[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 3, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 23009]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-07044]



[[Page 23009]]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project Nos. 2322-069; 2322-071; and 2325-100; Project No. 2574-092; 
Project No. 2611-091]


Brookfield White Pine Hydro, LLC; Merimil Limited Partnership; 
Hydro-Kennebec, LLC; Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement for the Shawmut Hydroelectric Project, Lockwood 
Hydroelectric Project, Hydro-Kennebec Hydroelectric Project, and Weston 
Hydroelectric Project

    In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
\1\ and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (Commission) 
regulations, 18 CFR part 380, the Office of Energy Projects has 
reviewed the application for license for the Shawmut Hydroelectric 
Project (FERC No. 2322), the proposed Interim Species Protection Plan 
for the Shawmut Project, and the Final Species Protection Plan for the 
Lockwood Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 2574), Hydro-Kennebec 
Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 2611), and Weston Hydroelectric Project 
(FERC No. 2325) and has prepared a draft environmental impact statement 
(EIS) for the projects. All four projects are located on the Kennebec 
River, in Kennebec and Somerset Counties, Maine.
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    \1\ National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, amended (Pub. L. 
91-190. 42 U.S.C. 4321-4347, as amended by Pub. L. 94-52, July 3, 
1975, Pub. L. 94-83, August 9, 1975, Pub. L. 97-258, 4(b), September 
13, 1982, Pub. L. 118-5, June 3, 2023).
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    The draft EIS contains staff's analysis of the applicant's proposal 
and the alternatives for licensing the Shawmut Project, and amending 
the licenses for the Shawmut, Lockwood, Hydro-Kennebec, and Weston 
projects. The draft EIS documents the views of governmental agencies, 
non-governmental organizations, affected Native-American tribes, the 
public, the license applicant, and Commission staff.
    The Commission provides all interested persons with an opportunity 
to view and/or print the EIS 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. For assistance, contact FERC Online 
Support at [email protected], or toll-free at (866) 208-3676, 
or for TTY, (202) 502-8659.
    You may also register online at https://ferconline.ferc.gov/FERCOnline.aspx to be notified via email of new filings and issuances 
related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC 
Online Support.
    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].
    All comments must be filed by June 4, 2024.
    The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file 
comments using the Commission's eFiling system at https://ferconline.ferc.gov/eFiling.aspx. Commenters can submit brief comments 
up to 6,000 characters, without prior registration, using the eComment 
system at https://ferconline.ferc.gov/QuickComment.aspx. 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 docket numbers P-2322-069; P-2322-071; P-2325-
100; P-2574-092; and P-2611-091.
    Anyone may intervene in this proceeding based on this draft EIS (18 
CFR 380.10). You must file your request to intervene as specified 
above.\2\ You do not need intervenor status to have your comments 
considered.
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    \2\ Interventions may also be filed electronically via the 
internet in lieu of paper. See the previous discussion on filing 
comments electronically.
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    In addition to or in lieu of sending written comments, you are 
invited to attend a public meeting that will be held to receive 
comments on the draft EIS. Commission staff will hold two public 
meetings for the purpose of receiving comments on the draft EIS. At the 
meetings, resource agency personnel and other interested persons will 
have the opportunity to provide oral and written comments and 
recommendations regarding the draft EIS. The meetings will be recorded 
by a court reporter, and all statements (verbal and written) will 
become part of the Commission's public record for the projects. All 
interested individuals and entities will be invited to attend one or 
both of the public meetings. A notice detailing the exact date, time, 
and location of the public meetings will be forthcoming.
    For further information, contact Marybeth Gay at 
[email protected] or 202-502-6125, or Matt Cutlip at 
[email protected] or 503-552-2762.

    Dated: March 28, 2024.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-07044 Filed 4-2-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P