Notice2026-19241
NorthWestern Energy; Notice of Application Accepted for Filing, Soliciting Motions To Intervene and Protests, Ready for Environmental Analysis, and Soliciting Comments, Recommendations, Preliminary Terms and Conditions, and Preliminary Fishway Prescriptions
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Published
September 21, 2026
Issuing agencies
Energy DepartmentFederal Energy Regulatory Commission
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 181 (Monday, September 21, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 181 (Monday, September 21, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59771-59773]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-19241]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 1869-066]
NorthWestern Energy; Notice of Application Accepted for Filing,
Soliciting Motions To Intervene and Protests, Ready for Environmental
Analysis, and Soliciting Comments, Recommendations, Preliminary Terms
and Conditions, and Preliminary Fishway Prescriptions
Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been
filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection.
a. Type of Application: New Major License.
b. Project No.: 1869-066.
c. Date Filed: December 29, 2023.
d. Applicant: NorthWestern Energy (NorthWestern).
e. Name of Project: Thompson Falls Hydroelectric Project (project).
f. Location: On the Clark Fork River in Sanders County in the city
of Thompson Falls, Montana. The project occupies 103.80 acres of
federal lands administered by the US Forest Service.
g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791(a)-825(r).
h. Applicant Contact: Andrew Welch, Manager, Hydro License
Compliance,
[[Page 59772]]
NorthWestern Energy, 208 N Montana Avenue, Suite 200, Helena, Montana
59601; phone: (406) 444-8115 or via email at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ec8d82889e899bc29b89808f84ac82839e98849b899f98899e82c28f8381"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d6b7b8b2a4b3a1f8a1b3bab5be96b8b9a4a2bea1b3a5a2b3a4b8f8b5b9bb">[email protected]</span></a>.
i. FERC Contact: John Baummer at (202) 502-6837 or
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#63090c0b0d4d0102160e0e061123050611004d040c15"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="94fefbfcfabaf6f5e1f9f9f1e6d4f2f1e6f7baf3fbe2">[email protected]</span></a>.
j. Deadline for filing motions to intervene and protests, comments,
recommendations, terms and conditions, and prescriptions: on or before
5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on November 16, 2026; reply comments are due on
or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on December 30, 2026.
The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file
motions to intervene, protests, comments, recommendations, preliminary
terms and conditions, and preliminary fishway prescriptions using the
Commission's eFiling system at <a href="https://ferconline.ferc.gov/FERCOnline.aspx">https://ferconline.ferc.gov/FERCOnline.aspx</a>. Commenters can submit brief comments up to 10,000
characters, without prior registration, using the eComment system at
<a href="https://ferconline.ferc.gov/QuickComment.aspx">https://ferconline.ferc.gov/QuickComment.aspx</a>. For assistance, please
contact FERC Online Support at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4e080b1c0d01202227202b1d3b3e3e213c3a0e282b3c2d60292138"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="783e3d2a3b37161411161d2b0d0808170a0c381e1d0a1b561f170e">[email protected]</span></a>, (866) 208-
3676 (toll free), or (202) 502-8659 (TTY). In lieu of electronic
filing, you may submit a paper copy. Submissions sent via the U.S.
Postal Service must be addressed to: Debbie-Anne A. Reese, Secretary,
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Room 1A,
Washington, DC 20426. Submissions sent via any other carrier must be
addressed to: Debbie-Anne A. Reese, Secretary, Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
The first page of any filing should include docket number P-1869-066.
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.
k. This application has been accepted for filing and is now ready
for environmental analysis.
l. The existing project consists of two dams that form the project
reservoir and two powerhouses. The project includes: (1) a 1,016-foot-
long, 54-foot-high, concrete gravity dam (i.e., Main Channel Dam) with
a 913-foot-long overflow section with 8-foot-high fixed wheel panels
atop 8-foot-high stoplogs and four radial gates; (2) an upstream fish
passage facility on Main Channel Dam; (3) a 449-foot-long, 45-foot-high
concrete gravity dam (i.e., Dry Channel Dam) located downstream of the
Main Channel Dam with a 289-foot-long overflow section with 8-foot-high
fixed wheel panels atop 4-foot-high stoplogs; (4) a 1,226-acre
reservoir impounded by the two dams (Thompson Falls Reservoir); (5) a
300-foot-long, 78-foot-wide excavated channel leading to a 200-foot
long, 78-foot-wide reinforced concrete intake structure; (6) three 39-
foot-high, 18-foot-wide, and 75-foot-long rectangular conduits
extending from the intake to a 200-foot-long, 78-foot-wide concrete
powerhouse containing a Kaplan-type turbine-generator unit with an
installed capacity of 52.61 megawatts (MW); (7) a 450-foot-long, 80-
foot-wide forebay channel leading to a 258-foot-long, 40-foot-high
second intake structure (adjacent to the other intake structure); (8)
six steel, 14-foot-diameter main turbine penstocks and two 6-foot-8-
inch-diameter exciter turbine penstocks extend from the second intake
to a 292-foot-long, 97-foot-wide second powerhouse containing six
Francis-type turbine-generating units, with three rated at 7.0 MW, two
rated at 6.38 MW, and one rated at 6.0 MW; (9) a 1,000-foot-long, 100-
foot-wide tailrace channel leading from the outlet of the first
powerhouse; (10) a 800-foot-long, 130-foot-wide tailrace channel
leading from the outlet of the second powerhouse; (11) three generator
step-up transformers; (12) a 300-foot-long, 115-kilovolt generator lead
line extending from the first powerhouse to the second powerhouse and
two 50-foot-long, 6.6-kilovolt generator lead lines connecting to a
breaker within the second powerhouse serving as the interconnection
point for both powerhouses; (13) a 1,000-foot long access road; and
(14) appurtenant facilities. The project bypasses approximately 3,500
feet of the Clark Fork River.
