2019-10303. Public Service Company of Colorado; Notice of Application Accepted for Filing and Soliciting Comments, Motions to Intervene, Protests, Recommendations, and Terms and Conditions

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

a. Application Type: Non-Capacity Amendment of License.

b. Project No: 2275-049.

c. Date Filed: March 21, 2019.

d. Applicant: Public Service Company of Colorado.

e. Name of Project: Salida Hydroelectric Project Numbers 1 and 2.

f. Location: The project is located on the South Fork Arkansas River in Chaffee County, Colorado.

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

h. Applicant Contact: Christine E. Johnston, Project Manager; (303) 294-2224; [e-mail].

i. FERC Contact: Krista Sakallaris; [phone]; [e-mail].

j. Deadline for filing motions to intervene and protests, comments, recommendations, and terms and conditions, is 60 days from the issuance date of this notice by the Commission; reply comments are due 105 days from the issuance date of this notice by the Commission. The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing.

The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file comments, motions to intervene, and protests using the Commission's eFiling system at http://www.ferc.gov/​docs-filing/​efiling.asp. Commenters can submit brief comments up to 6,000 characters, without prior registration, using the eComment system at http://www.ferc.gov/​docs-filing/​ecomment.asp. You must include your name and contact information at the end of your comments. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at [e-mail], [phone] (toll free), or [phone] (TTY). In lieu of electronic filing, please send a paper copy to: Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426. The first page of any filing should include docket number P-2275-049. Comments emailed to Commission staff are not considered part of the Commission record.

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 whose name appears 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. Description of Request: Public Service Company of Colorado is requesting Commission approval to amend its license to remove the facilities and land within the project boundary associated with Salida Unit 1. As proposed, the Garfield Dam would be removed along with associated structures and the upstream area will be restored to provide a stable channel and habitat for fish and macroinvertebrates. Portions of the Garfield dam to Fooses Reservoir Gravity Pipeline will be removed while the rest will be decommissioned and left in place. The Fooses Dam will be removed along with some auxiliary structures and the stream channel of Fooses Creek will be restored. The above ground sections of the Fooses Bypass Pipeline will be removed and the underground sections will be decommissioned and left in place. The Salida No. 1 penstock and pipeline will be decommissioned and portions located on U.S. Forest Service land and private property will be left in place. The Salida No. 1 powerhouse will either be sold or removed and the non-project substation within the current project boundary will be removed. The proposal includes removing approximately 21 acres of U.S Forest Service land and 3.6 acres of private land from the project boundary to eliminate lands that encompass the above facilities. As proposed, the project's installed capacity would be reduced from 1.31 megawatts to 560 kilowatts. The proposed amendment would not have any effect on the Salida Unit 2 portion of the project, which will continue to operate as licensed.

l. 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 NE, Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426, or by calling [phone]. This filing may also be viewed on the Commission's website 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. You may also register online at http://www.ferc.gov/​docs-filing/​esubscription.asp to be notified via email of new filings and issuances related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, call 1-866-208-3676 or email [e-mail], for TTY, call [phone]. A copy is also available for inspection and reproduction at the address in item (h) above. Agencies may obtain copies of the application directly from the applicant.

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

n. 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, respectively. 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.

o. Filing and Service of Documents: Any filing must (1) bear in all capital letters the title “COMMENTS”, “PROTEST”, “MOTION TO INTERVENE”, “RECOMMENDATIONS”, or “TERMS AND CONDITIONS” as applicable; (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 commenting, protesting or intervening; and (4) otherwise comply with the requirements of 18 CFR 385.2001 through 385.2005. All comments, motions to intervene, or protests must set forth their evidentiary basis. Any filing made by an intervenor must be accompanied by proof of service on all persons listed in the service list prepared by the Commission in this proceeding, in accordance with 18 CFR 385.2010.

Dated: May 13, 2019.

Kimberly D. Bose,

Secretary.