[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 6, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2213-2215]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-01150]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 2669-085]


Bear Swamp Power Company, LLC; Notice of Application Accepted for 
Filing, Soliciting Motions To Intervene and Protests, Ready for 
Environmental Analysis, and Soliciting Comments, Recommendations, Terms 
and Conditions, and Prescriptions

    Take notice that the following hydroelectric license application 
has been filed with the Commission and is available for public 
inspection.
    a. Type of Application: New Major License.
    b. Project No.: 2669-085.
    c. Date filed: March 30, 2018.
    d. Applicant: Bear Swamp Power Company, LLC (Bear Swamp).
    e. Name of Project: Bear Swamp Project.
    f. Location: On the Deerfield River, in Berkshire and Franklin 
Counties, Massachusetts. There are no federal or tribal lands within 
the project boundary.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act 16 U.S.C. 791 (a)-825(r).
    h. Applicant Contact: Steven P. Murphy, Director of Licensing, 
Brookfield Renewable Energy Group, 33 West 1st Street South, Fulton, NY 
13069; Telephone at (315) 593-3118.
    i. FERC Contact: Amy Chang, (202) 502-8250 or [email protected].
    j. Deadline for filing motions to intervene and protests, comments, 
recommendations, terms and conditions, and prescriptions: 60 days from 
the issuance date of this notice; reply comments are due 105 days from 
the issuance date of this notice.
    The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file 
motions to intervene and protests, comments, recommendations, terms and 
conditions, and prescriptions using the Commission's eFiling system at 
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], (866) 208-3676 (toll free), or 
(202) 502-8659 (TTY). In lieu of electronic filing, please send a paper 
copy to: Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First 
Street NE, Washington, DC 20426. The first page of any filing should 
include docket number P-2669-085.
    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 existing Bear Swamp Project consists of a pumped storage 
development, the Bear Swamp Pumped Storage Development, and a 
conventional hydropower development, the Fife Brook Development, with a 
combined authorized capacity of 676 megawatts (MW). The project 
generates an average of 483,863 megawatt-hours (MWh) annually, and uses 
an average of 618,293 MWh annually to operate the pumped storage 
development.

[[Page 2214]]

Bear Swamp Pumped Storage Development

    The existing Bear Swamp Pumped Storage Development consists of: (1) 
A 118-acre upper reservoir with a gross storage capacity of 8,300 acre-
feet at the normal full water surface elevation of approximately 1,600 
feet National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD), which is 
contained by existing topography and four dikes: (a) An approximately 
1,300-foot-long, 155-foot-high curved, earth and rock-fill dike (North 
Dike); (b) an approximately 350-foot-long, 23-foot-high earth and rock-
fill dike extending from the eastside of the North Dike (North Dike 
Extension); (c) an approximately 2,880-foot-long, 140-foot-high earth 
and rock-fill dike (South Dike); and (d) an approximately 750-foot-
long, 50-foot-high earth and rock-fill dike (East Dike); (2) a 420-
foot-long emergency spillway excavated into bedrock to the east of the 
North Dike Extension; (3) an 88-foot-long, 1.5- to 4-foot-wide, 4-foot-
high submerged weir with three 5-foot-wide, 3-foot-high concrete 
stoplog gates; (4) a 40-foot-diameter concrete inlet/outlet structure 
located at the bottom of the upper reservoir to the west of the North 
Dike; (5) an approximately 1,430.5-foot-long tunnel system that conveys 
water from the upper reservoir to two 11-foot-diameter, steel-lined 
penstock sections; (6) a 227-foot-long, 79-foot-wide, 182-foot-high 
underground powerhouse containing two reversible Francis pump turbine-
generator units with a total authorized capacity of 666 MW; (7) a lower 
reservoir inlet/outlet structure with four 15-foot-wide, 20-foot-high 
bays, each equipped with 16-foot-wide, 20.6-foot-high steel slide 
gates; (8) four 15-foot-wide, 26.7-foot-tall steel trashracks with 6-
inch bar spacing; (9) two 13.8-kilovolt (kV) pump motor-generator lead 
electrical lines, one approximately 890 feet long (east lead), and one 
approximately 900 feet long (west lead); (10) two 13.8/230-kV step-up 
transformers; (11) two 230-kV above-ground transmission lines, one 
approximately 4,075 feet long (south line) and one approximately 3,960 
feet long (north line), which terminate at a non-project switchyard 
owned by National Grid; and (12) appurtenant facilities.

