E7-3978. Duke Energy LLC.; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and Notice of Scoping Meetings and Soliciting Scoping Comments

February 28, 2007.

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

a. Type of Application: New Major License.

b. Project No.: P-2232-522.

c. Dates filed: August 29, 2006.

d. Applicant: Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC.

e. Name of Project: Catawba-Wateree Hydroelectric Project.

f. Locations: The Catawba-Wateree Project is located on the Catawba River in Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, McDowell, and Mecklenburg counties, North Carolina, and on the Catawba and Wateree Rivers in the counties of Chester, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lancaster, and York, South Carolina. There are no federal lands affected by these projects.

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

h. Applicant Contacts: Jeffrey G. Lineberger, Catawba-Wateree Hydro Relicensing Manager; and E. Mark Oakley, Catawba-Wateree Relicensing Project Manager, Duke Energy, Mail Code EC12Y, P.O. Box 1006, Charlotte, NC 28201-1006.

i. FERC Contacts: Sean Murphy at [phone] or [e-mail].

j. Deadline for filing scoping comments: April 30, 2007.

All documents (original and eight copies) should be filed with: Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426.

The Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure 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.

Scoping comments 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.

k. This application is not ready for environmental analysis at this time.

l. The existing Catawba-Wateree Project consists of eleven developments:

(1) The Bridgewater development consists of the following existing facilities: (1) The Catawba dam consisting of: (a) A 1,650-foot-long, 125-foot-high earth embankment; (b) a 305-foot-long, 120-foot-high concrete gravity ogee spillway; and (c) a 850-foot-long, 125-foot-high earth embankment; (2) the Paddy Creek dam consisting of: a 1,610-foot-long, 165-foot-high earth embankment; (3) the Linville dam consisting of: a 1,325-foot-long, 160-foot-high earth embankment; (4) a 430-foot-long uncontrolled low overflow weir spillway situated between Paddy Creek Dam and Linville Dam; (5) a 6,754 acre reservoir formed by Catawba, Paddy Creek, and Linville with a normal water surface elevation of 1,200 feet above msl; (6) a 900-foot-long concrete-lined intake tunnel; (7) a powerhouse containing two vertical Francis-type turbines directly connected to two generators, each rated at 10,000 kW, for a total installed capacity of 20.0 MW; and (8) other appurtenances.

(2) The Rhodhiss development consists of the following existing facilities: (1) The Rhodhiss dam consisting of: (a) A 119.58-foot-long concrete gravity bulkhead; (b) a 800-foot-long, 72-foot-high concrete gravity ogee spillway; (c) a 122.08-foot-long concrete gravity bulkhead with an additional 8-foot-high floodwall; and (d) a 283.92-foot-long rolled fill earth embankment; (2) a 2,724 acre reservoir with a normal water surface elevation of 995.1 feet above msl; (4) a powerhouse integral to the dam, situated between the bulkhead on the left bank and the ogee spillway section, containing three vertical Francis-type turbines directly connected to three generators, two rated at 12,350 kW, one rated at 8,500 kW for a total installed capacity of 28.4 MW; and (5) other appurtenances.

(3) The Oxford development consists of the following existing facilities: (1) The Oxford dam consisting of: (a) A 74.75-foot-long soil nail wall; (b) a 193-foot-long emergency spillway; (c) a 550-foot-long gated concrete gravity spillway; (d) a 112-foot-long embankment wall situated above the powerhouse; and (e) a 429.25-foot-long earth embankment; (2) a 4,072 acre reservoir with a normal water surface elevation of 935 feet above msl; (4) a powerhouse integral to the dam, situated between the gated spillway and the earth embankment, containing two vertical Francis-type turbines directly connected to two generators, each rated at 18,000 kW for a total installed capacity of 35.7 MW; and (5) other appurtenances.

(4) The Lookout Shoals development consists of the following existing facilities: (1) The Lookout Shoals dam consisting of: (a) A 282.08-foot-long concrete gravity bulkhead section; (b) a 933-foot-long uncontrolled concrete gravity ogee spillway; (c) a 65-foot-long gravity bulkhead section; and (d) a 1,287-foot-long, 88-foot-high earth embankment; (2) a 1,155 acre reservoir with a normal water surface elevation of 838.1 feet above msl; (3) a powerhouse integral to the dam, situated between the bulkhead on the left bank and the ogee spillway, containing three main vertical Francis-type turbines and two smaller vertical Francis-type turbines directly connected to five generators, the three main generators rated at 8,970 kW, and the two smaller rated at 450 kW for a total installed capacity of 25.7 MW; and (4) other appurtenances.

