01-10194. Notice of Amendment of License and Soliciting Comments, Motions To Intervene, and Protests

April 19, 2001.

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

a. Application Type: Amendment of License.

b. Project No: 2440-041.

c. Date Filed: February 1, 2001.

d. Applicant: Northern States Power Company—Wisconsin d/b/a Xcel Energy.

e. Name and Location of Project: The Chippewa Falls Project is located on the Chippewa River, in Chippewa County, Wisconsin. The project does not occupy federal or tribal lands.

f. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791(a)-825(r) and section 4.202(a) of the Commission's regulations.

g. Applicant Contact: William P. Zawacki, Xcel Energy, 1414 Hamilton Av., P.O. Box 8, Eau Claire, WI 54702-0008, [phone].

h. FERC Contact: Any question on this notice should be addressed to Pete Yarrington at [phone].

i. Deadline for Filing Comments and or Motions: May 18, 2001.

All documents (original and eight copies) should be filed with: David P. Boergers, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426. Comments, protests and interventions maybe 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 at http://www.ferc.fed.us/​efi/​doorbell.htm.

Please include the noted project numbers on any comments or motions filed.

j. Description of Proposal: The applicant (Xcel Energy) requests an amendment to article 408 of the license for the Chippewa Falls Hydroelectric Project. Article 408, in part, requires a study of full-depth trashracks, or an alternative enhancement measure, and a determination of residual fish losses as a result of turbine-induced mortality, and a schedule for either minimization or compensation for mortality losses. The applicant proposes that it should, instead, deposit a one-time sum of $250,000 into a Fish Protection Fund so that protective measures can be installed at the project if technological advances yield a practicable and effective alternative. If feasible alternatives are not found, the money would be used for fish habitat enhancements. This proposal has been negotiated as part of the Lower Chippewa River Settlement Agreement, which was filed with the Commission on February 1, 2001. The settlement agreement was crafted by a group of stakeholders in the Lower Chippewa River Basin, including the applicant, local municipalities, federal and state resource agencies, and non-governmental organizations.

k. Locations of the Application: A copy of the application is available for inspection and reproduction at the Commission's Public Reference Room, located at 888 First Street, NW, Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426, or by calling [phone]. The application may be viewed on the web at www.ferc.fed.us/​online/​rims.htm (Call [phone] for assistance). A copy is also available for inspection and reproduction at the address in item g above.

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

m. 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.

n. 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. Any of the above-named documents must be filed by providing the original and the number of copies required by the Commission's regulations to: The Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426. A copy of any motion to intervene must also be served upon each representative of the applicant specified in the particular application.

o. 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.

David P. Boergers,

Secretary.