[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 127 (Monday, July 6, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31939-31940]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-15729]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 2985-006]


MeadWestvaco Corporation; Notice of Application Accepted for 
Filing, Soliciting Motions To Intervene and Protests, Ready for 
Environmental Analysis, and Soliciting Comments, Recommendations, 
Preliminary Terms and Conditions, and Preliminary Fishway Prescriptions

June 25, 2009.
    Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been 
filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection.
    a. Type of Application: Subsequent Minor License.
    b. Project No.: 2985-006.
    c. Date Filed: April 29, 2009.
    d. Applicant: MeadWestvaco Corporation.
    e. Name of Project: Willow Mill Hydroelectric Project.
    f. Location: On the Housatonic River in the Town of Stockbridge, 
Berkshire County, Massachusetts. The project does not affect Federal 
lands.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act 16 U.S.C. 791 (a)-825(r).
    h. Applicant Contact: Thomas A. Beebe, Senior Engineering Project 
Manager, MeadWestvaco, MW Custom Papers, LLC, P.O. Box 188, South Lee, 
MA 01260, (413) 243 5938, [email protected].
    i. FERC Contact: Kristen Murphy (202) 502-6236 or 
[email protected].
    j. The deadline for filing motions to intervene and protests, 
comments, recommendations, preliminary terms and conditions, and 
preliminary fishway prescriptions is 60 days from the issuance of this 
notice; reply comments are due 105 days from the issuance date of this 
notice.
    All documents (original and eight copies) should be filed with: 
Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 
First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426.
    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.
    Motions to intervene, protests, comments, recommendations, 
preliminary terms and conditions, and preliminary fishway prescriptions 
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. For a simpler method 
of submitting text-only comments, click on ``Quick Comment.''
    k. This application has been accepted for filing and is ready for 
environmental analysis.
    l. The existing Willow Mill Project consists of: (1) A 14-foot-
high, 150-foot-wide stone masonry gravity dam; (2) an 11-acre 
impoundment; (3) a 10-foot-deep, 18-foot-wide, 50-foot-long rubble and 
masonry canal connected to a 10-foot-deep, 18-foot-wide, 260-foot-long 
rubble and masonry underground headrace; (4) two 5.5-foot-long, 8-foot 
diameter steel penstocks; (5) a 100-kW turbine generating unit; and (6) 
a 210-foot-long discharge pipe releasing water back into the Housatonic 
River. The turbine generating unit is located in the basement of 
MeadWestvaco's paper mill. There are no transmission lines associated 
with the project as all of the power is used for internal use at the 
Willow Mill.
    The applicant proposes to continue to operate the project in run-
of-river mode with an increase in minimum flow in the 700-foot-long 
bypass reach from 1.4 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 122 cfs or inflow, 
whichever is less. The applicant

[[Page 31940]]

estimates that the total average annual generation, with the proposed 
minimum flow, would be approximately 256 megawatt-hours.
    m. A copy of the application is available for review at the 
Commission in the Public Reference Room or may be viewed on the 
Commission's Web site 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. 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 item h above.
    Register online at http://www.ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm to be 
notified via e-mail of new filings and issuances related to this or 
other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support.
    n. Anyone may submit comments, a protest, or a motion to intervene 
in accordance with the requirements of Rules of Practice and Procedure, 
18 CFR 385.210, .211, .214. In determining the appropriate action to 
take, the Commission will consider all protests or other comments 
filed, but only those who file a motion to intervene in accordance with 
the Commission's Rules may become a party to the proceeding. Any 
comments, protests, or motions to intervene must be received on or 
before the specified comment date for the particular application.
    All filings must (1) bear in all capital letters the title 
``PROTEST'', ``MOTION TO INTERVENE'', ``COMMENTS,'' ``REPLY COMMENTS,'' 
``RECOMMENDATIONS,'' ``PRELIMINARY TERMS AND CONDITIONS,'' or 
``PRELIMINARY FISHWAY 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 protesting or intervening; 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. A copy of any protest or 
motion to intervene must be served upon each representative of the 
applicant specified in the particular application. A copy of all other 
filings in reference to this application must be accompanied by proof 
of service on all persons listed in the service list prepared by the 
Commission in this proceeding, in accordance with 18 CFR 4.34(b) and 
385.2010.
    o. Procedural Schedule:
    The application will be processed according to the following Hydro 
Licensing Schedule. Revisions to the schedule may be made as 
appropriate.

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                 MILESTONE                           TARGET DATE
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Filing of interventions, comments,          August 24, 2009
 recommendations, preliminary terms and
 conditions, and fishway prescriptions.
Commission issues EA......................  December 22, 2009
Filing of comments on EA..................  January 21, 2010
Filing of modified terms and conditions...  March 22, 2010
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    p. Final amendments to the application must be filed with the 
Commission no later than 30 days from the issuance date of this notice.
    q. A license applicant must file no later than 60 days following 
the date of issuance of the notice of acceptance and ready for 
environmental analysis provided for in Sec.  5.22: (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.

Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9-15729 Filed 7-2-09; 8:45 am]
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