E5-5495. Northern Indiana Public Service Company; Notice of Application READY For Environmental Analysis and Soliciting Comments, Recommendations, Terms and Conditions, and Prescriptions

September 30, 2005.

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

a. Type of Application: Original Major License.

b. Project No.: 12514-000.

c. Date Filed: June 28, 2004.

d. Applicant: Northern Indiana Public Service Company.

e. Name of Project: Norway and Oakdale Hydroelectric Project.

f. Location: On the Tippecanoe River in Carroll and White Counties, Indiana. The project does not affect federal lands.

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

h. Applicant Contact: Jerome B. Weeden, Vice President Generation; Northern Indiana Public Service Company; 801 East 86th Avenue; Merrillville, IN 46410; [phone].

i. FERC Contact: Sergiu Serban at [phone], or [e-mail].

j. Deadline for filing comments, recommendations, terms and conditions, and prescriptions is 60 days from the issuance date 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. 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, 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. After logging into the e-Filing system, select “Comment on Filing” from the Filing Type Selection screen and continue with the filing process.”

k. This application has been accepted and is now ready for environmental analysis.

l. Description of the Project: The existing Norway Oakdale Hydroelectric Project consists of the Norway development and the Oakdale development and has a combined installed capacity of 16.4 megawatts (MW). The project produces an average annual generation of 65,000 megawatt-hours (MWh). All power is dispatched directly into the local grid and is used within the East Central Area Reliability Coordination Agreement.

The Norway development includes the following constructed facilities: (1) A 915-foot-long dam consisting of a 410-foot-long, 34-foot-maximum-height earthfill embankment with a concrete corewall; a 225-foot-long, 29-foot-high concrete gravity overflow spillway with flashboards; a 120-foot-long, 30-foot-high concrete gated spillway with three 30-foot wide, 22-foot-high spillway gates; a 18-foot-wide, 30-foot-high trash sluice housing with one 8-foot-wide, 11-foot-high gate; and a 142-foot-long, 64-foot-wide powerhouse integral with the dam containing four vertical Francis turbines-generating units with a rated head of 28 feet, total hydraulic capacity of 3,675 cubic feet per second (cfc) and a total electric output of 7.2 MW; (2) a 10-mile-long, 10-foot average depth, 1,291-acre reservoir; (3) a two-mile-long 69,000 volt transmission line; and (4) appurtenant facilities.

The Oakdale development includes the following constructed facilities: (1) A 1688-foot-long dam consisting of a 126-foot-long, 58-foot-maximum-height east concrete buttress and slab dam connecting the left abutment to the powerhouse; a 114-foot-long, 70-foot-wide powerhouse integral with the dam containing three vertical Francis turbines-generating units with a rated head of 42 to 48 feet, total hydraulic capacity of 3,200 cubic feet per second (cfc) and a total electric output of 9.2 MW; an 18-foot-wide structure containing a nonfunctional fish ladder and a gated trash sluice; a 84-foot-long ogee-shaped concrete gated spillway with two 30-foot wide, 22-foot-high vertical lift gates; a 90-foot-long, six bay concrete gravity siphon-type auxiliary spillway; and a 1,260-foot-long west earth embankment with a maximum height of 58 feet and a 30-foot-wide crest; (2) a 10-mile-long, 16-foot average depth, 1,547-acre reservoir; and (3) appurtenant facilities.

m. 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 website at http://www.ferc.gov using the “eLibrary” link. Enter the docket number excluding the last three digits in the docket number field (P-12514) 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.

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 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.

n. Public notice of the filing of the application, which has already been given, established the due date for filing competing applications or notices of intent. Under the Commission's regulations, any competing application must be filed in response to and in compliance with public notice of the initial application. No competing applications or notices of intent may be filed in response to this notice.

Magalie R. Salas,

Secretary.