[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 32 (Friday, February 16, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7649-7650]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-2702]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 2985-004]


MeadWestvaco; Notice of Change in Applicant's Proposal Concerning 
the Redevelopment of the Willow Mill Hydroelectric Project

February 9, 2007.
    a. Type of Filing: Notice of Intent (NOI) to File Application for a 
New License and Commencing Licensing Proceeding.
    b. Project No.: 2985-004.
    c. Dated Filed: April 14, 2006.
    d. Applicant: MeadWestvaco.
    e. Name of Project: Willow Mill Hydroelectric Project.
    f. Location: On the Housatonic River in Berkshire County, 
Massachusetts. The project does not occupy federal lands.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: 18 CFR Part 5 of the Commission's 
Regulations.
    h. Applicant Contact: Mr. Robert Miller, MeadWestvaco, 547A 
Sissonville Road, Potsdam, NY 13676, (315) 267-5609.
    i. FERC Contact: Kristen Murphy, (202) 502-6236, or via e-mail at 
[email protected].
    j. The Willow Mill Project includes: a 14-foot-high, 150-foot-wide 
stone masonry gravity dam; an impoundment of approximately 11 surface 
acres; a 10-foot-deep, 18-foot-wide rubble and masonry canal that runs 
approximately 50 feet to a 10-foot-deep, 18-foot wide, 260-foot long 
rubble and masonry underground headrace; two steel penstocks, one 
leading to a 100-kW unit, the other leading to a 360-kW unit. The two 
generating units are located in the basement of MeadWestvaco's paper 
mill, and release flow to an 8-foot-wide underground tailrace that 
reconnects to the Housatonic River approximately 700 feet downstream 
from Willow Mill Dam. The 360-kW unit has not been operated

[[Page 7650]]

since 1966. The 100-kW unit ceased operating in 2005.
    k. In its PAD, MeadWestvaco stated it was evaluating its options 
relative to rehabilitating the 100 kW unit, or potentially increasing 
the overall hydraulic capacity of the facility. Pursuant to 18 CFR 
5.11, MeadWestvaco filed a Proposed Study Plan on September 26, 2006. 
The plan included a Hydropower Redevelopment Study to evaluate the 
feasibility of rehabilitating the existing facility, replacing the 
generator units with newer models, or expanding the overall facility 
capacity. In its Revised Study Plan, filed January 23, 2007, 
MeadWestvaco withdrew the Hydropower Redevelopment Study proposal. 
Rather, MeadWestvaco now states that it will rehabilitate the 100-kW 
unit during 2007, and otherwise has no plans to upgrade or expand the 
project.
    l. Pursuant to 18 CFR 16.7, information on the project is available 
at: Ms. Patricia C. Begrowicz, MeadWestvaco, 40 Willow Street, South 
Lee, MA 01260.
    m. Willow Mill Project information is available for review at the 
Commission in the Public Reference Room or may be viewed on the 
Commission's Web site (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. For assistance, contact 
FERC Online Support at [email protected] or toll free at 1-
866-208-3676, or for TTY, (202) 502-8659. Copies are also available for 
inspection and reproduction at the address in paragraph m.
    n. Register online at http://ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm to be 
notified via e-mail of new filing and issuances related to this or 
other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E7-2702 Filed 2-15-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P