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Notice of Amended Application for the St. Anthony Falls Project and Extension of Time for Comments, Recommendations, Terms and Conditions, and Prescriptions
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
[Federal Register: January 17, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 12)]
[Notices]
[Page 2431-2433]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17ja02-43]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Notice of Amended Application for the St. Anthony Falls Project
and Extension of Time for Comments, Recommendations, Terms and
Conditions, and Prescriptions
January 11, 2002.
Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been
amended by the applicant as identified in the project description
below. By notice dated November 11, 2001, the Commission requested
Comments, Recommendations, Terms and Conditions, and Prescriptions, due
within 60 days of the notice. In order to give parties time to comment
on the revised Application, the due date for Comments, Recommendations,
Terms and Conditions, and Prescriptions has been extended to 60 days
from the date of this notice. Changes proposed by the Applicant include
removal of the Lower Development from the Project, revision of proposal
for facilities for public access and usage at the new Main Street and
Hennepin Island Dams, a new park on Upper Hennepin Island, and a
combination of canoe access site, shoreline fishing structure, and
observation deck at the Lower Development. The Applicant no longer
proposes moving the Pillsbury Substation, diverting flows for a
waterfall in the east Bluff area, donation of Hennepin Islands or
direct funding to the Minnesota Park and Recreation Board.
a. Type of Application: New Major License
b. Project No.: P-2056-016
c. Date filed: Application filed December 21, 1998; Application
amended October 11, 2001, and November 2, 2001.
d. Applicant: Northern States Power Company (NSP)
e. Name of Project: St. Anthony Falls Project
f. Location: On the Mississippi River, near Minneapolis and St.
Paul, Hennepin County, Minnesota. There are no federal lands within the
project boundary.
g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 USC 791(a)-825(r).
h. Applicant Contact: Mark H. Holmberg, P.E., Northern States Power
Company, 414 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55401; (612) 330-6568
i. FERC Contact: Any questions on this notice should be addressed
to Monte TerHaar, E-mail: monte.terhaar@ferc.fed.us, or telephone (202)
219-2768.
j. Deadline Date: March 18, 2002.
All documents (original and eight copies) should be filed with:
Linwood A. Watson, Jr., Acting Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, 888 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20426.
Comments, protests and interventions may also be filed
electronically via the Internet in lieu of paper. See, 18 CFR
385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the Commission's web site
under the ``e-Filing'' link.
The Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure require all
interveners filing documents with the Commission
[[Page 2432]]
to serve a copy of that document on each person whose name appears 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.
k. Status of environmental analysis: This application has been
accepted for filing and is ready for environmental analysis at this
time. The Commission will prepare a draft and a final Environmental
Assessment.
l. Description of the Project: The St. Anthony Falls Project
currently consists of two developments on the Mississippi River, the
Upper Development and the Lower Development.
Upper Main Dam Development
The Upper Main Dam development of the project consists of the
Horseshoe dam spillway, main spillway, roll dams, Hennepin Island
earthen dam, two abandoned wasteways, the Hennepin Island hydro
entrance canal and powerhouse, the Main Street/Hennepin Island dam, and
the Main Street plant. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) Upper St.
Anthony Lock is on the right (south) bank of the river adjacent to the
Upper Dam development. The headrace canal for the Crown Mill
Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 11175) is being developed just upstream
of the lock.
NSP has completed construction of a replacement, multiple-circular-
cell sheetpile dam to replace the existing Main Street/GE Dam and
adjacent intake structure. A similar cellular dam structure has been
constructed at the Wasteway No. 2 Intake Gates.
Lower Development
The Lower Development consists of an upstream closure dam, a
downstream closure dam, and left retaining wall which encompass
approximately 3.53 acres of land owned by NSP. There are currently no
hydropower facilities at the Lower Development. In November of 1987,
the St. Anthony Falls Lower Dam Hydro Plant experienced an undermining
failure. On August 19, 1988, the Commission issued an order authorizing
complete demolition and removal of the lower facility. Demolition of
the powerhouse was completed by the end of 1988. As of August 2001, all
necessary remedial work necessary to ensure dam safety at the Lower
Development has been completed to the Commission's satisfaction. In
their application, and by a letter dated November 2, 2001, NSP has
proposed to remove the lower development from the project.
