92 FERC ¶ 61,261 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION Before Commissioners: James J. Hoecker, Chairman; William L. Massey, Linda Breathitt, and Curt Hébert, Jr. PP&L Montana, LLC Project No. ORDER ISSUING NEW LICENSE (Issued September 27, 2000) On November 25, 1992, Montana Power Company filed an application for a new license pursuant to Part I of the Federal Power Act (FPA) for the Missouri-Madison Hydroelectric Project. The project consists of nine hydroelectric developments located on the Madison and Missouri Rivers in Gallatin, Madison, Lewis and Clark, and Cascade Counties, in southwestern Montana. Portions of the project are located on federal lands, including lands within the Gallatin and Helena National Forests. The project has a total generating capacity of 291.8 megawatts (MW), which Montana Power proposed to increase by 35.1 MW, to 326.9 MW. The Commission subsequently approved transfer of the license to PP&L Montana, LLM, which is currently operating the project. For the reasons discussed below, we will issue a new license for the project. BACKGROUND Eight of the project's nine developments were constructed between 1906 and 1930. The original license for the project was issued in 1956, when Montana Power sought authorization to add the ninth development, Cochrane. The original license expired on November 30, 1994, with the project operating pursuant to annual licenses thereafter. Montana Power amended its application on February 24 and March 21, 1994, March 2 and June 15, 1995, and March 6, 1996. Notices were issued of the application and of the above-enumerated amendments to it, and comments were received. Timely motions to intervene were filed by the U.S. Department of the Interior (Interior); the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (Montana
reservoir shoreline sites identified in the SBAE as being in an active erosion condition to determine whether or not control measures need to be implemented, and provisions for implementing necessary control measures as their need is identified; (2) a schedule for visual inspection on a 5- to 7-year basis of the reservoir shorelines identified in the SBAE as experiencing minor or moderate erosion, and provisions for determining whether specific sites would be reclassified and added to the "active" sites in (1), above; and (3) provisions for periodic review and modification of the plan. The Licensee shall prepare the plan after consultation with the Montana DEQ, the Montana State Historic Preservation Officer, the Gallatin National Forest, the Helena National Forest, BLM, and BOR. The Licensee shall include with the plan documentation of consultation, copies of documents and recommendations on the completed plan after it has been prepared and provided to the agencies, and specific descriptions of how the agencies' comments are accommodated by the plan. The Licensee shall allow a minimum of 30 days for the agencies to comment and to make recommendations before filing the plan with the Commission. If the Licensee does not adopt a recommendation, the filing shall include the Licensee's reasons, based on conditions at the site. The Commission reserves the right to require changes in the plan to ensure proper control of shoreline erosion, and adequate protection of the environmental and cultural values of the project area. Upon Commission approval, the Licensee shall implement the plan including any changes required by the Commission. Article 403. Within 180 days after the issuance date of the license, the Licensee shall file for Commission approval, and upon approval, implement the approved plan to operate the Missouri Madison Project developments as described below: Hebgen Development (1) maintain a continuous minimum flow of 150 cfs in the Madison River as measured just downstream from Hebgen Dam at USGS Gauge No. 6385, and a continuous minimum flow of 600 cfs at USGS Gauge No. 6388 near the Kirby Ranch; (2) limit flows at USGS Gauge No. 6388 near Kirby Ranch to no more than 3,500 cfs to minimize erosion of the Quake Lake outlet; (3) changes in outflow from Hebgen Dam to no more than 10 percent per day for the entire year;