NorthWestern operates a fish ladder to pass target species (i.e.,
Bull trout, other native salmonids and non-sport fish, and certain non-
native sport fish) upstream of the Main Channel Dam from mid-March to
mid-October. The fish ladder is designed for river flows up to 48,000
cubic feet per second (cfs) and has an operating flow of 83 cfs,
including fish attraction flows. Fish ascending the ladder are
collected in a holding pool at the top of ladder where they are sorted
and released upstream into the reservoir upstream. The project does not
include a downstream fish passage facility.
The project includes three licensed recreation facilities: (1)
Island Park managed by NorthWestern which features a trail network with
interpretive signage, picnic tables, benches, an accessible restroom,
parking area, and a viewing platform; \1\ (2) Wild Goose Landing Park
managed by the City of Thompson Falls under an off-license agreement,
which offers open space, picnic facilities, a plumbed restroom, a boat
launch with a stationary dock, a floating swim dock, shoreline fishing
access, and parking for approximately 20 vehicles; and (3) the South
Shore Dispersed Recreation Area managed by NorthWestern which includes
parking for four vehicles, signage addressing fluctuating water levels,
an accessible vault toilet and garbage facilities, and provides access
for fishing the mouth of Prospect Creek and in the main river
channel.\2\
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\1\ Island Park is within the project boundary; however, the
parking area owned by NorthWestern that provides walk-in access to
the park via the Gallatin Street Bridge is on the north shore,
adjacent to the project boundary.
\2\ Because the project boundary follows the south shoreline
closely, some of the amenities of the South Shore Dispersed
Recreation Area, such as the vault toilet and garbage facilities are
adjacent to the project boundary.
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NorthWestern is currently authorized to operate as a peaking
facility and provides both baseload and flexible generation within the
constraints of its existing license. NorthWestern Energy is authorized
to operate the project to maintain the reservoir elevation within a
four-foot operating band (i.e., between 2,396.5 feet and 2,392.5 feet);
however in practice, it typically operates to maintain the reservoir
within 1.5 feet from the full operating level (i.e., between 2,396.5
and 2395.0 feet) while also maintaining a minimum flow of 6,000 cfs or
inflow, whichever is less, in the Clark Fork River downstream of the
project to protect and enhance aquatic resources. The average annual
generation of the project was approximately 504,300 megawatt-hours
between 2014 and 2018.
NorthWestern proposes to continue operating the project in peaking
mode but maintain the reservoir elevation within a 2.5-foot operating
band (i.e., between 2,396.5 feet and 2,394.0 feet) while also
continuing to maintain a minimum flow of 6,000 cfs or inflow, if less,
in the Clark Fork River downstream of the powerhouses. NorthWestern
also proposes to continue to operate the existing upstream fish passage
facility from March to October, refine operation of the new radial
gates at the main channel dam to minimize total dissolved gas levels
downstream of
[[Page 59773]]
the dam, and develop and implement a reservoir drawdown management
plan.
NorthWestern also proposes to fully enclose Island Park, Wild Goose
Landing Park, South Shore Dispersed Recreation Area, Power Park, Cherry
Creek Boat Launch, and the historic Prospect Creek Powerhouse within
the project boundary and exclude certain federal and private lands that
it says do not serve a project purpose which would reduce the size of
the current project boundary by 465 acres.
m. A copy of the application can be viewed on the Commission's
website at <a href="http://www.ferc.gov">http://www.ferc.gov</a> 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. A copy is also available for inspection and reproduction at
the address in item h above.
Register online at <a href="http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp">http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp</a> to be notified via email of new filings and issuances
related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC
Online Support.
n. 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, and .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.
All filings must (1) bear in all capital letters the title
``PROTEST'', ``MOTION TO INTERVENE'', ``COMMENTS,'' ``REPLY COMMENTS,''
``RECOMMENDATIONS,'' ``PRELIMINARY TERMS AND CONDITIONS,'' or
``PRELIMINARY 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 of the person protesting or
intervening; 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. A copy of
any protest or motion to intervene must be served upon each
representative of the applicant specified in the particular
application. 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.
For public inquiries and assistance with making filings such as
interventions, comments, or requests for rehearing, contact the Office
of Public Participation at (202) 502-6595 or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4a051a1a0a2c2f3829642d253c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b1fee1e1f1d7d4c3d29fd6dec7">[email protected]</span></a>.
o. Final amendments to the application must be filed with the
Commission on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time October 16, 2026.
p. A license applicant must file no later than 60 days following
the date of issuance of the notice of acceptance and ready for
environmental analysis provided for in 5.22: (1) a copy of the water
quality certification; (2) a copy of the request for certification,
including proof of the date on which the certifying agency received the
request; or (3) evidence of waiver of water quality certification.
(Authority: 18 CFR 2.1.)
Dated: September 16, 2026.
Carlos D. Clay,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2026-19241 Filed 9-18-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 21, 2026.
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