2010-9686. Gibson Dam Hydroelectric Company, LLC; Notice of Application Accepted for Filing and Soliciting Motions To Intervene and Protests

April 20, 2010.

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

a. Type of Application: Major Project—Existing Dam.

b. Project No.: P-12478-003.

c. Date filed: August 28, 2009.

d. Applicant: Gibson Dam Hydroelectric Company, LLC.

e. Name of Project: Gibson Dam Hydroelectric Project.

f. Location: On the Sun River, near the towns of Augusta and Fairfield, Lewis and Clark and Teton Counties, Montana. The project would occupy 95.34 acres of federal land administered by the U.S. Forest Service and 19.39 acres of federal land administered by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management for a total of 114.73 acres of federal land.

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

h. Applicant Contact: Steve C. Marmon, Thom A. Fischer, Whitewater Engineering Corporation, 3633 Alderwood Ave., Bellingham, WA 98225, [phone].

i. FERC Contact: Matt Cutlip, phone: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail].

j. Deadline for filing motions to intervene and protests: 60 days from the issuance date of this notice.

All documents may be filed electronically via the Internet. See 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the Commission's Web site (http://www.ferc.gov/​docs-filing/​ferconline.asp) under the “eFiling” link. For a simpler method of submitting text only comments, click on “Quick Comment.” For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at [e-mail]; call toll-free at [phone]; or, for TTY, contact [phone]. Although the Commission strongly encourages electronic filing, documents may also be paper-filed. To paper-file, mail an original and eight copies to: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426.

The Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedures 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.

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

l. The proposed project would utilize the existing facilities of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's Gibson Dam including the reservoir, existing valve house, and two existing dam outlet pipes; and would consist of the following new facilities: (1) Two new 72-inch-diameter penstocks extending 40 feet from the existing outlet pipes to the powerhouse; (2) a new powerhouse located near the toe of the dam with four turbine/generating units with total installed capacity of 15 megawatts; (3) a new 25.8-mile, 34.5/69 kV overhead and underground transmission line from the powerhouse to an interconnection point with Sun River Electric Cooperative, Inc.'s existing 69 kV transmission line at Jackson's Corner; (4) a new 34.5/69 kV step-up substation; (5) a new maintenance building located approximately 1,400 feet downstream of the powerhouse adjacent to existing Gibson Dam operations facilities; and (6) appurtenant facilities. The average annual generation is estimated to be 40 gigawatt-hours.

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. 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. Any qualified applicant desiring to file a competing application must submit to the Commission, on or before the specified intervention deadline date, 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 intervention deadline date. 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 a development 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.

Kimberly D. Bose,

Secretary.