[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 174 (Wednesday, September 9, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 54279]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-22650]



[[Page 54279]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 2694-042]


Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC; Notice of Application for Temporary 
Variance and Soliciting Comments, Motions To Intervene, and Protests

    Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been 
filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection:
    a. Application Type: Temporary Variance from license Article 401
    b. Project No.: 2694-042
    c. Date Filed: June 9, 2015
    d. Applicant: Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC
    e. Name of Project: Queens Creek Hydroelectric Project
    f. Location: The project is located on Queens Creek, near the Town 
of Topton in Macon County, North Carolina.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791(a)-825(r)
    h. Applicant Contact: Jeffrey G. Lineberger, Director, Water 
Strategy and Hydro Licensing, Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC, 526 South 
Church Street, Mail Code: EC12Y/PO Box 1006, Charlotte, NC, 28201-1006; 
telephone: (704) 382-5942.
    i. FERC Contact: Kurt Powers, telephone: (202) 502-8949, and email 
address: [email protected].
    j. Deadline for filing comments, motions to intervene, and protests 
is 15 days from the issuance date of this notice by the Commission.
    All documents may be filed electronically via the Internet. See 18 
CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the Commission's Web 
site at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp. Commenters can 
submit brief comments up to 6,000 characters, without prior 
registration, using the eComment system at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ecomment.asp. You must include your name and contact information 
at the end of your comments. For assistance, please contact FERC Online 
Support at [email protected] or toll free at 1-866-208-3676, 
or for TTY, (202) 502-8659. Although the Commission strongly encourages 
electronic filing, documents may also be paper-filed. To paper-file, 
mail a copy to: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426. Please include 
the project number (P-2694-042) on any comments or motions filed.
    k. Description of Request: The licensee is requesting a temporary 
variance to the reservoir elevation range for Queens Creek Lake 
required by Article 401 of the project license. Article 401 requires 
the licensee to maintain Queens Creek Lake within one foot above and 
two feet below the reservoir's normal full operating pool level of 
3,017.0 feet mean sea level (msl) (or 2,895.0 feet Nantahala Datum 
(ND)). The licensee requests to begin lowering Queens Creek Lake on 
October 1, 2015, to reach a target reservoir elevation of approximately 
2,985.2 feet msl by November 1, 2015. The drawdown would allow the 
licensee to make required repairs to the headgate screens and draft 
tube for the Queens Creek Hydroelectric Station. The drawdown would 
also provide safe access for divers to install a bulkhead to allow the 
licensee to drain and replace leaking penstock piping components and 
valves. Once the reservoir level reaches the target elevation of 
2,985.2 feet msl the bulkhead would be installed, closing the intake 
structure, and the lake would begin refilling to the normal range 
required by Article 401. The licensee would maintain a minimum flow of 
one cubic feet per second in the bypassed reach during the drawdown and 
repairs; which the licensee plans to complete by November 30, 2015.
    l. Locations of the Application: A copy of the application is 
available for inspection and reproduction at the Commission's Public 
Reference Room, located at 888 First Street NE., Room 2A, Washington, 
DC 20426, or by calling (202) 502-8371. This filing may also be viewed 
on the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/elibrary.asp. Enter the docket number excluding the last three digits 
in the docket number field to access the document. 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/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.
    m. Individuals desiring to be included on the Commission's mailing 
list should so indicate by writing to the Secretary of the Commission.
    n. 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.
    o. Filing and Service of Responsive Documents: All filings must (1) 
bear in all capital letters the title ``COMMENTS'', ``PROTEST'', or 
``MOTION TO INTERVENE'' as applicable; (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. All 
comments, motions to intervene, or protests must set forth their 
evidentiary basis and otherwise comply with the requirements of 18 CFR 
4.34(b). All comments, motions to intervene, or protests should relate 
to project works which are the subject of the amendment application. 
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. 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. A copy of all other 
filings in reference to this application must be accompanied by proof 
of service on all persons listed in the service list prepared by the 
Commission in this proceeding, in accordance with 18 CFR 4.34(b) and 
385.2010.

    Dated: September 2, 2015.
Kimberly Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-22650 Filed 9-8-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P