[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 99 (Tuesday, May 26, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24836-24837]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-12080]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 12731-002]


Natural Currents Energy Services, 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, and 
Soliciting Comments

May 15, 2009.
    a. Type of Filing: Notice of Intent to File a License Application 
for an Original License for a Hydrokinetic Pilot Project.
    b. Project No.: 12731-002.
    c. Date Filed: May 15, 2009.
    d. Submitted By: Natural Currents Energy Services, LLC.
    e. Name of Project: Angoon Tidal Power Pilot Project.
    f. Location: In Kootznahoo Inlet on the western shore of Admiralty 
Island, near the City of Angoon in the Skagway-Hoonah-Angoon Census 
Area of southeastern Alaska.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: 18 CFR 5.3 of the Commission's regulations.
    h. Applicant Contact: Roger Bason, President, Natural Currents 
Energy Services, 24 Roxanne Blvd., Highland, NY 12528; (845) 691-4008; 
[email protected].
    i. FERC Contact: Steve Hocking (502) 552-8753.
    j. Natural Currents Energy Services, LLC (Natural Currents) has 
filed with the Commission: (1) A notice of intent (NOI) to file an 
application for an original license for a hydrokinetic pilot project 
and a draft license application with monitoring plans; (2) a proposed 
schedule; (3) a request to be designated as the non-Federal 
representative for section 7 of the Endangered Species Act 
consultation; and (4) 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. 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 
(Angoon Tidal Power Pilot Project) and number (P-12731-002), and bear 
the heading ``Comments on the proposed Angoon Tidal Power Pilot 
Project.'' Any individual or entity interested in submitting comments 
on the pre-filing materials must do so by July 14, 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 Natural Currents' 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 Alaska 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 
Natural Currents' 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 Angoon Tidal Power Pilot Project would consist of 
eight (8) 25-kw Red Hawk Tidal Turbines, with a combined maximum output 
of 200 kW for the pilot project. Initially, the turbines would be 
mounted on portable anchored barges to test different positions within 
the site for the best turbine performance. Following the location of 
the desired development site, tidal turbines will be mounted on 
constructed docks or piers secured to the solid, scoured, subsurface 
bedrock. The transmission intertie is to be determined. The estimated 
annual

[[Page 24837]]

generation of the project would be 525,600 kilowatt-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, of for TTY, 
(202) 502-8659.
    p. Pre-filing process schedule. The pre-filing process will be 
conducted pursuant to the following tentative schedule. Revisions to 
the schedule below may be made based on staff's review of the draft 
application and any comments received.

 
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              Milestone                                                  Date
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Comments on pre-filing materials due  July 14, 2009.
Issuance of meeting notice (if        July 29, 2009.
 needed).
Public meeting/technical conference   August 28, 2009.
 (if needed).
Issuance of notice concluding pre-    August 13, 2009 (if no meeting is needed).
 filing process and ILP waiver
 request determination.
                                      September 14, 2009 (if meeting is needed).
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    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. E9-12080 Filed 5-22-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P