E8-10129. Eagle Crest Energy Company; Notice of Application Accepted for Filing and Soliciting Comments, Protests, and Motions To Intervene

April 30, 2008.

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

a. Type of Application: Preliminary Permit.

b. Project No.: 13123-000.

c. Date filed: March 3, 2008.

d. Applicant: Eagle Crest Energy Company.

e. Name and Location of Project: The proposed Eagle Mountain Pumped Storage Project would be located in Riverside County, California. The project would use federal land managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

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

g. Applicant contact: Mr. Arthur W. Lowe, 1 El Paseo West, Suite 204, 74199 El Paseo, Palm Desert, CA 92260, [phone], and Mr. Donald H. Clarke, Esq., Law Offices of GKRSE, 1500 K St., NW., Suite 330, Washington, DC 20005, [phone].

h. FERC Contact: Kelly Houff, [phone].

i. Deadline for filing comments, protests, and motions to intervene: 60 days from the issuance date of this notice.

All documents (original and eight copies) should be filed with: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426. Comments, protests and interventions may be filed electronically via the Internet in lieu of paper; see 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the Commission's Web site under the “e-Filing” link. The Commission strongly encourages electronic filings. Please include the project number (P-13123-000) on any comments or motions filed.

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 in 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.

j. Description of Existing Facilities and Proposed Project: The proposed pumped storage project would consist of: (1) Two upper reservoir dams; the first proposed dam would be 1,100 to 1,600-foot-long, 60-foot-high, and the second proposed dam would be 1,100 to 1,600-foot-long, 120-foot-high, (2) a proposed upper reservoir having a surface area of 193 acres, with a storage capacity of 20,000 acre-feet and a normal water surface elevation of 2,485 feet mean sea level (msl), (3) a proposed lower reservoir having a surface area of 164 acres, with storage capacity of 21,900 acre-feet and normal water surface elevation of 926 feet msl located within the East Pit of the inactive Eagle Mountain Mine, (4) proposed intake and outlet structures for both reservoirs, (5) a proposed upper “low head” pressure 4,400-foot-long, 35-foot-diameter tunnel and a lower tunnel 1,500 feet in length and 35 feet in diameter, which will extend to a penstock manifold. These two tunnels will be joined by a 35-foot-diameter vertical shaft 1,333-foot deep, (6) a proposed powerhouse containing four generating units having a total installed capacity of 1,300 megawatts, (7) a proposed 6,835-foot-long, 35-foot-diameter tailrace tunnel, (8) a proposed 46-mile-long, 500 kilovolt transmission line, (9) a desalination facility, and (10) appurtenant facilities.

k. Location of Applications: A copy of the application is available for inspection and reproduction 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, call toll-free 1-866-208-3676 or e-mail [e-mail]. For TTY, call [phone]. A copy is also available for inspection and reproduction at the address in item g above.

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

m. Competing Preliminary Permit—Anyone desiring to file a competing application for preliminary permit for a proposed project must submit the competing application itself, or a notice of intent to file such an application, to the Commission on or before the specified comment date for the particular application (see 18 CFR 4.36). Submission of a timely notice of intent allows an interested person to file the competing preliminary permit application no later than 30 days after the specified comment date for the particular application. A competing preliminary permit application must conform with 18 CFR 4.30 and 4.36.

n. Competing Development Application—Any qualified development applicant desiring to file a competing development application must submit to the Commission, on or before a specified comment date for the particular application, either a competing development application or a notice of intent to file such an application. Submission of a timely notice of intent to file a development application allows an interested person to file the competing application no later than 120 days after the specified comment date for the particular application. A competing license application must conform with 18 CFR 4.30 and 4.36.

o. Notice of Intent—A notice of intent must specify the exact name, business address, and telephone number of the prospective applicant, and must include an unequivocal statement of intent to submit, if such an application may be filed, either a preliminary permit application or a development application (specify which type of application). A notice of intent must be served on the applicant(s) named in this public notice.

p. Proposed Scope of Studies Under Permit—A preliminary permit, if issued, does not authorize construction. The term of the proposed preliminary permit would be 36 months. The work proposed under the preliminary permit would include economic analysis, preparation of preliminary engineering plans, and a study of environmental impacts. Based on the results of these studies, the Applicant would decide whether to proceed with the preparation of a development application to construct and operate the project.

q. 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. 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.

r. Filing and Service of Responsive Documents—Any filings must bear in all capital letters the title “COMMENTS”, “NOTICE OF INTENT TO FILE COMPETING APPLICATION”, “COMPETING APPLICATION”, “PROTEST”, or “MOTION TO INTERVENE”, as applicable, and the Project Number of the particular application to which the filing refers. Any of the above-named documents must be filed by providing the original and the number of copies provided by the Commission's regulations to: The Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426. An additional copy must be sent to Director, Division of Hydropower Administration and Compliance, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, at the above-mentioned address. A copy of any notice of intent, competing application or motion to intervene must also be served upon each representative of the Applicant specified in the particular application.

s. Agency Comments—Federal, State, and local agencies are invited to file comments on the described application. A copy of the application may be obtained by agencies directly from the Applicant. If an agency does not file comments within the time specified for filing comments, it will be presumed to have no comments. One copy of an agency's comments must also be sent to the Applicant's representatives.

Kimberly D. Bose,

Secretary.