[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 136 (Friday, July 15, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41790-41791]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-17747]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 12718-002]


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

    a. Type of Filing: Notice of Intent To File a License Application 
for an Original License for a Hydrokinetic Pilot Project.

[[Page 41791]]

    b. Project No.: 12718-002.
    c. Date Filed: June 28, 2011.
    d. Submitted By: Natural Currents Energy Services, LLC (Natural 
Currents).
    e. Name of Project: Wards Island Tidal Energy Project.
    f. Location: Off the south shore of Wards Island, in the Hell Gate 
Waterway near the junction of the Harlem River, East River, and Long 
Island Sound in New York City, NY.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: 18 CFR 5.3 of the Commission's regulations.
    h. Applicant Contact: Roger Bason, President, Natural Currents 
Energy Services, LLC, 24 Roxanne Blvd, Highland, NY 12528; (845) 691-
4008.
    i. FERC Contact: Emily Carter at (202) 502-6512 or e-mail at 
[email protected].
    j. 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 request for waivers of the integrated licensing 
process regulations necessary for expedited processing of a 
hydrokinetic pilot project license application; (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 (ESA) 
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. In addition, all comments may be filed 
electronically via the Internet. See 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the 
instructions on the Commission's Web site http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp. Commenters can submit brief comments up to 6,000 
characters, without prior registration, using the eComment system at 
http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ecomment.asp. You must include your 
name and contact information at the end of your comments. For 
assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at 
[email protected] or toll free at 1-866-208-3676, or for TTY, 
(202) 502-8659. Although the Commission strongly encourages electronic 
filing, documents may also be paper-filed. To paper-file, mail an 
original and seven copies to: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 
20426. Any individual or entity interested in submitting comments on 
the pre-filing materials must do so by September 6, 2011.
    l. With this notice, we are approving Natural Current's request to 
be designated as the non-federal representative for section 7 of the 
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. With this notice, we also are asking federal, state, local, and 
tribal agencies with jurisdiction and/or expertise with respect to 
environmental issues to cooperate with us in the preparation of the 
environmental document. Agencies who would like to request cooperating 
status should follow the instructions for filing comments described in 
paragraph ``k'' above.
    n. This notice does not constitute the Commission's approval of 
Natural Current'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.
    o. The proposed Wards Island Tidal Energy Project would consist of: 
(1) A 15-meter-long, 1.6-meter-diameter, vessel mounted 150-kW Natural 
Currents Sea Dragon Tidal Turbine; (2) a vessel-based deployment 
Principal Project Works or Structural Support system; (3) six 40-foot-
long steel support pilings; (3) a 50-meter-long subsea transmission 
line connecting to an electrical cabinet owned by the New York City 
Parks; and (4) appurtenant facilities. The hydrokinetic project would 
have an estimated average annual generation of 350,400 kilowatt hours 
per year.
    p. 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 
(12718), 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.
    q. 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.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Milestone                              Date
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comments on pre-filing materials due......  September 6, 2011.
Issuance of meeting notice (if needed)....  September 21, 2011.
Public meeting/technical conference (if     October 21, 2011.
 needed).
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    r. Register online at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp to be notified via e-mail of new filing and issuances 
related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC 
Online Support.

    Dated: July 8, 2011.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011-17747 Filed 7-14-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P