82 FR 33494 - Grand River Dam Authority: Notice of Application for Temporary Variance and Soliciting Comments, Motions To Intervene, and Protests

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 138 (July 20, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 138 (Thursday, July 20, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33494-33495]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-15246]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 1494-441]


Grand River Dam Authority: 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 the Article 401 
reservoir elevation rule curve in order to keep reservoir levels in the 
Grand Lake O' the Cherokees (Grand Lake) higher than normal for the 
period of August 16, 2017 through October 31, 2017.
    b. Project No.: 1494-441.
    c. Date Filed: July 11, 2017.
    d. Applicant: Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA).
    e. Name of Project: Pensacola Hydroelectric Project.
    f. Location: The project is located on the Grand River in Craig, 
Delaware, Mayes, and Ottawa Counties, Oklahoma.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791(a)-825(r).
    h. Applicant Contact: Daniel S. Sullivan, Chief Executive Officer, 
Grand River Dam Authority, P.O. Box. 409, Vinita, OK 74301; telephone: 
(918) 256-5545.
    i. FERC Contact: B. Peter Yarrington, telephone (202) 502-6129, 
email [email protected] or Jeremy Jessup, telephone (202) 502-
6779, email [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

[[Page 33495]]

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-1494-441) on 
any comments or motions filed.
    k. Description of Request: GRDA requests a temporary variance to 
deviate from the Article 401 reservoir elevation rule curve during the 
period of August 16, 2017 through October 31, 2017. GRDA says the 
requested variance would protect safety and property by reducing the 
risk of vessel groundings in late summer, improve recreation during a 
peak recreation season, and provide additional water storage to assist 
in making releases for maintenance of dissolved oxygen concentrations 
downstream.
    This temporary variance request is separate from the application 
GRDA filed May 6, 2016, which proposes a permanent amendment of the 
project's Article 401 rule curve requirements. The May 6, 2016 
permanent amendment application is currently under Commission review.
    Under GRDA's proposed temporary variance, between August 16 and 
September 15, 2017, GRDA would maintain the reservoir at elevation 743 
feet Pensacola Datum (PD), which is up to two feet higher than the 
current rule curve. Between September 16 and September 30, the 
elevation would be lowered from 743 to 742 feet PD, which up to two 
feet higher than the current rule curve. Between October 1 and October 
31, the reservoir would then be maintained at elevation 742 feet PD, 
which is up to one foot higher than the current rule curve. After 
October 31, reservoir elevations would follow the current rule curve.
    As part of its application, GRDA includes a Storm Adaptive 
Management Plan that would be followed to address high water conditions 
upstream and downstream of Grand Lake during major precipitation events 
in the river basin. GRDA also includes a Drought Adaptive Management 
Plan that would be followed to determine project operation, including 
deviations from the rule curve elevations, to allow releases for 
maintenance of downstream water quality and reliable operation of 
GRDA's downstream Salina Pumped Storage Project if certain drought 
conditions occur.
    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: July 13, 2017.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-15246 Filed 7-19-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P