86 FR 155 pgs. 45717-45718 - Great Lakes Hydro America, LLC; Notice of Intent To File License Applications, Filing of Pre-Application Document, Commencement of Pre-Filing Process, and Scoping; Request for Comments on the Pad and Scoping Document, Identification of Issues and Associated Study Requests, and Virtual Public Scoping Meetings and Virtual Environmental Site Review
Type: NOTICEVolume: 86Number: 155Pages: 45717 - 45718
Pages: 45717, 45718Docket number: [Project Nos. 2572-133 2458-247]
FR document: [FR Doc. 2021-17513 Filed 8-13-21; 8:45 am]
Agency: Energy Department
Sub Agency: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project Nos. 2572-133 2458-247]
Great Lakes Hydro America, LLC; Notice of Intent To File License Applications, Filing of Pre-Application Document, Commencement of Pre-Filing Process, and Scoping; Request for Comments on the Pad and Scoping Document, Identification of Issues and Associated Study Requests, and Virtual Public Scoping Meetings and Virtual Environmental Site Review
a. Type of Filing: Notices of Intent to File License Applications for New License and Commencing Pre-filing Process.
b. Project Nos.: 2572-133 and 2458-247.
c. Date Filed: June 11, 2021.
d. Submitted By: Great Lakes Hydro America, LLC.
e. Name of Projects: Ripogenus Hydroelectric Project and Penobscot Mills Hydroelectric Project.
f. Location: On the West Branch of the Penobscot River and Millinocket Stream in Piscataquis and Penobscot Counties, Maine.
g. Filed Pursuant to: 18 CFR part 5 of the Commission's Regulations.
h. Licensee Contact: Randall Dorman, Licensing Manager, Brookfield Renewable, 150 Main Street, Lewiston, ME 04240; (207) 755-5605; randy.dorman@brookfieldrenewable.com .
i. FERC Contact: Allan Creamer at (202) 502-8365, or email at allan.creamer@ferc.gov .
j. Cooperating agencies: Federal, state, local, and tribal agencies with jurisdiction and/or special expertise with respect to environmental issues that wish to cooperate in the preparation of the environmental document should follow the instructions for filing such requests described in item o below. Cooperating agencies should note the Commission's policy that agencies that cooperate in the preparation of the environmental document cannot also intervene. See 94 FERC 61,076 (2001).
k. With this notice, we are initiating informal consultation with: (a) The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and/or NOAA Fisheries under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act and the joint agency regulations thereunder at 50 CFR, Part 402; and (b) the State Historic Preservation Officer, as required by section 106, National Historic Preservation Act, and the implementing regulations of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation at 36 CFR 800.2.
l. With this notice, we are designating Great Lakes Hydro America, LLC as the Commission's non-federal representative for carrying out informal consultation, pursuant to section 7 of the Endangered Species Act and section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
m. Great Lakes Hydro America, LLC filed with the Commission a Pre-Application Document (PAD; including a proposed process plan and schedule), pursuant to 18 CFR 5.6 of the Commission's regulations.
n. In addition to publishing the full text of this document in the Federal Register , the Commission provides all interested persons an opportunity to view and/or print the contents via the internet through the Commission's Home Page ( http://www.ferc.gov ), using the "eLibrary" link. Enter the docket number(s), excluding the last three digits in the docket number field, to access the document. At this time, the Commission has suspended access to the Commission's Public Reference Room, due to the proclamation declaring a National Emergency concerning the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), issued by the President on March 13, 2020. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, or call toll-free, (866) 208-3676 or TYY, (202) 502-8659.
Register online at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp to be notified via email of new filings and issuances related to these or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support.
o. With this notice, we are soliciting comments on the PAD and Commission staff's Scoping Document 1 (SD1), as well as study requests. All comments on the PAD and SD1, and study requests should be sent to the address above in paragraph h. In addition, all comments on the PAD and SD1, study requests, requests for cooperating agency status, and all communications to and from Commission staff related to the merits of the potential applications must be filed with the Commission.
[top] The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file all documents using the Commission's
All filings with the Commission must bear the appropriate heading: "Comments on Pre-Application Document," "Study Requests," "Comments on Scoping Document 1," "Request for Cooperating Agency Status," or "Communications to and from Commission Staff." Any individual or entity interested in submitting study requests, commenting on the PAD or SD1, and any agency requesting cooperating status must do so by October 9, 2021.
p. Scoping Process: The Commission's scoping process will help determine the required level of analysis and satisfy the NEPA scoping requirements, irrespective of whether the Commission prepares an environmental assessment or Environmental Impact Statement. Due to on-going concerns with large gatherings related to COVID-19, we do not intend to hold in-person public scoping meetings or an in-person environmental site review. Rather, we will hold virtual public scoping meetings and a virtual environmental site review.
Scoping Meetings
Commission staff will hold two virtual public scoping meetings. A daytime meeting will focus on concerns of resource agencies, Native American tribes, and NGOs while an evening meeting will focus on receiving input from the public. We invite all interested agencies, Native American tribes, NGOs, and individuals to attend one of these meetings to assist us in identifying the scope of environmental issues that should be analyzed in the NEPA document. The scoping meetings will be recorded by a court reporter. All oral and written comments will become part of the Commission's public record. Oral comments will be limited to 5 minutes in duration.
Date and Time
Meeting for resource agencies, Tribes, and NGOs: Thursday, September 9, 2021, 9:00-11:00 am EDT, Call in number: 888-604-9359, Participant passcode: 8998724.
Meeting for the general public: Thursday, September 9, 2021, 6:30-8:30 pm EDT, Call in number: 888-604-9359, Participant passcode: 8998724.
Scoping Document 1 (SD1), which outlines the subject areas to be addressed in the environmental document, was mailed to the individuals and entities on the Commission's mailing list and Great Lakes Hydro America, LLC's mailing list. Copies of SD1 may be viewed on the web at http://www.ferc.gov, using the "eLibrary" link. Follow the directions for accessing information in paragraph n. Based on all oral and written comments, a Scoping Document 2 (SD2) may be issued. SD2 may include a revised process plan and schedule, as well as a list of issues, identified through the scoping process.
Environmental Site Review
Great Lakes Hydro America, LLC and Commission staff will hold a virtual Environmental Site Review of the Ripogenus Project and the Penobscot Mills Projects on September 9, 2021, starting at 1:30 p.m. Please contact Cate Russell of HDR, Inc. at (207) 239-3792, or cate.russell@hdrinc.com, by September 3, 2021, if you plan to attend the environmental site review. WebEx meeting details will be provided by HDR staff once attendance is confirmed.
Meeting Objectives
At the scoping meetings, staff will: (1) Briefly describe the relicensing process, as well as the projects and their operation; (2) initiate scoping of the issues; (3) review existing information and identify preliminary information and study needs; and (4) review the process plan and schedule for pre-filing activities. Meeting participants should come prepared to discuss their issues and/or concerns. Please review the PAD in preparation for the scoping meetings. Directions on how to obtain a copy of the PAD and SD1 are included in item n of this notice.
Dated: August 10, 2021.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-17513 Filed 8-13-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P