E6-8868. Fort Dodge Hydroelectric Development Company; Notice Soliciting Scoping Comments

June 1, 2006.

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

a. Type of Application: Original License.

b. Project No.: P-12447-001.

c. Date filed: March 21, 2006.

d. Applicant: Fort Dodge Hydroelectric Development Company.

e. Name of Project: Fort Dodge Mill Dam Hydroelectric Project.

f. Location: On the Des Moines River in Webster County, Iowa.

The project does not occupy federal lands.

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

h. Applicant Contact: Thomas J. Wilkinson, Jr., Fort Dodge Hydroelectric Development Company, 1800 1st Ave., NE., Ste. 200, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402; [phone].

i. FERC Contact: Stefanie Harris, [phone] or [e-mail].

j. Deadline for filing scoping comments: July 31, 2006.

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.

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 “eFiling” link.

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

l. The Fort Dodge Mill Dam Project would consist of: (1) The existing 342-foot-long by 18-foot-high concrete dam with a 230-foot-long spillway and 5 Tainter gates; (2) a 90-acre reservoir with a normal full pond elevation of 990 feet above mean sea level; (3) an existing 40-foot-wide concrete intake structure with trash rack and stop log guides; (4) an existing powerhouse to contain two proposed turbine generating units with a total installed capacity of 1,400 kW; (5) a proposed 2,400-foot-long, 13.8-kV transmission line; and (6) appurtenant facilities. The applicant estimates that the total average annual generation would be about 7,506 MWh.

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.

n. You may also register online at http://www.ferc.gov.esubscribenow.htm to be notified via email of new filings and issuances related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support.

o. Scoping Process:

The Commission staff intends to prepare a single Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Fort Dodge Mill Dam Project in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act. The EA will consider both site-specific and cumulative environmental impacts and reasonable alternatives to the proposed action.

Commission staff do not propose to conduct any on-site scoping meetings at this time. Instead, we are soliciting comments, recommendations, and information, on the Scoping Document (SD) issued on May 31, 2006.

Copies of the SD outlining the subject areas to be addressed in the EA were distributed to the parties on the Commission's mailing list and the applicant's service list. Copies of the SD may be viewed on the web 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, call 1-866-208-3676 or for TTY, [phone].

Magalie R. Salas,

Secretary.