90 FR 8 pgs. 3205-3206 - Spencer Mountain Hydropower, LLC; Notice of Application Ready for Environmental Analysis and Soliciting Comments, Recommendations, Terms and Conditions, and Prescriptions

Type: NOTICEVolume: 90Number: 8Pages: 3205 - 3206
Docket number: [Project No. 2607-016]
FR document: [FR Doc. 2025-00518 Filed 1-13-25; 8:45 am]
Agency: Energy Department
Sub Agency: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Official PDF Version:  PDF Version
Pages: 3205, 3206

[top] page 3205

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 2607-016]

Spencer Mountain Hydropower, LLC; Notice of Application Ready for Environmental Analysis and Soliciting Comments, Recommendations, Terms and Conditions, and Prescriptions

Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection.

a. Type of Application: Subsequent License.

b. Project No.: P-2607-016.

c. Date filed: June 26, 2023.

d. Applicant: Spencer Mountain Hydropower, LLC.

e. Name of Project: Spencer Mountain Hydroelectric Project (Spencer Mountain Project).

f. Location: On the South Fork Catawba River, near the town of Gastonia, in Gaston County, North Carolina.

g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act 16 U.S.C. 791(a)-825(r).

h. Applicant Contact: Mr. Kevin Edwards and Mrs. Amy Edwards, Spencer Mountain Hydropower, LLC, 916 Comer Rd, Stoneville, NC 27048; Phone at (336) 589-6138, or smhydro@pht1.com.

i. FERC Contact: David Gandy at 202-502-8560, or david.gandy@ferc.gov.

j. Deadline for filing comments, recommendations, terms and conditions, and prescriptions: 60 days from the issuance date of this notice; reply comments are due 105 days from the issuance date of this notice.


[top] The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file comments, recommendations, terms and conditions, and prescriptions using the Commission's eFiling system at https://ferconline.ferc.gov/FERCOnline.aspx. Commenters can submit brief comments up to 6,000 characters, without prior registration, using the eComment system at https://ferconline.ferc.gov/QuickComment.aspx. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, (866) page 3206 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. All filings must clearly identify the project name and docket number on the first page: Spencer Mountain Hydroelectric Project (P-2607-016).

The Commission's Rules of Practice 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 and is now ready for environmental analysis.

l. The Spencer Mountain Project consists of the following existing facilities: (1) a 12-foot-high, 636-foot-long masonry and rubble dam with a crest elevation of 634.7 feet mean sea level (msl); (2) a 68-acre reservoir with a storage capacity of 166 acre-feet; (3) a 58.9-foot-long canal headwork, consisting of four 6-foot-wide gates; (4) a 53.8-foot-long canal spillway connected to the downstream side of the canal headwork; (5) a 30-foot-wide, 10-foot-deep, 3,644-foot-long open earthen canal; (6) a 32-foot-wide trash rack with 2.5-inch clear bar spacing at the powerhouse forebay; (7) a 36-inch-diameter bypass pipe; (8) a 22.5-foot-high, 49.5-foot-long, 48.75-foot-wide powerhouse containing two Francis-type generating units with a total capacity of 0.64 megawatts; (9) a concrete lined tailrace discharging flows back into the South Fork Catawba River; (10) a substation containing a 2.3/44-kilovolt (kV) transformer and interconnection to a Duke Energy 44 kV transmission line; and (11) appurtenant facilities.

The project operates in a run-of-river mode with a minimum bypass flow of 76 cubic feet per second. Spencer Mountain Hydropower, LLC proposes no changes to the project facilities or operations. The project has an average annual generation of 4,064 megawatt-hours.

m. A copy of the application can be viewed on the Commission's website at http://www.ferc.gov, using the "eLibrary" link. Enter the docket number excluding the last three digits in the docket number field, to access the document ( i.e., P-2607). For assistance, contact FERC Online Support.

All filings must: (1) bear in all capital letters the title "COMMENTS," "REPLY COMMENTS," "RECOMMENDATIONS," "TERMS AND CONDITIONS," or "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, address, and telephone number of the person submitting the filing; 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. Each filing must be accompanied by proof of service on all persons listed on the service list prepared by the Commission in this proceeding, in accordance with 18 CFR 4.34(b) and 385.2010.

The Commission's Office of Public Participation (OPP) supports meaningful public engagement and participation in Commission proceedings. OPP can help members of the public, including landowners, environmental justice communities, Tribal members and others, access publicly available information and navigate Commission processes. For public inquiries and assistance with making filings such as interventions, comments, or requests for rehearing, the public is encouraged to contact OPP at (202)?502-6595, or at OPP@ferc.gov.

You may also register online at https://ferconline.ferc.gov/FERCOnline.aspx to be notified via email of new filings and issuances related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support.

n. The applicant must file no later than 60 days following the date of issuance of this notice: (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.

o. Procedural schedule: The application will be processed according to the following schedule. Revisions to the schedule will be made as appropriate.

Milestone Target date
Deadline for filing comments, recommendations, agency terms and conditions, and prescriptions March 7, 2025.
Deadline for the licensee to file reply comments April 21, 2025.

p. Final amendments to the application must be filed with the Commission no later than 30 days from the issuance date of this notice.

Dated: January 6, 2025.

Debbie-Anne A. Reese,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 2025-00518 Filed 1-13-25; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717-01-P