[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 9 (Thursday, January 14, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3150-3151]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-00681]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 3428-187]


Brown Bear II Hydro, Inc.; Notice of Intent To File License 
Application, Filing of Pre-Application Document, Commencement of Pre-
Filing Process, and Scoping; Waiving Parts of the Pre-Filing Process; 
Request for Comments on the Pad and Scoping Document, and 
Identification of Issues and Associated Study Requests

    a. Type of Filing: Notice of Intent to File License Application for 
New License and Commencing Pre-filing Process.
    b. Submitted By: Brown Bear II Hydro, Inc.
    c. Name of Project: Worumbo Hydroelectric Project.
    d. Location: On the Androscoggin River, in Androscoggin County, 
Maine.
    e. Filed Pursuant to: 18 CFR part 5 of the Commission's 
Regulations.
    f. Licensee Contact: Michael Scarzello, Regulatory Director, Eagle 
Creek Renewable Energy, LLC, 116 N State Street, P.O. Box 167, 
Neshkoro, WI 54960-0167.
    g. FERC Contact: Ryan Hansen at (202) 502-8074 or email at 
[email protected].
    h. Cooperating agencies: Federal, state, local, and tribal agencies 
with jurisdiction and/or special expertise with respect to 
environmental issues that wish to cooperate in the preparation of the 
environmental document should follow the instructions for filing such 
requests described in item m below. Cooperating agencies should note 
the Commission's policy that agencies that cooperate in the preparation 
of the environmental document cannot also intervene. See 94 FERC 61,076 
(2001).
    i. With this notice, we are initiating informal consultation with: 
(a) The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and/or NOAA Fisheries under 
section 7 of the Endangered Species Act and the joint agency 
regulations thereunder at 50 CFR, Part 402 and (b) the State Historic 
Preservation Officer, as required by section 106, National Historic 
Preservation Act, and the implementing regulations of the Advisory 
Council on Historic Preservation at 36 CFR 800.2.
    j. With this notice, we are designating Brown Bear II Hydro, Inc. 
as the Commission's non-federal representatives for carrying out 
informal consultation, pursuant to section 7 of the Endangered Species 
Act and section

[[Page 3151]]

106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
    k. Brown Bear II Hydro, Inc. filed with the Commission a Pre-
Application Document (PAD; including a proposed process plan and 
schedule), pursuant to 18 CFR 5.6 of the Commission's regulations.
    l. In addition to publishing the full text of this document in the 
Federal Register, the Commission provides all interested persons an 
opportunity to view and/or print the contents via the internet through 
the Commission's Home Page (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. At this time, the 
Commission has suspended access to the Commission's Public Reference 
Room, due to the proclamation declaring a National Emergency concerning 
the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), issued by the President on 
March 13, 2020. For assistance, contact FERC at 
[email protected] or call toll-free, (866) 208-3676 or TYY, 
(202) 502-8659.
    Register online at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp to be notified via email of new filing and issuances 
related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC 
Online Support.
    m. With this notice, we are soliciting comments on the PAD and 
Commission's staff Scoping Document 1 (SD1), as well as study requests. 
All comments on the PAD and SD1, and study requests should be sent to 
the address above in paragraph f. In addition, all comments on the PAD 
and SD1, study requests, requests for cooperating agency status, and 
all communications to and from Commission staff related to the merits 
of the potential application must be filed with the Commission.
    The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file 
all documents 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]. In lieu of electronic filing, you may 
submit a paper copy. Submissions sent via the U.S. Postal Service must 
be addressed to: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, 888 First Street NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426. 
Submissions sent via any other carrier must be addressed to: Kimberly 
D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins 
Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
    All filings with the Commission must bear the appropriate heading: 
Comments on Pre-Application Document, Study Requests, Comments on 
Scoping Document 1, Request for Cooperating Agency Status, or 
Communications to and from Commission Staff. Any individual or entity 
interested in submitting study requests, commenting on the PAD or SD1, 
and any agency requesting cooperating status must do so by March 23, 
2021.
    n. Scoping Process: The Commission's scoping process will help 
determine the required level of analysis and satisfy the NEPA scoping 
requirements, irrespective of whether the Commission prepares an 
environmental assessment or Environmental Impact Statement.
    Due to restrictions on mass gatherings related to COVID-19, we are 
waiving section 5.8(b)(viii) of the Commission's regulations and do not 
intend to conduct a public scoping meeting and site visit in this case. 
Instead, we are soliciting written comments, recommendations, and 
information, on SD1. Any individual or entity interested in submitting 
scoping comments must do so by the date specified in item m. SD1, which 
outlines the subject areas to be addressed in the environmental 
document, was mailed to the individuals and entities on the 
Commission's official mailing list. Copies of SD1 may be viewed on the 
web at http://www.ferc.gov, using the ``eLibrary'' link. Follow the 
directions for accessing information in paragraph l. Based on all 
written comments, a Scoping Document 2 (SD2) may be issued. SD2 may 
include a revised process plan and schedule, as well as a list of 
issues, identified through the scoping process.
    We may conduct a site visit, if needed, later in the process, such 
as in conjunction with the study plan meeting required by section 
5.11(e) of the Commission's regulations which is required to occur by 
June 6, 2021. Further revisions to the schedule may be made as 
appropriate.

    Dated: January 8, 2021.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-00681 Filed 1-13-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P