[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 33 (Friday, February 16, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12332-12333]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-03316]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 2601-077]


Northbrook Carolina Hydro II, LLC; Notice of Application for 
Surrender of License Accepted for Filing, Soliciting Comments, 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. Application Type: Surrender of License.
    b. Project No: P-2601-077.
    c. Date Filed: November 16, 2023.
    d. Applicant: Northbrook Carolina Hydro II, LLC.
    e. Name of Project: Bryson Hydroelectric Project.
    f. Location: The project is located on the Oconaluftee River in 
Swain County, North Carolina. The project does not occupy any federal 
lands.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791a-825r.
    h. Applicant Contact: Chuck Ahlrichs, 14550 N. Frank Lloyd Wright 
Blvd., Suite 210, Scottsdale, AZ 85260, (480) 551-1771, 
[email protected].
    i. FERC Contact: Michael Calloway, (202) 502-8041, 
[email protected].
    j. Cooperating agencies: With this notice, the Commission is 
inviting federal, state, local, and Tribal agencies with jurisdiction 
and/or special expertise with respect to environmental issues affected 
by the proposal, that wish to cooperate in the preparation of any 
environmental document, if applicable, to follow the instructions for 
filing such requests described in item k below. Cooperating agencies 
should note the Commission's policy that agencies that cooperate in the 
preparation of any environmental document cannot also intervene. See 94 
FERC ] 61,076 (2001).
    k. Deadline for filing comments, motions to intervene, and 
protests: March 13, 2024.
    The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file 
comments, motions to intervene, and protests 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, you may 
submit a paper copy. Submissions sent via the U.S. Postal Service must 
be addressed to: Debbie-Anne A. Reese, Acting Secretary, Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 
20426. Submissions sent via any other carrier must be addressed to: 
Debbie-Anne A. Reese, Acting Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852. The first 
page of any filing should include the docket number P-2601-077. 
Comments emailed to Commission staff are not considered part of the 
Commission record.
    The Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure require all 
intervenors filing documents with the Commission to serve a copy of 
that document on each person whose name appears 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.
    l. Description of Request: Northbrook Carolina Hydro II, LLC 
(licensee) is proposing to surrender the project license. The project 
is located on the Oconaluftee River downstream of the Great Smoky 
Mountain National Park and the lands of the Eastern Band of Cherokee 
Indians (Qualla Boundary). The Project boundary abuts the Qualla 
Boundary for 1.5 miles. The proposed mode of surrender would include 
disconnection from the utility interconnection point and the removal of 
the generators and turbines. The licensee would offer the generators, 
control equipment, and wiring for sale following decommissioning, or 
would properly dispose of the equipment. The proposal includes leaving 
the dam and associated structures intact and operational. The licensee 
intends to later deed ownership of the project to Mainspring 
Conservation Land Trust for potential future removal of the dam after 
the surrender is final.
    m. Locations of the Application: This filing 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. You may also register 
online at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp to be 
notified via email of new filings and issuances

[[Page 12333]]

related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, call 1-866-
208-3676 or email [email protected], for TTY, call (202) 502-
8659. Agencies may obtain copies of the application directly from the 
applicant.
    n. Individuals desiring to be included on the Commission's mailing 
list should so indicate by writing to the Secretary of the Commission.
    o. Comments, Protests, or Motions to Intervene: 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, respectively. 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.
    p. Filing and Service of Documents: Any filing must (1) bear in all 
capital letters the title ``COMMENTS'', ``PROTEST'', or ``MOTION TO 
INTERVENE'' as applicable; (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 commenting, protesting or intervening; and (4) otherwise comply 
with the requirements of 18 CFR 385.2001 through 385.2005. All 
comments, motions to intervene, or protests must set forth their 
evidentiary basis. Any filing made by an intervenor 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 
385.2010.
    q. The Commission's Office of Public Participation (OPP) supports 
meaningful public engagement and participation in Commission 
proceedings. OPP can help members of the public, including landowners, 
environmental justice communities, Tribal members and others, access 
publicly available information and navigate Commission processes. For 
public inquiries and assistance with making filings such as 
interventions, comments, or requests for rehearing, the public is 
encouraged to contact OPP at (202) 502-6595 or [email protected].

    Dated: February 12, 2024.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-03316 Filed 2-15-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P