E3-00462. Notice of Application Accepted for Filing and Soliciting Motions To Intervene and Protests

December 2, 2003.

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.: 1971-079.

c. Date Filed: July 21, 2003.

d. Applicant: Idaho Power Company.

e. Name of Project: Hells Canyon Hydropower Project.

f. Location: On the Snake River in Washington and Adams, Counties, Idaho; and Wallowa and Baker Counties, Oregon. About 5,270 acres of federal lands administered by the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management (Payette and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests and Hells Canyon National Recreational Area) are included within the project boundary.

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

h. Applicant Contact: Mr. Robert W. Stahman, Vice President, Secretary, and General Counsel, Idaho Power Company, P.O. Box 70, Boise, Idaho 83707.

i. FERC Contact: Alan Mitchnick, [phone], [e-mail]; Emily Carter, [phone], [e-mail].

j. Deadline for filing motions to intervene and protests: 60 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.

Motions to intervene and protests 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, but is not ready for environmental analysis at this time.

l. The existing Hells Canyon Project consists of three developments: Brownlee Development consists of a 395-foot-high earth and rockfill dam, a 14,621-acre impoundment, and a powerhouse with five generating units producing 585.4 megawatts (MW); Oxbow Development consists of a 209-foot-high earth and rockfill dam, a 1,150-acre impoundment, and a powerhouse with four generating units producing 460 MW; and Hells Canyon Development consists of a 320-foot-high concrete gravity dam, a 2,412-acre impoundment, and a powerhouse with three generating units producing 391.5 MW. Idaho Power also operates four fish hatcheries and four adult fish traps. Idaho Power proposes to exclude 11 of 12 existing transmission lines from the project.

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 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 email of new filings and issuances related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support.

n. 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.

All filings must (1) bear in all capital letters the title “PROTEST” or “MOTION TO INTERVENE” (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.

o. With this notice, we are initiating consultation with the Oregon State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO), as required by section 106, National Historic Preservation Act, and the regulations of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, 36 CFR 800.4.

Magalie R. Salas,

Secretary.

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