[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 131 (Wednesday, July 8, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41029-41030]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-14665]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 2322-069]
Brookfield White-Pine Hydro LLC; Notice of Application Accepted
for Filing, Soliciting Motions To Intervene and Protests, Ready for
Environmental Analysis, and Soliciting Comments, Recommendations,
Preliminary Terms and Conditions, and Preliminary Fishway Prescriptions
Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been
filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection.
a. Type of Application: New Major License.
b. Project No.: 2322-069.
c. Date filed: January 31, 2020.
d. Applicant: Brookfield White-Pine Hydro, LLC (Brookfield).
e. Name of Project: Shawmut Hydroelectric Project.
f. Location: The existing project is located on the Kennebec River
in Kennebec and Somerset Counties, Maine. The project does not affect
federal lands.
g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act 16 U.S.C. 791 (a)-825(r).
h. Applicant Contact: Randy Dorman, 150 Main Street, Lewiston,
Maine 04240; (207) 755-5600 or email at
[email protected].
i. FERC Contact: Matt Cutlip, telephone (503) 552-2762, and email
[email protected].
j. Deadline for filing motions to intervene and protests, comments,
recommendations, preliminary terms and conditions, and preliminary
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, protests, comments, recommendations, preliminary
terms and conditions, and preliminary fishway 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).
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 Shawmut Project consists of the following constructed
facilities: (1) a 24-foot-high, 1,480-foot-long concrete gravity dam
consisting of: (i) A 380-foot-long overflow section with hinged
flashboards, (ii) a 730-foot-long overflow section with an inflatable
bladder, (iii) 25-foot-wide sluice section; (iv) a non-overflow
section; and (v) a headworks containing 11 headgates that regulate flow
into a forebay; (2) a 1,310-acre impoundment extending about 12 miles
upstream; (3) two powerhouses adjacent to the forebay, separated by a
10-foot-high by 7-foot-wide Tainter gate and a 6-foot-high by 6-foot-
wide deep gate; (4) eight turbine-generating units; (5) a 300-foot-long
tailrace; (6) 250-foot-long generator leads connecting the powerhouses
with a substation; and (7) appurtenant facilities.
Brookfield operates the project in a run-of-river mode and
implements specific operating procedure to facilitate upstream and
downstream fish passage at the project. Upstream passage for American
eel is provided by a dedicated eel passage facility located adjacent to
one of the powerhouses. There are no constructed upstream anadromous
fishways at the project. Currently anadromous fish are captured and
transported upstream of the Shawmut Project via a fish lift and
transport system at the Lockwood Dam Hydroelectric Project No. 2574,
located about 6 miles downstream. Downstream fish passage for American
eel and anadromous fish at the Shawmut Project is provided via a
combination of routing flows through the project's spillways, turbines,
and downstream fish passage facilities (e.g., deep gate and Tainter
gate between the powerhouses).
Brookfield proposes to construct and operate a forebay guidance
boom to direct downstream migrating fish to a surface bypass route and
minimize passage through the turbines.
m. A copy of the application can 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.
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.
n. 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, 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,
PRELIMINARY TERMS AND CONDITIONS, or PRELIMINARY FISHWAY PRESCRIPTIONS;
(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, 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.
o. Procedural Schedule: The application will be processed according
[[Page 41030]]
to the following revised Hydro Licensing Schedule. Revisions to the
schedule may be made as appropriate.
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Milestone Target date
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Filing of recommendations, August 2020.
preliminary terms and conditions,
and preliminary fishway
prescriptions.
Commission issues Draft EA or EIS.... April 2021.
Comments on Draft EA or EIS.......... May 2021.
Modified Terms and Conditions........ July 2021.
Commission Issues Final EA or EIS.... October 2021.
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p. Final amendments to the application must be filed with the
Commission no later than 30 days from the issuance date of this notice.
q. A license applicant must file no later than 60 days following
the date of issuance of the notice of acceptance and ready for
environmental analysis provided for in 5.22: (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: July 1, 2020.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-14665 Filed 7-7-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P