(5) The Cowans Ford development consists of the following existing facilities: (1) The Cowans Ford dam consisting of: (a) A 3,535-foot-long embankment; (b) a 209.5-foot-long gravity bulkhead; (c) a 465-foot-long concrete ogee spillway with eleven Taintor gates, each 35-feet-wide by 25-feet-high; (d) a 276-foot-long bulkhead; and (e) a 3,924-foot-long earth embankment; (2) a 3,134-foot-long saddle dam (Hicks Crossroads); (3) a 32,339 acre reservoir with a normal water surface elevation of 760 feet above msl; (4) a powerhouse integral to the dam, situated between the spillway and the bulkhead near the right embankment, containing four vertical Kaplan-type turbines directly connected to four generators rated at 83,125 kW for a total installed capacity of 332.5 MW; and (5) other appurtenances.

(6) The Mountain Island development consists of the following existing facilities: (1) The Mountain Island dam consisting of: (a) A 997-foot-long, 97-foot-high uncontrolled concrete gravity ogee spillway; (b) a 259-foot-long bulkhead on the left side of the powerhouse; (c) a 200-foot-long bulkhead on the right side of the powerhouse; (d) a 75-foot-long concrete core wall; and (e) a 670-foot-long, 140-foot-high earth embankment; (2) a 3,117 acre reservoir with a normal water surface elevation of 647.5 feet above msl; (3) a powerhouse integral to the dam, situated between the two bulkheads, containing four vertical Francis-type turbines directly connected to four generators rated at 15,000 kW for a total installed capacity of 55.1 MW; and (4) other appurtenances.

(7) The Wylie development consists of the following existing facilities: (1) The Wylie dam consisting of: (a) A 234-foot-long bulkhead; (b) a 790.92-foot-long ogee spillway section that contains 2 controlled sections with a total of eleven Stoney gates, each 45-feet-wide by 30-feet-high, separated by an uncontrolled section with no gates; (c) a 400.92-foot-long bulkhead; and (d) a 1,595-foot-long earth embankment; (2) a 12,177 acre reservoir with a normal water surface elevation of 569.4 feet above msl; (3) a powerhouse integral to the dam, situated between the bulkhead and the spillway near the left bank, containing four vertical Francis-type turbines directly connected to four generators rated at 18,000 kW for a total installed capacity of 69 MW; and (4) other appurtenances.

(8) The Fishing Creek development consists of the following existing facilities: (1) The Fishing Creek dam consisting of: (a) A 114-foot-long, 97-foot-high uncontrolled concrete ogee spillway; (b) a 1,210-foot-long concrete gravity, ogee spillway with twenty-two Stoney gates, each 45-feet-wide by 25-feet-high; and (c) a 214-foot-long concrete gravity bulkhead structure; (2) a 3,431 acre reservoir with a normal water surface elevation of 417.2 feet above msl; (3) a powerhouse integral to the dam, situated between the gated spillway and the bulkhead structure near the right bank, containing five vertical Francis-type turbines directly connected to five generators two rated at 10,530 kW and three rated at 9,450 kW for a total installed capacity of 48.1 MW; and (4) other appurtenances.

(9) The Great Falls-Dearborn development consists of the following existing facilities: (1) The Great Falls diversion dam consisting of a 1,559-foot-long concrete section; (2) the Dearborn dam consisting of: (a) A 160-foot-long, 103-foot-high, concrete embankment; (b) a 150-foot-long, 103-foot-high intake and bulkhead section; and (c) a 75-foot-long, 103-foot-high bulkhead section; (3) the Great Falls dam consisting of: (a) a 675-foot-long, 103-foot-high concrete embankment situated in front of the Great Falls Powerhouse (and joined to the Dearborn dam embankment); and (b) a 250-foot-long intake section (within the embankment); (4) the Great Falls bypassed spillway and headworks section consisting of: (a) a 446.7-foot-long short concrete bypassed reach uncontrolled spillway with a gated trashway (main spillway); (b) a 583.5-foot-long concrete headworks uncontrolled spillway with 4-foot-high flashboards (canal spillway); and (c) a 262-foot-long concrete headworks section situated perpendicular to the main spillway and the canal spillway, containing ten openings, each 16-feet-wide; (5) a 353 acre reservoir with a normal water surface elevation of 355.8 feet above msl; (6) two powerhouses separated by a retaining wall, consisting of: (a) Great Falls powerhouse: Containing eight horizontal Francis-type turbines directly connected to eight generators rated at 3,000 kW for an installed capacity of 24.0 MW, and (b) Dearborn powerhouse: containing three vertical Francis-type turbines directly connected to three generators rated at 15,000 kW for an installed capacity of 42.0 MW, for a total installed capacity of 66.0 MW; and (7) other appurtenances.

