2010-15143. Thermalito Afterbay Hydro, LLC; Notice of Preliminary Permit Application Accepted for Filing and Soliciting Comments, Motions to Intervene, and Competing Applications

June 16, 2010.

On May 21, 2010, Thermalito Afterbay Hydro, LLC filed an application for a preliminary permit, pursuant to section 4(f) of the Federal Power Act, proposing to study the feasibility of the Thermalito Afterbay Small Hydroelectric Project, located at the California Department of Resources' Thermalito afterbay dam on the Feather River, in Butte County, California. The sole purpose of a preliminary permit, if issued, is to grant the permit holder priority to file a license application during the permit term. A preliminary permit does not authorize the permit holder to perform any land-disturbing activities or otherwise enter upon lands or waters owned by others without the owners' express permission.

The proposed project would consist of the following:

(1) A total of 5 to 6 generation sets installed at Thermalito afterbay dam and Thermalito afterbay outlet, with a total capacity of about 10 megawatts; (2) a switchyard and about 5 miles of 69 kilovolt (kV) transmission line to connect to PG&E's existing 69-kV transmission line at Thermalito pumping-generating plant; (3) a maintenance crane installed on top of each dam; and (4) a control station within 300 feet of the Thermalito afterbay dam. The proposed project would have a total average annual generation of 57 gigawatt-hours.

Applicant Contact: Magnús Jóhannesson, Thermalito Afterbay Hydro, LLC, 28605 Quailhill Drive, Ranch Palos Verdes, CA 90275; phone: [phone].

FERC Contact: Jim Fargo, 202-502-6095.

Deadline for filing comments, motions to intervene, competing applications (without notices of intent), or notices of intent to file competing applications: 60 days from the issuance of this notice. Competing applications and notices of intent must meet the requirements of 18 CFR 4.36. Comments, motions to intervene, notices of intent, and competing applications 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.

More information about this project, including a copy of the application, can be viewed or printed on the “eLibrary” link of the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov/​docs-filing/​elibrary.asp. Enter the docket number (P-13794) in the docket number field to access the document. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support.

Kimberly D. Bose,

Secretary.