03-5103. Notice of Application Accepted for Filing, Soliciting Motions To Intervene and Protests, and Establishing Procedural Schedule for Relicensing and a Deadline for Submission of Final Amendments

February 26, 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.: 1960-002.

c. Date filed: February 19, 1999.

d. Applicant: Dairyland Power Cooperative—Wisconsin.

e. Name of Project: Flambeau Hydroelectric Station.

f. Location: On the Flambeau River in Rusk County, Wisconsin. The project does not utilize Federal lands.

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

h. Applicant Contact: Mr. Dave Carroll, Coordinator, Dairyland Power Cooperative, 3200 East Avenue, South La Cross, WI 54601, [phone].

i. FERC Contact: Timothy Konnert, [e-mail], or [phone].

j. Cooperating agencies: We are asking Federal, state, local, and tribal agencies with jurisdiction and/or special expertise with respect to environmental issues to cooperate with us in the preparation of the environmental document. Agencies who would like to request cooperating status should file the request by the deadline specifiedin item k below.

k. Deadline for filing motions to intervene and protests and requests for cooperating agency status: 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 and requests for cooperating agency status 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.

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

m. The project consists of the following existing facilities: (1) A right earthen dam, 2,570 feet-long and a left earthen dam 2,130 feet-long, separated by a 138 foot-long gated spillway section with a crest elevation of 1157.0 feet NGVD; (2) a 1,900-acre reservoir with a normal water surface elevation of 1183.48 feet NGVD; (3) a powerhouse containing 3 vertical Kaplan turbines each connected to generator units for a total installed capacity of 15,000 kW; and (4) appurtenant facilities. The average annual energy generation is 60,727,590 kWh. The dam and existing project facilities are owned by the applicant.

n. 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 “FERRIS” 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.

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. Alternative procedure schedule and final amendments: The Commission staff proposes to issue one Environmental Assessment (EA) rather than issue a draft and final EA. Staff intends to allow 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. If any person or organization objects to the staff proposal alternative procedure, they should file comments by the deadline specified in item k above. The application will be processed according to the following schedule, and revisions to the schedule will be made as appropriate. Issue Scoping Document 1 for comments: March 2003. Issue Scoping Document 2, if necessary: June 2003. Notice of application is ready for environmental analysis: July 2003. Notice of the availability of the EA: December 2003. Ready for Commission's decision on the application: January 2004.

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.