E5-913. Northern Indiana Public Service Company; Notice of Application Accepted for Filing and Soliciting Motions To Intervene and Protests

February 28, 2005.

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

a. Type of Application: Original major license.

b. Project No.: 12514-000.

c. Date Filed: June 28, 2004.

d. Applicant: Northern Indiana Public Service Company.

e. Name of Project: Norway and Oakdale Hydroelectric Project.

f. Location: On the Tippecanoe River in Carroll and White Counties, Indiana. The project does not affect Federal lands.

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

h. Applicant Contact: Jerome B. Weeden, Vice President Generation; Northern Indiana Public Service Company; 801 East 86th Avenue; Merrillville, IN 46410; [phone].

i. FERC Contact: Sergiu Serban at [phone], or [e-mail].

j. Deadline for Filing Motions to Intervene and Protests: 60 days from the 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 filing. 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. After logging into the e-Filing system, select “Comment on Filing” from the Filing Type Selection screen and continue with the filing process.”

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

l. Description of Project: The existing Norway Oakdale Hydroelectric Project consists of the Norway development and the Oakdale development and has a combined installed capacity of 16.4 megawatts (MW). The project produces an average annual generation of 65,000 megawatt-hours (MWh). All power is dispatched directly into the local grid and is used within the East Central Area Reliability Coordination Agreement.

The Norway development includes the following constructed facilities: (1) A 915-foot-long dam consisting of a 410-foot-long, 34-foot-maximum-height earthfill embankment with a concrete corewall; a 225-foot-long, 29-foot-high concrete gravity overflow spillway with flashboards; a 120-foot-long, 30-foot-high concrete gated spillway with three 30-foot wide, 22-foot-high spillway gates; a 18-foot-wide, 30-foot-high trash sluice housing with one 8-foot-wide, 11-foot-high gate; and a 142-foot-long, 64-foot-wide powerhouse integral with the dam containing four vertical Francis turbines-generating units with a rated head of 28 feet, total hydraulic capacity of 3,675 cubic feet per second (cfc) and a total electric output of 7.2 MW; (2) a 10-mile-long, 10-foot average depth, 1,291-acre reservoir; (3) a two-mile-long 69,000 volt transmission line; and (4) appurtenant facilities.

The Oakdale development includes the following constructed facilities: (1) A 1688-foot-long dam consisting of a 126-foot-long, 58-foot-maximum-height east concrete buttress and slab dam connecting the left abutment to the powerhouse; a 114-foot-long, 70-foot-wide powerhouse integral with the dam containing three vertical Francis turbines-generating units with a rated head of 42 to 48 feet, total hydraulic capacity of 3,200 cubic feet per second (cfc) and a total electric output of 9.2 MW; an 18-foot-wide structure containing a nonfunctional fish ladder and a gated trash sluice; a 84-foot-long ogee-shaped concrete gated spillway with two 30-foot wide, 22-foot-high vertical lift gates; a 90-foot-long, six bay concrete gravity siphon-type auxiliary spillway; and a 1,260-foot-long west earth embankment with a maximum height of 58 feet and a 30-foot-wide crest; (2) a 10-mile-long, 16-foot average depth, 1,547-acre reservoir; and (3) 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 (P-12514), 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.

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.

n. Any qualified applicant desiring to file a competing application must submit to the Commission, on or before the specified deadline date for the particular application, a competing development application, or a notice of intent to file such an application. Submission of a timely notice of intent allows an interested person to file the competing development application no later than 120 days after the specified deadline date for the particular application. Applications for preliminary permits will not be accepted in response to this notice.

A notice of intent must specify the exact name, business address, and telephone number of the prospective applicant, and must include an unequivocal statement of intent to submit, if such an application may be filed, either a preliminary permit application or a development application (specify which type of application). A notice of intent must be served on the applicant(s) named in this public notice.

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.

When the application is ready for environmental analysis, the Commission will issue a public notice requesting comments, recommendations, terms and conditions, or prescriptions.

All filings must (1) bear in all capital letters the title “PROTEST” or “MOTION TO INTERVENE,” “NOTICE OF INTENT TO FILE COMPETING APPLICATION,” or “COMPETING APPLICATION;” (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.

Magalie R. Salas,

Secretary.