishing the generator poles, replacing the generator stator coils, and replacing the original distributor bushings. The proposal would increase the installed capacity of Unit 2 from 38.3 to 51.0 megawatts and would increase the hydraulic capacity of the Upper Baker Development from 5,030 to 5,140 cubic feet per second. The licensee does not propose any operational changes to the project following the upgrade of Unit 2. The licensee also requests to amend the authorized installed capacities of Unit 3 and Unit 4 at the Lower Baker Development to reflect current as-built conditions. Additionally, the licensee proposes to add to the license as a primary transmission line the existing 0.188-mile-long, 115-kilovolt transmission line connecting the Upper Baker powerhouse to the Shannon substation.

l. In addition to publishing the full text of this document in the Federal Register, the Commission provides all interested persons an opportunity to view and/or print the contents of this document via the internet through the Commission's Home Page (http://ferc.gov) using the “eLibrary” link. Enter the docket number excluding the last three digits in the docket number field to access the document. At this time, the Commission has suspended access to the Commission's Public Reference Room, due to the proclamation declaring a National Emergency concerning the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), issued by the President on March 13, 2020. For assistance, contact FERC at [e-mail] or call toll-free, [phone] or TYY, [phone]. 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, and .214. 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 deadline date for the particular application.

o. Filing and Service of Responsive 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: September 25, 2020.

Kimberly D. Bose,

Secretary.