Duke Power; Notice of Application Ready for Environmental Analysis and Soliciting Comments, Recommendations, Terms and Conditions, and Prescriptions

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

a. Type of Application: Subsequent minor license.

b. Project No.: 2603-012.

c. Date Filed: July 22, 2003.

d. Applicant: Duke Power.

e. Name of Project: Franklin Hydroelectric Project.

f. Location: The Franklin Project is located 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, jcwishon@duke-energy.com.

i. FERC Contact: Carolyn Holsopple at (202) 502-6407 or carolyn.holsopple@ferc.gov.

j. Deadline for filing comments, recommendations, terms and conditions, and prescriptions is 60 days from the issuance of this notice; reply comments are due 105 days from the issuance date of this notice.

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.

Comments, recommendations, terms and conditions, and prescriptions 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 ( http://www.ferc.gov ) under the “e-filing” link.

k. This application has been accepted for filing and is now ready for environmental analysis.

l. The existing Franklin Hydroelectric 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, and (f) 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 having a reinforced concrete substructure and a brick superstructure, containing two turbine/generating units, having a total 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. Duke Power uses the Franklin Project facilities to generate electricity for use by retail customers living in the Duke Power-Nantahala Area.

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 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, contact FERC Online Support at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov 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/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. Public notice of the filing of the initial development application, which has already been given, established the due date for filing competing applications or notices of intent. Under the Commission's regulations, any competing development application must be filed in response to and in compliance with public notice of the initial development application. No competing applications or notices of intent may be filed in response to this notice.

All filings must (1) bear in all capital letters the title “COMMENTS”, “REPLY COMMENTS”, “RECOMMENDATIONS,” “TERMS AND CONDITIONS,” or “PRESCRIPTIONS;” (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 submitting the filing; and (4) otherwise comply with the requirements of 18 CFR 385.2001 through 385.2005. All comments, recommendations, terms and conditions or prescriptions must set forth their evidentiary basis and otherwise comply with the requirements of 18 CFR 4.34(b). Agencies may obtain copies of the application directly from the applicant. Each filing must be accompanied by proof of service on all persons listed on the service list prepared by the Commission in this proceeding, in accordance with 18 CFR 4.34(b), and 385.2010.