[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 71 (Thursday, April 12, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21977-21978]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-8819]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 13305-002]


 Whitestone Power and Communications; Notice Concluding Pre-
Filing Process and Approving Process Plan and Schedule

    a. Type of Filing: Notice of Intent To File an Application for a 
Hydrokinetic Pilot Project License.
    b. Project No.: 13305-002.
    c. Date Filed: August 22, 2011.
    d. Submitted By: Whitestone Power and Communications (Whitestone).
    e. Name of Project: Microturbine Hydrokinetic River-In-Stream 
Energy Conversion Power Project.
    f. Location: On the Tanana River near Delta Junction, Alaska. The 
project would not occupy any federal lands.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: 18 CFR 5.3 and 5.5 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 has filed with the Commission: (1) A notice of intent 
(NOI) to file an application for a pilot hydrokinetic hydropower 
project and a draft license application with monitoring plan; (2) a 
request for waiver of certain Integrated Licensing Process (ILP) 
regulations necessary for expedited processing of a license application 
for a hydrokinetic pilot project; (3) a proposed process plan and 
schedule; and (4) a request to be designated as the non-federal 
representative for section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) 
consultation and for section 106 consultation under the National 
Historic Preservation Act.
    k. A notice was issued on August 25, 2011, soliciting comments on 
the draft license application from agencies and stakeholders. Comments 
were filed by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
    l. Whitestone was designated as the non-federal representative for 
section 7 of the Endangered Species Act consultation and for section 
106 consultation under the National Historic Preservation Act on 
January 21, 2011.
    m. 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.
    n. The pre-filing process has been concluded and the requisite 
regulations have been waived such that the process and schedule 
indicated below can be implemented.
    o. Post-filing process schedule. The post-filing process will be 
conducted pursuant to the following schedule. Revisions to the schedule 
may be made as needed.

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              Milestones                             Dates
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Final license application expected...  April 17, 2012.
Issue notice of acceptance and ready   May 2, 2012.
 for environmental analysis and
 request for interventions.

[[Page 21978]]

 
Recommendations, Conditions, Comments  June 1, 2012.
 and Interventions due.
Issue notice of availability of        July 31, 2012.
 environmental assessment.
Comments due and 10(j) resolution, if  August 30, 2012.
 needed.
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    p. Register online at http://ferc.gov/esubscribenow.htm to be 
notified via email of new filing and issuances related to this or other 
pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support.

    Dated: April 5, 2012.
Kimberly D. Bose,
 Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012-8819 Filed 4-11-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P