2016-24601. Seattle City Light; 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. Application Type: Application to Dredge Cobble Bar in Project Tailrace.

b. Project No: 553-228.

c. Date Filed: May 27, 2016.

d. Applicant: Seattle City Light.

e. Name of Project: Skagit River Hydroelectric Project.

f. Location: The project is located on the Skagit River in Snohomish, Skagit, and Whatcom counties, Washington. The project occupies Federal lands.

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

h. Applicant Contact: Colleen McShane, Manager, Natural Resources and Environmental Permitting, Seattle City Light, 700 5th Ave., Suite 3200, P.O. Box 34023, Seattle, WA 98124-4023, [phone], [e-mail].

i. FERC Contact: Kurt Powers, [phone], [e-mail].

j. Deadline for filing comments, motions to intervene, and protests: November 4, 2016.

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, please send a paper copy to: Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426. The first page of any filing should include docket number P-553-228.

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, they must also serve a copy of the document on that resource agency.

k. Description of Request: The Skagit River Hydroelectric Project consists of Gorge, Diablo, and Ross Dams and their associated reservoirs, structures, and facilities. Seattle City Light proposes to remove approximately 18,000 cubic yards of a 2.2-acre cobble bar located at the upper end of Gorge Lake, at the confluence of the Skagit River and Stetattle Creek in Whatcom County, Washington, to restore power generating capacity to the Diablo Powerhouse and to provide maintenance access to the turbine scroll cases. Seattle City Light estimates that an additional 8,700 megawatt-hours per year could be generated if the cobble bar was removed. The proposed excavation site is located within the Ross Lake National Recreation Area which is administered by the National Park Service. The Recreation Area is surrounded by lands of the North Cascades National Park and the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie, Okanogan, and Wenatchee National Forests.

l. Locations of the Application: A copy of the application is available for inspection and reproduction at the Commission's Public Reference Room, located at 888 First Street NE., Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426, or by calling [phone]. This filing may also 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. You may also 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, call 1-866-208-3676 or email [e-mail], for TTY, call [phone]. A copy is also available for inspection and reproduction at the address in item (h) above. 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, .214, respectively. 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 comment date for the particular application.

o. Filing and Service of 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: October 5, 2016.

Kimberly D. Bose,

Secretary.