03-8090. Notice of Application Accepted for Filing and Soliciting Motions to Intervene and Protests

March 28, 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.: P-287-009.

c. Date filed: April 8, 2002.

d. Applicant: Midwest Hydro Inc.

e. Name of Project: Dayton Hydroelectric Project.

f. Location: On the Fox River, near the City of Dayton, in La Salle County, Illinois. The project does not affect any federal lands.

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

h. Applicant Contact: Charles Alsberg, Executive Vice President, North American Hydro, PO Box 167, Neshkoro, WI 54960, [phone] ext. 11.

i. FERC Contact: Tom Dean, [phone], [e-mail].

j. Deadline for filing motions to intervene and protests: 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 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 has been accepted for filing, but is not ready for environmental analysis at this time.

l. The existing Dayton Hydroelectric Project consists of: (1) 594-foot-long arch-buttress uncontrolled fixed crest overflow concrete dam; (2) a 200-foot-long earthen embankment on the east side; (3) a 200 acre impoundment with a normal pool elevation of 498.90 msl; (4) a concrete head gate structure with four 15.5-foot-wide and 9.5 foot-high wooden gates located at the west abutment; (5) a 900-foot-long, 135-foot-wide, 10-foot-deep power canal; (6) a powerhouse containing three turbines with a total installed capacity of 3,680 kW; (7) a 150-foot-long, 2.4 kV transmission line; and (8) appurtenant facilities. The average annual generation is 14,200 megawatthours.

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 “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.

n. Procedural schedule: The application will be processed according to the following Hydro Licensing Schedule. Revisions to the schedule will be made as appropriate. The Commission staff proposes to issue one environmental assessment rather than issue a draft and final EA. The EA will have at least a 30 day period for entities to file comments, 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 this proposal, they should file comments during the comment period stipulated in item j above, briefly explaining the basis for their objection. Issue Scoping Document: April 2003. Notice that application is ready for environmental analysis: June 2003. Notice of the availability of the EA: October 2003. Ready for Commission decision on the application: December 2003.

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, 385.214. 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 protests or motions to intervene must be received on or before the specified comment 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.

Magalie R. Salas,

Secretary.