Fife Brook Development

    The existing Fife Brook Development consists of: (1) An 890-foot-
long, 130-foot-high earthen rock-fill dam; (2) a 152-acre impoundment 
with a gross storage capacity of 6,900 acre-feet at a normal maximum 
water surface elevation of 870 feet NGVD, which also serves as the 
lower reservoir for the Bear Swamp Pumped Storage Development; (3) two 
36-foot-wide, 40-foot-high steel Tainter spillway gates that are 
integral with the dam; (4) a concrete intake structure that is integral 
with the dam and includes an 11.2-foot-wide, 24-foot-tall trashrack 
with 3-inch bar spacing and a 15-foot-wide, 18-foot-high headgate; (5) 
a 10-foot-diameter, 200-foot-long steel penstock; (6) an approximately 
79.25-foot-long, 44-foot-wide, 94-foot-tall concrete powerhouse 
containing a 10-MW Francis turbine-generator unit; (7) a 21-foot-long 
steel-lined draft tube; (8) an approximately 325-foot-long, 30-inch-
diameter minimum flow release pipe that is gated at its intake and 
bifurcates into an approximately 55-foot-long, 20-inch-diameter pipe 
and an approximately 55-foot-long, 24-inch-diameter pipe; (9) a 
partially buried (860-foot-long section) and partially above-ground 
(7,060-foot-long section) 13.8-kV transmission line that connects the 
turbine-generator unit to the regional grid at a non-project substation 
owned by Great River Hydro, LLC; and (10) appurtenant facilities.
    The Bear Swamp Pumped Storage Development uses a storage capacity 
of 4,600 acre-feet to produce approximately 3,028 MWh of generation 
over approximately 5.3 hours. The Bear Swamp Pumped Storage Development 
normally generates and pumps back some or all of the useable storage 
capacity over a 24-hour period.
    The Fife Brook impoundment is the lower reservoir of the Bear Swamp 
Pumped Storage Development, and has an allowable drawdown of 40 feet to 
provide a useable storage capacity of 4,600 acre-feet to the upper 
reservoir of the Bear Swamp Pumped Storage Development for daily 
peaking operations. Releases from Fife Brook dam generally match the 
inflow from the Station No. 5 Development of Great River Hydro LLC's 
Deerfield River Project (FERC No. 2323), which discharges directly into 
the Fife Brook impoundment.
    The existing license requires Bear Swamp to release a continuous 
minimum flow of 125 cubic feet per second (cfs) from the Fife Brook 
dam. The existing license also requires Bear Swamp to provide 106 
scheduled annual releases of 700 cfs for whitewater recreation 
downstream of the Fife Brook dam from April 1 through October 31. Bear 
Swamp proposes to continue the current licensed mode of operation, 
including the minimum flow and whitewater recreation releases. Bear 
Swamp proposes to increase the volume of the whitewater flow releases 
from 700 cfs to 800 cfs.
    Bear Swamp proposes to continue to operate and maintain the 
existing licensed project recreation facilities. Bear Swamp also 
proposes several new measures to enhance recreational resources: (1) 
Improve the overflow parking area at the Fife Brook Fishing and Boating 
Access Area; (2) construct a new portage trail that begins downstream 
from the Showtime whitewater feature and extends upstream to the 
existing vehicle turnaround at the Dunbar Brook Picnic Area; (3) 
provide additional seasonal restroom facilities at the Zoar Picnic 
Area; (4) install a handrail on the stairs at the Fife Brook Fishing 
and Boating Access Area; (5) construct a stall-type changing facility 
at the Zoar Picnic Area; and (6) install additional signage to educate 
recreationists on safety and the Deerfield River flow regime. Finally, 
Bear Swamp proposes to continue to include 201 acres of river corridor 
lands downstream from the Fife Brook Development in the project 
boundary for the protection of wildlife and riverine habitat.
    m. 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 website 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. Copies are also available for inspection and 
reproduction at the Rowe Town Library, 318 Zoar Road, Rowe, 
Massachusetts 01367; and the North Adams Public Library, 74 Church 
Street, North Adams, Massachusetts 01247.
    n. Anyone may submit comments, a protest, or a motion to intervene 
in accordance with the requirements of the Commission's Rules of 
Practice and Procedure, 18 CFR 385.210, .211, and .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,'' ``COMMENTS,'' ``REPLY COMMENTS,'' 
``RECOMMENDATIONS,'' ``TERMS AND CONDITIONS,'' or ``PRESCRIPTIONS;'' 
(2) set forth in the heading the name of the applicant and the project 
number of the application to

[[Page 2215]]

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, terms and conditions, or prescriptions 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.
    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. Procedural Schedule:
    The application will be processed according to the following 
revised schedule. Revisions to the schedule may be made as appropriate.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Milestone                           Target date
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Filing of interventions, protests,           April 2019.
 comments, recommendations, preliminary
 terms and conditions, and preliminary
 fishway prescriptions.
Commission issues Draft Environmental        October 2019.
 Assessment.
Comments on Draft Environmental Assessment.  November 2019.
Modified terms and conditions..............  January 2020.
Commission issues Final Environmental        April 2020.
 Assessment.
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    Final amendments to the application must be filed with the 
Commission no later than 30 days from the issuance date of this notice.
    p. A license applicant must file no later than 60 days following 
the date of issuance of this notice: (1) A copy of the water quality 
certification; (2) a copy of the request for certification, including 
proof of the date on which the certifying agency received the request; 
or (3) evidence of waiver of water quality certification.

    Dated: January 30, 2019.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-01150 Filed 2-5-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P