# Notice of Application Tendered for Filing With the Commission, Soliciting Additional Study Requests, and Establishing Procedures for Relicensing and a Deadline for Submission of Final Amendments
Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection.
a. *Type of Application:* New Minor License.
b. *Project No.:* 2603-012.
c. *Date Filed:* July 22, 2003.
d. *Applicant:* Duke Power.
e. *Name of Project:* Franklin Project.
f. *Location:* On the Little Tennessee River, in Macon County, North Carolina. The project does not affect federal lands.
g. *Filed Pursuant to:* Federal Power Act 16 U.S.C. 791 (a)-825(r).
h. *Applicant Contact:* John C. Wishon, Nantahala Area Relicensing Project Manager, Duke Power, 301 NP&L Loop, Franklin, NC 28734, (828) 369-4604, *[email protected].*
i. *FERC Contact:* Allan Creamer at (202) 502-8365, or *[email protected].*
j. *Cooperating Agencies:* We are asking federal, state, local, and tribal agencies with jurisdiction and/or special expertise with respect to environmental issues to cooperate with us in the preparation of the environmental document. Agencies who would like to request cooperating status should follow the instructions for filing comments described in item l below.
k. Pursuant to section 4.32(b)(7) of 18 CFR of the Commission's regulations, if any resource agency, Indian Tribe, or person believes that an additional scientific study should be conducted in order to form an adequate factual basis for a complete analysis of the application on its merit, the resource agency, Indian Tribe, or person must file a request for a study with the Commission not later than 60 days from the date of filing of the application, and serve a copy of the request on the applicant.
l. *Deadline for Filing Additional Study Requests and Requests for Cooperating Agency Status:* 60 days from the filing date shown in paragraph (c), or September 22, 2003.
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 interveners 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 intervener 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.
Additional study requests may be filed electronically via the Internet in lieu of paper. The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. *See* 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the Commission's Web site ( *http://www.ferc.gov* ) under the “e-Filing” link. After logging into the e-Filing system, select “Comment on Filing” from the Filing Type Selection screen and continue with the filing process.”
m. *Status:* This application is not ready for environmental analysis at this time.
n. *Description of Project:* The existing Franklin Project operates in a run-of-river mode, within a 6-inch tolerance band. Project operation is dependent on available flow in the Little Tennessee River. The Franklin Project consists of the following features: (1) A 462.5-foot-long, 35.5-foot-high concrete masonry dam, consisting of, from left to right facing downstream, (a) A 15-foot-long non-overflow section, (b) a 54-foot-long ungated Ogee spillway, (c) a 181.5-foot-long gated spillway section, having six gated, ogee spillway bays, (d) a 54-foot-long ungated Ogee spillway, (e) a 25-foot-long non-overflow section, (f) a 63-foot-long powerhouse, and (g) a 70-foot-long non-overflow section; (2) a 4.6-mile-long, 174-acre impoundment at elevation 2000.22 msl; (3) three intake bays, each consisting of a flume and grated trashracks having a clear bar spacing of 3 inches; (4) a powerhouse containing two turbine/generating units (vertical Leffel Type-Z turbines), having an installed capacity of 1,040 kW; (5) a switchyard, with a single three-phase transformer; and (6) appurtenant facilities.
Duke Power estimates that the average annual generation is 5,313,065 kWh (1941-2002). Duke Power uses the Franklin Project facilities to generate electricity for use by retail customers living in the Duke Power-Nantahala Area.
o. 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 “FERRIS” link. Enter the docket number, excluding the last three digits in the docket number field (P-2603), to access the document. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support at *[email protected]* , or toll-free at 1-866-208-3676, or for TTY, (202) 502-8659. A copy is also available for inspection and reproduction at the address in item h above.
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.
p. With this notice, we are initiating consultation with the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO), as required by Section 106, National Historic Preservation Act, and the regulations of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, 36 CFR 800.4.
q. *Procedural schedule and final amendments:* The application will be processed according to the following Hydro Licensing Schedule. Revisions to the schedule will be made if the Commission determines it necessary to do so:
| Action | Tentative date |
| --- | --- |
| Issue Deficiency Letter | October 2003. |
| Issue Acceptance letter | December 2003. |
| Issue Scoping Document 1 for comments | February 2004. |
| Request Additional Information | April 2004. |
| Issue Scoping Document 2 | May 2004. |
| Notice of application is ready for environmental analysis | August 2004. |
| Notice of the availability of the draft EA | February 2005. |
| Notice of the availability of the final EA | May 2005. |
| Ready for Commission's decision on the application | July 2005. |
Final amendments to the application must be filed with the Commission no later than 30 days from the issuance date of this notice.
Linda Mitry,
Acting Secretary.