[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 149 (Friday, August 2, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63193-63194]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-17076]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 8791-004]


R.J. Fortier Hydropower, Inc.; Notice of Application for 
Surrender of Exemption 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 Exemption.
    b. Project No: P-8791-004.
    c. Date Filed: June 24, 2024.
    d. Applicant: R.J. Fortier Hydropower, Inc.
    e. Name of Project: Starks Hydroelectric Project.
    f. Location: The project is located on Lemon Stream, near the town 
of Hanover, Somerset County, Maine.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 
1978, 16 U.S.C. 2705, 2708.
    h. Applicant Contact: Matt Streeter, on behalf of R.J. Fortier 
Hydropower, Inc., [email protected], 207-337-2611.
    i. FERC Contact: Diana Shannon, (202) 502-6136, 
[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: August 28, 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-8791-004. 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: The applicant proposes to surrender its 
project exemption. The project is currently inoperable. Prior to filing 
the application, the exemptee and Maine Rivers agreed that following 
surrender of the project exemption and removal of the project from 
Commission jurisdiction, Maine Rivers will be responsible for 
physically removing the project dam. Dam removal funding has been 
secured through a Federal grant with the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration. All necessary permits for dam removal will 
be obtained following the Commission's granting of surrender of the 
project exemption. In its application, the applicant states it lacks 
the resources necessary to restore operation and desires instead to 
allow for dam removal following surrender of the exemption through its 
agreement with Maine Rivers.
    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 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

[[Page 63194]]

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: July 29, 2024.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-17076 Filed 8-1-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P