[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 123 (Wednesday, June 26, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53415-53416]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-13930]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 8377-030]


Isabella Partners; Notice of Application for Capacity Amendment 
Accepted for Filing, Soliciting Comments, Motions To Intervene, 
Protests, Recommendations, Terms and Conditions, and Fishway 
Prescriptions

    Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been 
filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection:
    a. Application Type: Capacity Amendment.
    b. Project No: 8377-030.
    c. Date Filed: February 20, 2024.
    d. Applicant: Isabella Partners.
    e. Name of Project: Isabella Hydroelectric Project.
    f. Location: The project is located on the Kern River in Kern 
County, California at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps)' 
Isabella Dam on lands administered by the Corps of Engineers.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791a-825r.
    h. Applicant Contact: Ben Singer, P.O. Box 1136, Bozeman, MT 59771, 
[email protected], and 406-763-4063.
    i. FERC Contact: Zeena Aljibury, (202) 502-6065, 
[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 l 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. Water Quality Certification: The applicant submitted an 
application for water quality certification (WQC) on February 13, 2023 
to the California State Water Resources Control Board (California 
SWRCB). California SWRCB issued a WQC on February 12, 2024, which is 
included in the amendment application.
    l. Deadline for filing comments, motions to intervene, and 
protests: July 18, 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. 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, MD 20852. The first page 
of any filing should include the docket number P-8377-030. 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.
    m. Description of Request: Isabella Partners requests approval for 
a capacity amendment to the license for the Isabella Hydroelectric 
Project. Isabella Partners proposes to construct and operate a new 5-
megawatt (MW) generating unit which would be located in a new 40-foot-
by-45-foot concrete structure adjacent to the existing powerhouse. This 
would result in an increase of the installed capacity from 12.8 MW to 
17.8 MW. Currently, flows greater than the 100 cubic feet per second 
(cfs) capacity of Unit 3 and less than the 500 cfs minimum operating 
range of Units 1 and 2 are discharged through the existing bypass 
channel. The proposed 5-MW addition (Unit 4) would allow Isabella 
Partners to generate power at flows between 100 and 500 cfs. Water 
released from the proposed unit would be discharged through the 
existing tailrace. Isabella Partners would continue to operate the 
Project under the 1993 Army Corps of Engineers Memorandum of Agreement 
and there would be no changes in water releases to the Kern River as a 
result of the proposed action.

[[Page 53416]]

    n. 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 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.
    o. Individuals desiring to be included on the Commission's mailing 
list should so indicate by writing to the Secretary of the Commission.
    p. 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.
    q. Filing and Service of Documents: Any filing must (1) bear in all 
capital letters the title ``COMMENTS'', ``PROTEST'', or ``MOTION TO 
INTERVENE'', ``TERMS AND CONDITIONS'', OR ``FISHWAY PRESCRIPTIONS'', 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 and otherwise comply with the requirements of 18 CFR 4.34(b). All 
comments, motions to intervene, or protests should relate to project 
works which are the subject of the amendment. 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. If an 
intervener 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. 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.
    r. 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: June 18, 2024.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-13930 Filed 6-25-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P