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: Original minor license.

b. Project No.: 12449-000.

c. Date Filed: February 28, 2003.

d. Applicant: Neshkoro Power Associates, LLC.

e. Name of Project: Big Falls Milldam Hydroelectric Project.

f. Location: On the Little Wolf River (north branch), near the Village of Big Falls, in Waupaca County, Wisconsin. The project does not affect any Federal lands.

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

h. Applicant Contact: Mr. Charles Alsberg, North American Hydro, Inc., P.O. Box 167, Neshkoro, Wisconsin 54960, (902) 293-4628 ext. 11.

i. FERC Contact: Timothy Konnert, timothy.konnert@ferc.gov, or (202) 502-6359.

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

Anyone may obtain an extension of time for these deadlines from the Commission only upon a showing of good cause or extraordinary circumstances in accordance with 18 CFR 385.2008.

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 and procedure 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 “eFiling” link.

k. Status of Environmental Analysis: This application is ready for environmental analysis at this time.

l. Description of Project: The existing Big Falls Milldam Hydroelectric Project consists of the following facilities: (1) A 256-foot-long by 18-foot-high dam, topped with a 76-foot-long fixed crest ogee with 6-inch flashboards and one 16-foot-wide Taintor gate; (2) a 23.27-acre reservoir (Big Falls Flowage) with a negligible gross storage capacity at a normal elevation of 901.65 feet Mean Sea Level; (3) a 7-foot-diameter by 175-foot-long penstock leading to; (4) a powerhouse containing one, vertical-shaft Francis turbine generator with an installed generating capacity of 350 kilowatts (kW), producing a total of 1,513,514 kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually, and (5) appurtenant facilities.

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.

Register online at http://www.ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm to be notified via e-mail of new filings and issuances related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support. To view upcoming FERC events, go to http://www.ferc.gov and click on “View Entire Calendar.”

n. 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.

o. Procedures Schedule: The Commission staff proposes to issue one Environmental Assessment (EA) rather than issuing a draft and final EA. Staff intends to allow at least 30 days for entities to comment on the EA, and will take into consideration all comments received on the EA before final action is taken on the license application. If any person or organization objects to the staff proposed alternative procedure, they should file comments as stipulated in item k above, briefly explaining the basis for their objection. The application will be processed according to the following schedule, but revisions to the schedule may be made as appropriate:

Issue Notice of availability of EA—June 2004.

Ready for Commission decision on the application—August 2004.

Final amendments to the application must be filed with the Commission no later than 30 days from the issuance date of this notice.