[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 236 (Monday, December 8, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74481-74482]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-28929]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 12611-003]


Verdant Power, LLC; Notice of Intent To File License Application, 
Filing of Draft Application, Request for Waivers of Integrated 
Licensing Process Regulations Necessary for Expedited Processing of a 
Hydrokinetic Pilot Project License Application, Extending the Comment 
Period, and Soliciting Comments

December 1, 2008.
    a. Type of Filing: Notice of Intent to File a License Application 
for an Original License for a Hydrokinetic Pilot Project.
    b. Project No.: 12611-003.
    c. Date Filed: November 25, 2008.
    d. Submitted By: Verdant Power, LLC.
    e. Name of Project: Roosevelt Island Tidal Energy Project.
    f. Location: In the east channel of the East River, in New York 
City, New York. The project would not occupy federal lands.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: 18 CFR 5.3 of the Commission's regulations.
    h. Applicant Contact: Ronald F. Smith, Verdant Power, LLC, The 
Octagon, 888 Main Street, New York, NY 10044 (212) 888-8887 ext 601.
    i. FERC Contact: Tom Dean (202) 502-6041.
    j. Verdant Power, LLC (Verdant Power) has filed with the 
Commission: (1) A notice of intent (NOI) to file an application for an 
original license for a kinetic hydropower pilot project and a draft 
license application with monitoring plans; (2) a request for waivers of 
the integrated licensing process regulations necessary for expedited 
processing of a hydrokinetic pilot project license application, 
including extending the period to file comments on the draft license 
application and monitoring plans; (3) a proposed process plan and 
schedule; (4) a request to be designated as the non-federal 
representative for section 7 of the Endangered Species Act 
consultation; and (5) a request to be designated as the non-federal 
representative for section 106 consultation under the National Historic 
Preservation Act (collectively the pre-filing materials).
    k. With this notice, we are soliciting comments on the pre-filing 
materials listed in paragraph j above, including the draft license 
application and monitoring plans. All comments should be sent to the 
address above in paragraph h. The comment period has been extended 45 
days at the request of Verdant Power to take into consideration the 
holiday season. In addition, all comments (original and eight copies) 
must be filed with the Commission at the following address: Kimberly D. 
Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First 
Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426. All filings with the Commission must 
include on the first page, the project name (Roosevelt Island Tidal 
Energy Project) and number (P-12611-003), and bear the heading 
``Comments on the proposed Roosevelt Island Tidal Energy Project.'' Any 
individual or entity interested in submitting comments on the pre-
filing materials must do so by January 9, 2009.
    Comments may be filed electronically via the Internet in lieu of 
paper. The Commission strongly encourages electronic filings. 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.
    l. With this notice, we are approving Verdant Power's request to be 
designated as the non-federal representative for section 7 of the 
Endangered Species Act (ESA) and its request to initiate consultation 
under section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act; and 
recommending that it begin informal consultation with: (a) the U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service as 
required by section 7 of ESA; and (b) the New York State Historic 
Preservation Officer, as required by section 106, National Historical 
Preservation Act, and the implementing regulations of the Advisory 
Council on Historic Preservation at 36 CFR 800.2.
    m. This notice does not constitute the Commission's approval of 
Verdant Power's request to use the Pilot Project Licensing Procedures. 
Upon its review of the project's overall characteristics relative to 
the pilot project criteria, the draft license application contents, and 
any comments filed, the Commission will determine whether there is 
adequate information to conclude the pre-filing process.
    n. The proposed Roosevelt Island Tidal Energy Project would consist 
of: (1) A field array of thirty 35-kilowatt, 5-meter-diameter axial 
flow Kinetic Hydropower System (KHPS) turbine-generator units mounted 
on ten triframe mounts, with a total capacity of about 1 megawatt; (2) 
underwater cables from each turbine to five shoreline switchgear 
vaults, that would interconnect to a control room and interconnection 
points; and (3) appurtenant facilities for navigation safety and 
operation. The estimated annual generation of the proposed project 
would be between 1,680 and 2,400 megawatt-hours.
    o. A copy of the draft license application and all pre-filing 
materials are 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. A copy is also available for inspection and 
reproduction at the address in paragraph h.
    p. Pre-filing process schedule. The pre-filing process will be 
conducted pursuant to the following tentative schedule. Revisions to 
the schedule may be made as appropriate.

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                   Milestone                                                  Date
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Comments on pre-filing materials due..........  January 9, 2009.
Issuance of meeting notice (if needed)........  January 26, 2009.
Public meeting/technical conference (if         February 25, 2009.
 needed).
Issuance of notice concluding pre-filing        February 9, 2009 (if no meeting is needed).
 process and ILP waiver request determination.
                                                March 12, 2009 (if meeting is needed).
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[[Page 74482]]

    q. 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.

Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8-28929 Filed 12-5-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P