03-2389. Notice of Amendment of License and Soliciting Comments, Motions To Intervene, and Protests

January 28, 2003.

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

a. Application Type: Amendment of License.

b. Project No.: 516-374.

c. Date Filed: January 10, 2003.

d. Applicant: South Carolina Electric & Gas Company (SCE&G).

e. Name of Project: Saluda.

f. Location: On the Saluda River in Lexington, Newberry, Richland, and Saluda Counties, South Carolina. The project does not utilize federal or tribal lands.

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

h. Applicant Contact: Thomas G. Eppink, SCANA Corporation, 1426 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29218-0001, [phone]; Brian J. McManus, Jones Day, 51 Louisiana Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20001-2113, [phone].

i. FERC Contact: Regina Saizan, [phone].

j. Deadline for filing comments and or motions: February 28, 2003.

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. Comments, protests, and interventions 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 under the “e-Filing” link. The Commission strongly encourages electronic filings. Please include the project number (P-516-374) on any comments or motions filed.

The Commission's rules of practice and procedure require all interveners filing a document with the Commission to serve a copy of that document on each person in the official service list for the project. Further, if an intervener 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.

k. Description of Amendment: SCE&G requests that its license be amended to extend the termination date by 5 years (from August 31, 2007 to August 31, 2012) to provide the time necessary to conduct, under normal operating conditions, the studies that will be requested or required under the relicensing procedures for the Saluda Project. The Commission has ordered a remediation of the project's dam that will necessitate a drawdown of Lake Murray for several years. The dam remediation project will create conditions that are not representative of the conditions under which the project normally operates and render meaningless any relicensing studies pursued under such conditions. SCE&G filed a notice of intent to relicense the project on August 30, 2002.

l. This filing 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 “FERRIS” link. Enter the docket number excluding the last three digits in the docket number field to access the document. For assistance, call toll-free 1-866-208-3676 or e-mail [e-mail]. For TTY, call [phone]. Copies are also available for inspection and reproduction at the addresses in item h.

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

n. 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.

o. 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. A copy of any motion to intervene must also be served upon each representative of the Applicant specified in the particular application.

p. 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.

Magalie R. Salas,

Secretary.