(10) The Rocky Creek-Cedar Creek development consists of the following existing facilities: (1) A U-shaped concrete gravity overflow spillway with (a) a 130-foot-long section (on the east side) that forms a forebay canal to the Cedar Creek powerhouse and contains two Stoney gate, each 45-feet-wide by 25-feet-high; (b) a 1,025-foot-long, 69-foot-high concrete gravity overflow spillway; and (c) a 213-foot-long section (on the west side) that forms the upper end of the forebay canal for the Rocky Creek powerhouse; (2) a 450-foot-long concrete gravity bulkhead section that completes the lower end of the Rocky Creek forebay canal; (3) a 748 acre reservoir with a normal water surface elevation of 284.4 feet above msl; (4) two powerhouses consisting of: (a) Cedar Creek powerhouse (on the east): containing three vertical Francis-type turbines directly connected to three generators, one rated at 15,000 kW, and two rated at 18,000 kW for an installed capacity of 43.0 MW; and (b) Rocky Creek powerhouse (on the west): containing eight horizontal twin-runner Francis-type turbines directly connected to eight generators, six rated at 3,000 kW and two rated at 4,500 kW for an installed capacity of 25.8 MW, for a total installed capacity of 68.8 MW; and (5) other appurtenances.

(11) The Wateree development consists of the following existing facilities: (1) The Wateree dam consisting of: (a) A 1,450 foot-long uncontrolled concrete gravity ogee spillway; and (b) a 1,370-foot-long earth embankment; (2) a 13,025 acre reservoir with a normal water surface elevation of 225.5 feet above msl; (3) a powerhouse integral to the dam, situated between the spillway and the earth embankment, containing five vertical Francis-type turbines directly connected to five generators, two rated at 17,100 kW and three rated at 18,050 kW for a total installed capacity of 82.0 MW; and (4) other appurtenances.

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.

You may also 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.

n. Scoping Process: The Commission intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the project in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act. The EIS will consider both site-specific and cumulative environmental impacts and reasonable alternatives to the proposed action.

Scoping Meetings

FERC staff will conduct one agency scoping meeting and three public meetings. The agency scoping meeting will focus on resource agency and non-governmental organization (NGO) concerns, while the public scoping meetings are primarily for public input. All interested individuals, organizations, and agencies are invited to attend one or more of the meetings, and to assist the staff in identifying the scope of the environmental issues that should be analyzed in the EIS. The times and locations of these meetings are as follows:

Evening Scoping Meeting #1

Date: Monday, March 26, 2007.

Time: 7 p.m.-9 p.m. (EST).

Place: Moore Hall Auditorium, Western Piedmont Community College.

Address: 1001 Burkemont Ave, Morganton, NC, 828-433-4067.

Evening Scoping Meeting #2

Date: Tuesday, March 27, 2007.

Time: 7 p.m.-9 p.m. (EST),

Place: Charles Mack Citizens Center, (Town of Mooresville Citizen Center),

Address: 215 North Main St., Mooresville, NC, 704-662-3334.

Daytime (Agency) Scoping Meeting

Date: Wednesday, March 28, 2007.

Time: 9 p.m.-4 p.m. (EST).

Place: Baxter Hood Center (York Technical College.)

Address: 452 S. Anderson Rd., Rock Hill, SC, 803-981-7100.

Evening Scoping Meeting #3

Date: Wednesday, March 28, 2007.

Time: 7 p.m.-9 p.m. (EST).

Place: Baxter Hood Center (York Technical College).

Address: 452 S. Anderson Rd., Rock Hill, SC, 803-981-7100.

Evening Scoping Meeting #4

Date: Thursday, March 29, 2007.

Time: 7 p.m.-9 p.m. (EST).

Place: Shrine Club.

Address: 1381 Kershaw Hwy., Camden, SC, 803-432-7335.

Copies of the SD1 outlining the subject areas to be addressed in the EIS were distributed to the parties on the Commission's mailing list. Copies of the SD1 will be available at the scoping meeting or may be viewed on the web at http://www.ferc.gov using the “eLibrary” link (see item m above).

Site Visit

Due to the size and distance between locations, site visits are not yet scheduled for this project.

Objectives

At the scoping meetings, the staff will: (1) Summarize the environmental issues tentatively identified for analysis in the EIS; (2) solicit from the meeting participants all available information, especially quantifiable data, on the resources at issue; (3) encourage statements from experts and the public on issues that should be analyzed in the EIS, including viewpoints in opposition to, or in support of, the staff's preliminary views; (4) determine the resource issues to be addressed in the EIS; and (5) identify those issues that require a detailed analysis, as well as those issues that do not require a detailed analysis.

Procedures

The meetings are recorded by a stenographer and become part of the formal record of the Commission proceeding on the project.

Individuals, organizations, and agencies with environmental expertise and concerns are encouraged to attend the meeting and to assist the staff in defining and clarifying the issues to be addressed in the EIS.

Magalie R. Salas,

Secretary.