FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20426

November 4, 2003

OFFICE OF ENERGY PROJECTS

Project No. 2210 – Virginia

Smith Mountain Project

Appalachian Power Company

Dr. James Kardatzke

U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs

Eastern Regional Office

711 Stewarts Ferry Pike

Nashville, TN 37214

Subject: Request to Identify Tribes Pursuant to 36 CFR Part 800

Dear Dr. Kardatzke:

American Electric Power (AEP), on behalf of Appalachian Power Company, filed a request to be designated the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (Commission) non-federal representative for purposes of initiating and consulting with the Virginia State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) regarding the relicensing of the Smith Mountain Project No. 2210. The Smith Mountain Project is located on the Roanoke River, in Pittsylvania, Franklin, Bedford, and Roanoke Counties, Virginia. The existing project license expires March 31, 2010.

Commission staff intends to initiate consultation with any federally recognized tribe(s) whose aboriginal territories extend into the vicinity of the project. Commission staff has identified one federally recognized tribe, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, who may have interests affected by relicensing the Smith Mountain Project. Do the aboriginal territories of the tribe listed above extend into the vicinity of the project, and are there any other federally recognized tribes that need to be consulted?

We would appreciate your written response by December 8, 2003, so that we can begin consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes, if any. Please address the response (an original and eight copies) to: Magalie R. Salas, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20426. The first page of the response should clearly show the project number, P-2210. Your response may 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 (http://www.ferc.gov) under the “e-filing” link for further instructions. The Commission strongly encourages electronic filings.

To be notified via e-mail of new filings and issuances related to the Smith Mountain Project, you are encouraged to register online at http://www.ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm. For assistance, you should contact FERC Online Support at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free at 1-866-208-3676, or for TTY at (202) 502-8659.

If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact James T. Griffin at (202) 502-6056 or via e-mail at james.griffin@ferc.gov.

Sincerely,

Edward A. Abrams, Chief

Hydro East Branch 2

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