[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 206 (Wednesday, October 24, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64970-64971]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-26134]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 14332-000]


Historic Harrisville, Inc.; Notice of Application Accepted for 
Filing With the Commission, Intent To Waive Scoping, Soliciting Motions 
To Intervene and Protests, Ready for Environmental Analysis, Soliciting 
Comments, Terms and Conditions, and Recommendations, and Establishing 
an Expedited Schedule for Processing

    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.: 14332-000.
    c. Date Filed: December 5, 2011.
    d. Applicant: Historic Harrisville, Inc.
    e. Name of Project: Cheshire Mills Hydroelectric Project.
    f. Location: On Nubanusit Brook, in the Town of Harrisville, 
Cheshire County, New Hampshire. 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: Ms. Linda Willett, Historic Harrisville, 
Inc., P.O. Box 79, 69 Main Street, Harrisville, NH 03450, (603) 827-
3722.
    i. FERC Contact: Brandon Cherry, (202) 502-8328 or 
[email protected].
    j. Deadline for filing motions to intervene and protests, comments, 
terms and conditions, and recommendations: Due to the small size and 
particular location of this project and the close coordination with 
state and federal agencies during the preparation of the application, 
the 60-day timeframe in 18 CFR 4.34(b) is shortened. Instead, motions 
to intervene and protests, comments, terms and conditions, and 
recommendations will be due 30 days from the issuance date of this 
notice. All reply comments must be filed with the Commission within 45 
days from the 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/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]; call 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.
    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 and is now ready 
for environmental analysis.
    l. The proposed Cheshire Mills Hydroelectric Project would consist 
of: (1) The existing 94-foot-long, 29-foot-high quarried-stone Cheshire 
Mills Dam with a 38-foot-long, 27-foot-high spillway section; (2) an 
existing 0.2-acre impoundment with a normal maximum water surface 
elevation of 1,282.85 feet mean sea level; (3) an existing intake 
structure with a 24-foot-high, 5-foot-wide trashrack that would be 
modified to have 1-inch clear bar spacing, and a 4-foot-high, 4-foot-
wide sluice gate; (4) an existing 128-foot-long, 42-inch-

[[Page 64971]]

diameter steel penstock; (5) an existing powerhouse containing a 
rebuilt turbine and a new generator with an installed capacity of 90 
kilowatts; (6) an existing discharge portal in the bottom of the 
powerhouse; (7) a new 50-foot-long, 208-volt transmission line located 
in the mill connecting the generator to an existing distribution 
system; and (8) appurtenant facilities. The proposed project is 
estimated to generate an average of 213,000 kilowatt-hours annually.
    m. Due to the project works already existing and the limited scope 
of proposed modifications to 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 and resource agency consultation letters, 
Commission staff intends to prepare a single environmental assessment 
(EA). Commission staff determined that the issues that need to be 
addressed in the EA were adequately identified during the pre-filing 
period, which included a public meeting and site visits, 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. A copy is also available for inspection and 
reproduction at the address in item h above.
    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 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'', ``NOTICE OF INTENT TO FILE 
COMPETING APPLICATION,'' ``COMPETING APPLICATION,'' ``COMMENTS,'' 
``REPLY COMMENTS,'' ``RECOMMENDATIONS,'' or ``TERMS AND CONDITIONS;'' 
(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, or terms and 
conditions 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.
    p. Procedural Schedule: The application will be processed according 
to the following procedural schedule. Revisions to the schedule may be 
made as appropriate.

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                Milestone                           Target date
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Notice of the availability of the EA.....  March 2013.
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    Dated: October 17, 2012.
Kimberly D. Bose,
 Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012-26134 Filed 10-23-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P