E4-1504. Notice of Application Accepted for Filing and Soliciting Motions To Intervene and Protests

July 1, 2004.

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.: 2150-033.

c. Date Filed: April 30, 2004.

d. Applicant: Puget Sound Energy.

e. Name of Project: Baker River Hydroelectric Project.

f. Location: On the Baker River, near the Town of Concrete, in Whatcom and Skagit Counties, Washington. The project occupies about 5,207 acres of lands within the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

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

h. Applicant Contact: Connie Freeland, Puget Sound Energy, P.O. Box 97034 PSE-09S Bellevue, WA 98009-9734; [phone] or [e-mail].

i. FERC Contact: Steve Hocking, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426; [phone] or [e-mail].

j. Deadline for filing motions to intervene and protests: September 30, 2004.

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 www.ferc.gov under the “e-Filing” link.

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

l. The Baker River Project has two developments. The Upper Baker development consists of the following existing facilities: (1) A 312-foot-high by 1,200-foot-long concrete gravity dam impounding Baker Lake with a surface area of about 4,980 acres at a normal full pool elevation of 727.77 feet mean sea level (msl); (2) a 122-foot-long, 59-foot-wide concrete and steel powerhouse at the base of the dam containing two turbine-generator units, Unit No. 1 with an authorized capacity of 52,400 kilowatts (kW) and Unit No. 2 with an authorized capacity of 38,300 kW; (3) a 115-foot-high by 1,200-foot-long earth and rock-fill dam, known as West Pass dike, located in a depression about 1,500 feet north of Upper Baker dam; (4) a 22-foot-high by 3,000-foot-long earth-filled dike, known as Pumping Pond dike, which impounds Depression Lake with a surface area of 44 acres at a normal full pool elevation of 699 feet msl; (5) a water recovery pumping station adjacent to Pumping Pond dike; (6) fish passage facilities and fish spawning facilities; and (7) appurtenant facilities.

The Lower Baker development consists of the following existing facilities: (1) A 285-foot-high by 550-foot-long concrete arch dam impounding Lake Shannon with a surface area of about 2,278 acres at a normal full pool elevation of 442.35 feet msl; (2) a concrete intake equipped with trashracks and gatehouse located at the dam's left abutment; (3) a 1,410-foot-long concrete and steel-lined pressure tunnel; (4) a concrete surge tank near the downstream end of the pressure tunnel; (5) a 90-foot-long, 66-foot-wide concrete and steel powerhouse containing one turbine-generator unit, Unit No. 3, with an authorized capacity of 79,330 kW; (6) a 750-foot-long, 115-kilovolt transmission line; (7) fish passage facilities including a 150-foot-long by 12-foot-high barrier dam; and (8) appurtenant facilities.

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 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 [phone], or for TTY, [phone]. A copy is also available for inspection and reproduction at the address in item h above.

You may also register online at 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, contact FERC Online Support.

n. 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.

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.