# 2026-19241: Montana Dam Gets FERC's Ho-Hum License Renewal Nod

2026-19241, 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, is a Federal Register notice from Energy Department, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission published 2026-09-21; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-09-28).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19241
- As of: 2026-09-28
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-19241
- Title: 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
- Type: Notice
- Agencies: Energy Department; Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
- Citation: 91 FR 59771
- Published: 2026-09-21
- Effective: unknown
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-09-28

## In one line

Montana Dam Gets FERC's Ho-Hum License Renewal Nod

## Summary

NorthWestern Energy wants a new license to keep running its Thompson Falls Hydroelectric Project in Montana, which uses federal land. The public can now share their thoughts, ask to join the process, or raise concerns by November 16, 2026. This step helps make sure the project stays safe for the environment and local communities while producing power.

## Effects PRIA read

- Change to Reservoir Operating Band: mixed, medium. NorthWestern proposes to operate the Thompson Falls reservoir within a 2.5-foot band between 2,396.5 feet and 2,394.0 feet, instead of the currently authorized 4-foot band. The company also proposes to continue maintaining a minimum downstream flow of 6,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) or inflow, if…
- Project Boundary and Park Enclosure Proposal: mixed, medium. NorthWestern 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 to exclude certain federal and private lands, which would reduce the c…
- Fish Passage and Water-Quality Measures: benefit, medium. The project currently operates an upstream fish ladder from mid-March to mid-October (designed for flows up to 48,000 cfs and an operating flow of 83 cfs) and does not include downstream fish passage. NorthWestern proposes to continue the March–October upstream passage, refine operation of new radi…

## Related documents

- [2026-20744](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20744): Combined Notice of Filings #2, 2026-10-09
- [2026-20658](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20658): Shoshone Irrigation District; Notice of Existing Licensee's Failure To File a Timely Notice of Intent To File a New License Application, an…, 2026-10-08
- [2026-20659](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20659): Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company; Notice of Application and Establishing Intervention Deadline, 2026-10-08
- [2026-20642](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20642): Combined Notice of Filings, 2026-10-08
- [2026-20580](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20580): Northern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Availability of the Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Ventura to Farmington A-Line Abandonm…, 2026-10-08
- [2026-20582](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20582): Combined Notice of Filings, 2026-10-08

## Sources
- [2026-19241 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/09/21/2026-19241/northwestern-energy-notice-of-application-accepted-for-filing-soliciting-motions-to-intervene-and)
- [2026-19241 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-09-21/pdf/2026-19241.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-19240, Notice Announcing Impact Aid Discretionary Construction Grant Program Competiti…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19240)
- [Next: 2026-19243, Sunshine Act Meetings](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19243)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19241 (as of 2026-09-28).