[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 171 (Friday, September 2, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54753-54754]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-22506]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 13305-002]


Whitestone Power and Communications; 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.
    b. Project No.: 13305-002.
    c. Date Filed: August 22, 2011.
    d. Submitted By: Whitestone Power and Communications.
    e. Name of Project: Microturbine Hydrokinetic River-In-Stream 
Energy Conversion Power Project (also known as Whitestone Poncelet 
RISEC Project).
    f. Location: On the Tanana River within the Unorganized Borough, 
near Delta Junction, Alaska.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: 18 CFR 5.3 of the Commission's regulations.
    h. Applicant Contact: Steven M. Selvaggio, Whitestone Power and 
Communications, P.O. Box 1630, Delta Junction, Alaska 99737; (907) 895-
4938.
    i. FERC Contact: Dianne Rodman (202) 502-6077.
    j. Whitestone Power and Communications (Whitestone) 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; (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 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 (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 
(Microturbine Hydrokinetic River-In-Stream Energy Conversion Power 
Project) and number (P-13305-002), and bear the heading ``Comments on 
the proposed Microturbine Hydrokinetic River-In-Stream Energy 
Conversion Power Project.'' Any individual or entity interested in 
submitting comments on the pre-filing materials must do so by September 
21, 2011.
    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 Whitestone'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

[[Page 54754]]

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 
Whitestone'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 Microturbine Hydrokinetic River-In-Stream Energy 
Conversion Power Project would consist of: (1) A 12-foot-wide, 16-foot-
diameter Poncelet undershot water wheel; (2) a 34-foot-long, 19- to 24-
foot-wide, aluminum-frame floatation platform mounted on a 34-foot-
long, 3.5-foot-diameter high-density-polyethylene (HDPE) pontoon and a 
34-foot-long, 3-foot-diameter HDPE pontoon; (3) a 100-kilowatt turbine/
generator unit; (4) a 33-foot-long, 3.5-foot-wide gangway from the 
shore to the floating pontoon; (5) three anchoring cables to secure the 
flotation platform to the shore, including a 30-foot-long primary 
safety tether, a 117-foot-long primary cable, and a 100-foot-long 
secondary cable; (6) an approximately 900-foot-long transmission cable 
from the floatation platform to an existing Golden Valley Electric 
Association distribution line; and (7) appurtenant facilities. The 
project is anticipated to operate from April until October, with an 
estimated annual generation of 200 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, 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.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Milestone                                                   Date
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comments on pre-filing materials due...  September 21, 2011.
Issuance of meeting notice (if needed).  October 6, 2011.
Public meeting/technical conference (if  November 7, 2011.
 needed).
Issuance of notice concluding pre-       October 21, 2011 (if no meeting is needed).
 filing process and ILP waiver request   December 1, 2011 (if meeting is needed).
 determination.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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.

    Dated: August 25, 2011.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011-22506 Filed 9-1-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P