[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 174 (Friday, September 7, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55206-55207]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-22046]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 14421-000]


Freedom Falls, LLC; Notice of Application Accepted for Filing, 
Intent To Waive Scoping, and Soliciting Motions to Intervene and 
Protests

    Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been 
filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection.
    a. Type of Application: Exemption from Licensing.
    b. Project No.: 14421-000.
    c. Date filed: June 1, 2012.
    d. Applicant: Freedom Falls, LLC.
    e. Name of Project: Freedom Falls Hydroelectric Project.
    f. Location: On Sandy Stream, in the Town of Freedom, Waldo County, 
Maine. The project would not occupy lands of the United States.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 
1978, 16 U.S.C. 2705, 2708.
    h. Applicant Contact: Anthony P. Grassi, Freedom Falls, LLC, 363 
Belfast Road, Camden, ME 04843, (207) 236-4663.
    i. FERC Contact: Samantha Davidson, (202) 502-6839 or 
[email protected].
    j. Deadline for filing motions to intervene and protests: 60 days 
from the issuance date of this notice.
    All documents 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/ferconline.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]; call toll-free at (866) 208-
3676; or, for TTY, contact (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.
    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.
    k. This application has been accepted for filing, but is not ready 
for environmental analysis at this time.
    l. The proposed Freedom Falls Hydroelectric Project would consist 
of: (1) An existing 90-foot-long, 12-foot-high concrete-capped stone 
masonry dam with a 25-foot-long, 10-foot-high spillway with two 
vertical lift sluice gates and a crest elevation of 452.5 feet mean sea 
level (msl); (2) an existing 1.6-acre impoundment with a normal maximum 
water surface elevation of 453.0 feet msl; (3) a new intake structure 
equipped with an 8-foot-high, 5-foot-wide trashrack that would be 
modified to have 1-inch clear bar spacing, and a 3-foot-high, 4.75-
foot-wide slide gate; (4) a new downstream American eel passage 
facility and working platform; (5) a new 60-foot-long, 30-inch-diameter 
steel penstock leading to; (6) an existing 20-foot-wide, by 30-foot-
long generating room containing a new 38.3 kilowatt turbine-generator 
unit; (7) a new 20-foot-long, 5-foot-wide tailrace; (8) a new 30-foot-
long, 110-volt transmission line; and (9) appurtenant facilities. The 
proposed project is estimated to generate an average of 66,000 
kilowatt-hours annually.
    m. Due to the project works already existing and the limited scope 
of proposed rehabilitation of the project site described above, the 
applicant's close coordination with federal and state agencies during 
the preparation of the application, completed studies during pre-filing 
consultation, and agency recommended preliminary terms and conditions, 
we intend to waive scoping and expedite the exemption process. Based on 
a review of the application, resource agency consultation letters 
including the preliminary 30(c) terms and conditions, and comments 
filed to date, Commission staff intends to prepare a single 
environmental assessment (EA). Commission staff determined that the 
issues that need to be addressed in its EA have been adequately 
identified during the pre-filing period, which included a public 
meeting and site visit, and no new issues are likely to be identified 
through additional scoping. The EA will consider assessing the 
potential effects of project construction and operation on geology and 
soils, aquatic, terrestrial, threatened and endangered species, 
recreation and land use, aesthetic, and cultural and historic 
resources.
    n. 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.
    You may also register online at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp to be notified via email of new filings and issuances 
related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC 
Online Support.
    o. Any qualified applicant desiring to file a competing application 
must submit to the Commission, on or before the specified intervention 
deadline date, a competing development application, or a notice of 
intent to file such an application. Submission of a timely notice of 
intent allows an interested person to file the competing development 
application no later than 120 days after the specified intervention 
deadline date. Applications for preliminary permits will not be 
accepted in response to this notice.
    A notice of intent must specify the exact name, business address, 
and telephone number of the prospective applicant, and must include an 
unequivocal statement of intent to submit a development application. A 
notice of intent must be served on the applicant(s) named in this 
public notice.
    Anyone may submit a protest or a motion to intervene in accordance 
with the requirements of Rules of Practice and Procedure, 18 CFR 
385.210, 385.211, and 385.214. In determining the appropriate action to 
take, the Commission will consider all protests 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 protests or

[[Page 55207]]

motions to intervene must be received on or before the specified 
deadline date for the particular application.
    All filings must (1) bear in all capital letters the title 
``PROTEST'', ``MOTION TO INTERVENE,'' ``NOTICE OF INTENT TO FILE 
COMPETING APPLICATION,'' or ``COMPETING APPLICATION;'' (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. 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.

    Dated: August 31, 2012.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012-22046 Filed 9-6-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P