NSP had proposed a number of recreational enhancements in its
original application for license in 1998. These enhancement measures
were developed in consultation with the Minnesota Department of Natural
Resources, Minnesota Parks and Recreation Board, the City of
Minneapolis, and the Mississippi Whitewater Development Corporation.
However, NSP states that the consultative process has broken down
without an agreement and hence, the NSP has revised its recreational/
aesthetic mitigation and enhancement proposal as described below:
(1) Mitigation Measures at the Upper Development
A straight-line cantilever along the face of the new dams
providing an overhang to partially shade or cover the facade of the
dam;
Smooth, broom-swept concrete surface covering for the
upstream edge (bridged sections) of the dam excluding the bicycle path;
Surface covering of dam (excluding concrete slabs and
bicycle path) with finely crushed limestone aggregate of compatible
color with the concrete slabs;
Earth fill between the steel sheet pile cells and the old
(Main Street) powerhouse limited to reach but not cover the brick of
the historic powerhouse; and
Surface covering for the swale upstream of the powerhouse
with finely crushed limestone aggregate of compatible color with the
concrete slabs; planting swale areas upstream of the old GE Dam and
between the new Hennepin Island Dam and the old wasteway headworks with
native vegetation.
NSP has completed the last two items and expects to complete the
others shortly.
(2) Other Measures at the Upper Development
An eight-foot bicycle path of bituminous composition on
the powerhouse side of the concrete slabs along the upstream face of
the dam;
A switchback ramp between the old powerhouse and the Main
Street to provide bicycle/barrier-free access to the new dam; steps
leading straight down the river bank on to the new dam from Main
Street;
Observation areas and benches at four locations on the
dams;
An overlook area on the new dam for interpretive displays;
An interpretive sign for the Main Street Substation at the
trashrack observation area;
Railings, lights, and interpretive signs to generally
match those on the Stone Arch Bridge.
A pedestrian bridge linking the Main Street Dam to
Hennepin Island; and
New walkways, interpretive nodes, visual overlooks,
information shelter, natural areas, landscaping, and other improvements
on upper Hennepin Island.
(3) Mitigation Measures at the Lower Development
NSP proposes to provide new facilities for canoe access, shoreline
fishing, and public observation at the restored Lower Dam site.
(4) Changes in NSP's Proposed Mitigation Measures
NSP does not propose to move the Pillsbury Substation or diverting
water to re-create a waterfall in the East Bluff area from its current
location. NSP's revised recreation mitigation plan does not include any
funding to the Minnesota Park and Recreation Board for operation and
maintenance of the East Bank Park Development, nor donation of Hennepin
Island lands to the Minnesota Park and Recreation Board. Instead, NSP
proposes to independently develop, operate, and maintain park
facilities on the upper part of Hennepin Island and the former Lower
Dam site.
Details of the enhancement and mitigation measures were filed with
the Commission on October 11, 2001 and are available electronically for
review at the Commission's website (www.ferc.gov 
). Copies may also be
requested directly from NSP. The Commission will discuss this
alternative in its Environmental Assessment.
m. Locations of the application: Copies of this filing are on file
with the Commission and are available for public inspection. This
filing may also be viewed on the Web at http://www.ferc.gov using the
``RIMS'' link, select ``Docket#'' and follow the instructions (call
202-208-2222 for assistance). A copy is also available for inspection
and reproduction at the address in item ``h'' above.
Filing and Service of Responsive Documents--The application is
ready for environmental analysis at this time, and the Commission is
requesting comments, reply comments, recommendations, terms and
conditions, and prescriptions.
The Commission directs, pursuant to Section 4.34(b) of the
Regulations (see
[[Page 2433]]
Order No. 533 issued May 8, 1991, 56 FR 23108, May 20, 1991) that all
comments, recommendations, terms and conditions and prescriptions
concerning the application be filed with the Commission within 60 days
from the issuance date of this notice. All reply comments must be filed
with the Commission within 105 days from the 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 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. Any of these documents must be
filed by providing the original and the number of copies required by
the Commission's regulations to: The Secretary, Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426. An
additional copy must be sent to Director, Division of Environmental and
Engineering Review, Office of Energy Projects, Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, at the above address. 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.
C.B. Spencer,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 02-1230 Filed 1-16-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P