E5-644. New York State Electric & Gas Corporation; Notice of Application Accepted for Filing and Soliciting Motions To Intervene and Protests

February 10, 2005.

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-2738-054.

c. Date filed: April 5, 2004.

d. Applicant: New York State Electric & Gas Corporation.

e. Name of Project: Saranac River Hydroelectric Project.

f. Location: On the Saranac River, in Clinton County, New York. This project does not occupy federal lands.

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

h. Applicant Contact: Carol Howland, New York State Electric & Gas Corporation, Corporate Drive, Kirkwood Industrial Park, P.O. Box 5224, Binghampton, NY 13902, [phone].

i. FERC Contact: Tom Dean, [phone] or [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 “eFiling” link. The Commission encourages electronic filings.

k. This application has been accepted, but is not ready for environmental analysis at this time.

1. Project Description: The project consists of the following four developments:

The High Falls Development consists of the following existing facilities: (1) A 63-foot-high, 274-foot-long concrete gravity dam with spillway topped with 5-foot-high flashboards; (2) a 110-foot-long eastern wingwall and a 320-foot-long western wingwall; (3) a 46-acre reservoir; (3) an 800-foot-long, 19-foot-wide forebay canal; (4) an 11-foot by 12-foot, 3,581-foot-long tunnel; (5) a 10-foot-diameter, 1,280-foot-long penstock; (6) three 6-foot-diameter, 150-foot-long penstocks; (7) a 30-foot-diameter surge tank; (8) a powerhouse containing three generating units with a total installed capacity of 15,000 kW; (9) a 50-foot-long, 6.9-kV transmission line; and (10) other appurtenances.

The Cadyville Development consists of the following existing facilities: (1) A 50-foot-high, 237-foot-long concrete gravity dam with spillway topped with 2.7-foot-high flashboards; (2) a 200-acre reservoir; (3) a 58-foot-long, 20-foot-wide intake; (4) a 10-foot-diameter, 1,554-foot-long penstock; (5) a powerhouse containing three generating units with a total installed capacity of 5,525 kW; (6) a 110-foot-long, 6.6-kV transmission line; and (7) other appurtenances.

The Mill C Development consists of the following existing facilities: (1) A 43-foot-high, 202-foot-long stone masonry dam with spillway topped with 2-foot-high flashboards; (2) a 7.9-acre reservoir; (3) a 37-foot-long, 18-foot-wide intake; (4) a 11.5-foot to 10-foot-diameter, 494-foot-long penstock; (5) a 11.1-foot to 10-foot-diameter, 84-foot-long penstocks; (6) one powerhouse containing two generating units with a total installed capacity of 2,250 kW; (7) another powerhouse containing a single generating unit with an installed capacity of 3,800 kW; (8) a 700-foot-long, 6.6-kV transmission line; and (9) other appurtenances.

The Kents Falls Development consists of the following existing facilities: (1) A 59-foot-high, 172-foot-long concrete gravity dam with spillway topped with 3.5-foot-high flashboards; (2) a 34-acre reservoir; (3) a 29-foot-long, 22-foot-wide intake; (4) an 11-foot-diameter, 2,652-foot-long penstock; (5) three 6-foot-diameter, 16-foot-long penstocks; (6) a 28-foot-diameter surge tank; (7) a powerhouse containing two generating units with a total installed capacity of 12,400 kW; (8) a 390-foot-long, 6.6-kV transmission line; and (9) other appurtenances.

m. A copy of the application is on file with the Commission and is available for public inspection. This filing may also be viewed on the Web at http://www.ferc.gov using the “eLibrary” link—select “Docket #” and follow the instructions. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at [e-mail] or toll free at [phone] or for TTY, contact [phone]. A copy is also available for inspection and reproduction at the address in item h above.

n. You may also register online at http://www.ferc.gov.esubscribenow.htm to be notified via email of new filings and issuances related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support.

o. 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.

p. Procedural Schedule and Final Amendments: The application will be processed according to the following Hydro Licensing Schedule. Revisions to the schedule will be made as appropriate. The Commission staff proposes to issue one environmental assessment rather than issue a draft and final EA. Comments, terms and conditions, recommendations, prescriptions, and reply comments, if any, will be addressed in an EA. Staff intents to give at least 30 days for entities to comment on the EA, and will take into consideration all comments received on the EA before final action is taken on the license application.

Issue Scoping Document—February 2005

Notice application ready for environmental analysis—April 2005

Notice of the availability of the EA—August 2005

Ready for Commission decision on the application—December 2005

Final amendments to the application must be filed with the Commission no later than 30 days from the issuance date of the notice of ready for environmental analysis.

Magalie R. Salas,

Secretary.