01-3437. Notice of Amendment of Licenses and Soliciting Comments, Motions To Intervene, and Protests

February 6, 2001.

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

a. Application Type: Amendment of License.

b. Project No.: 2530-022.

c. Date Filed: September 14, 1998, supplemented October 17, 2000.

d. Applicant: FPL Energy Maine Hydro LLC.

e. Name and Location of Project: The Hiram Project is located on the Saco River, in Cumberland and Oxford Counties, Maine. The project does not occupy federal or tribal lands.

f. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791(a)-825(r) and Section 4.202(a) of the Commission's regulations.

g. Applicant Contact: F. Allen Wiley, P.E., FPL Energy Maine Hydro LLC, 150 Main Street, Lewiston, ME 04240, [phone].

h. FERC Contact: Any questions on this notice should be addressed to Heather Campbell at [phone] or Peter McGovern at [phone].

i. Deadline for filing comments and or motions: March 2, 2001.

All documents (original and eight copies) should be filed with: David P. Boergers, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington DC 20426. Comments and protests may be filed electronically via the internet in lieu of paper. See, 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the Commission's web site at http://www.ferc.fed.us/​efi/​doorbell.htm.

Please include the noted project numbers on any comments or motions filed.

j. Description of Proposal: The Applicant requests an amendment to extend the expiration date of the license from November 30, 2022 to November 30, 2032 stating that it wishes to coordinate the expiration date of the Hiram license with the new expiration dates of its new licenses for the Skelton and Bonny Eagle projects that expire in 2038. In addition, the Applicant references significant new investment and environmental improvements in the project vicinity resulting from the Instream Flow Agreement for Hydroelectric Projects on the Saco River dated April 30, 1997. On October 17, 2000, the licensee filed supplemental information about the economic costs of implementing the flow agreement, including the impact on project generation.

k. 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]. The application may be viewed on the web at www.ferc.fed.us/​online/​rims.htm (Call [phone] for assistance). A copy is also available for inspection and reproduction at the address in item g above.

l. Individuals desiring to be included on the Commission's mailing list should so indicate by writing to the Secretary of the Commission.

m. 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. 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.

n. Filing and Service of Responsive Documents—Any filings must bear in all capital letters the title “COMMENTS”, “RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TERMS AND CONDITIONS”, “PROTEST”, OR “MOTION TO INTERVENE”, as applicable, and the Project Number of the particular application to which the filing refers. Any of the above-named documents must be filed by providing the original and the number of copies provided by the Commission's regulations to: The Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426. A copy of any motion to intervene must also be served upon each representative of the Applicant specified in the particular application.

o. Agency Comments—Federal, state, and local agencies are invited to file comments on the described application. A copy of the application may be obtained by agencies directly from the Applicant. If an agency does not file comments within the time specified for filing comments, it will be presumed to have no comments. One copy of an agency's comments must also be sent to the Applicant's representatives.

David P. Boergers,

Secretary.