E6-2037. New York Power Authority; Notice of Application Ready for Environmental Analysis, and Soliciting Comments, Terms and Conditions, Recommendations, and Prescriptions

February 7, 2006.

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.: P-2216-066.

c. Date Filed: August 18, 2005.

d. Applicant: New York Power Authority.

e. Name of Project: Niagara Power Project, which consists of the Lewiston Pump Generating Plant and the Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant.

f. Location: The Niagara Power Project is located on the Niagara River in the City of Niagara Falls and the Towns of Niagara and Lewiston, in Niagara County, New York.

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

h. Applicant Contact: Frederick E. Chase, Executive Director of Hydropower Relicensing, Power Authority of the State of New York, 30 South Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12207-3425, [phone] or [e-mail].

i. FERC Contact: Steve Kartalia, [phone] or [e-mail].

j. Deadline for filing comments, terms and conditions, recommendations, and prescriptions: 60 days from the issuance of this notice. All reply comments must be filed with the Commission within 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, terms and conditions, recommendations, 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 “eFiling” link.

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

l. Description of Project: The existing project has a conventional development and a pumped storage development for a total current installed capacity of 2,538 megawatts (based on currently completed upgrades). Existing project facilities include: (a) Two 700-foot-long intake structures located on the upper Niagara River about 2.6 miles upstream from the American Falls; (b) two 4.3-mile-long concrete underground water supply conduits, each measuring 46 feet wide by 66.5 feet high; (c) a forebay; (d) the Lewiston Pump-Generating Plant, measuring 975 feet long by 240 feet wide by 160 feet high; (e) the 1,900-acre Lewiston Reservoir at a maximum water surface elevation of 658 feet United States Lake Survey Datum; (f) the Robert Moses Niagara power plant, including an intake structure, measuring 1,100 feet long by 190 feet wide by 100 feet high; (g) a switch yard; and (h) 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 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.

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.

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 requirements of 18 CFR 4.34(b). Agencies may obtain copies of the application directly from the applicant. Each filing must be accomplished 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.

n. Procedural schedule and final amendments: At this time we anticipate preparing a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS). Recipients will have 45 days to provide the Commission with any written comments on the DEIS. All comments filed with the Commission will be considered in the final environmental impact statement (FEIS). The application will be processed according to the following Hydro Licensing Schedule. Revisions to the schedule will be made as appropriate.

Notice of the Availability of the DEIS: June 2006.

Notice of the Availability of the FEIS: November 2006.

Ready for Commission's decision on the application: February 2007.

Final amendments to the application must be filed with the Commission no later than 60 days from the issuance date of this notice.

Magalie R. Salas,

Secretary.