[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 177 (Thursday, September 12, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74270-74272]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-20768]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 14787-004]


Black Canyon Hydro, LLC; Notice of Application Accepted for 
Filing, Scoping Meetings, and Environmental Site Review; Soliciting 
Motions To Intervene and Protests; and Soliciting Scoping Comments

    Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been 
filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection.
    a. Type of Application: Original major license.
    b. Project No.: 14787-004.
    c. Date Filed: January 18, 2023.
    d. Applicant: rPlus Hydro, LLLP, on behalf of Black Canyon Hydro, 
LLC (BCH).
    e. Name of Project: Seminoe Pumped Storage Project (Seminoe Project 
or project).
    f. Location: The proposed project would be located at the U.S. 
Bureau of Reclamation's (Reclamation) Seminoe Reservoir on the North 
Platte River in Carbon County, Wyoming, approximately 35 miles 
northeast of Rawlins, Wyoming. The project would occupy 1,025.94 acres 
of land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and 77.00 acres 
managed by Reclamation.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act 16 U.S.C. 791(a)-825(r).
    h. Applicant Contact: Lars Dorr, Program Manager for rPlus Hydro, 
LLLP. Address: Black Canyon Hydro, LLC c/o rPlus Hydro, LLLP 201 S. 
Main St. Suite 2100 Salt Lake City, Utah 84111. Phone: (858) 925-3743. 
Email: [email protected].
    i. FERC Contact: Michael Tust at (202) 502-6522; or email at 
[email protected].
    j. Deadline for filing scoping comments and motions to intervene 
and protests: November 5, 2024.
    The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file 
scoping comments and motions to intervene and protests using the 
Commission's eFiling system at https://ferconline.ferc.gov/FERCOnline.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. 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. All filings must clearly identify the project name and docket 
number on the first page: Seminoe Pumped Storage Project (P-14787-004).
    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 on the official service list for the 
project. Further, 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.
    k. This application has been accepted for filing, but is not ready 
for environmental analysis at this time.
    l. Project Description: The Seminoe Project would utilize 
Reclamation's existing 1,017,280 acre-feet Seminoe reservoir on the 
North Platte River as the lower reservoir and would include the 
following new facilities: (1) a 8,498-foot-long circumference, 20-foot 
wide, 65 to 180-foot-high, roller-compacted concrete dam impounding a 
10,800-acre-foot upper reservoir at a crest elevation of 7,445 feet; 
(2) the dam would have a 200-foot-long concrete, ungated, ogee crest 
emergency spillway with a crest elevation of 7,446 feet; (3) a 75-foot-
diameter, covered bell-mouth intake set near the southwestern edge of 
the upper reservoir at elevation of 7,295 feet; (4) an approximately 
680-foot-long, 32-foot-diameter concrete lined-headrace tunnel 
connecting to a 615-foot-long, 24-foot-diameter aboveground steel 
conduit which would extend underground for an additional 2,470 feet 
before discharging to a 30-foot-diameter vertical, concrete-lined 
shaft; (5) the vertical shaft then connects to a 165-foot-long, 17-
foot-diameter concrete, steel-lined penstock and then to the pump-
turbines; (6) three pump-turbines each rated at 324 megawatts (MW) for 
a combined total generating capacity of 972 MW located in the 
underground powerhouse (machine hall); (7) an approximately 4,350 foot-
long, concrete tailrace channel discharging water to a lower intake 
structure within the existing Seminoe Reservoir at normal maximum water 
surface elevation of 6,357 feet; (8) a transformer cavern containing 18 
kilovolt (kV) generator step-up transformers for each unit, and a gas-
insulated switchgear switchyard; (9) power would be transmitted from 
the transformer gallery via 765-foot-long horizontal tunnel to a 
vertical cable shaft up to a take-off structure at the surface, and 
then via two separate, 500 kV, overhead primary transmission lines 
extending to the 500 kV interconnection at Aeolus Substation, 
approximately 30 miles to the southeast of Seminoe Reservoir; (10) an 
approximately 32-foot-diameter main access tunnel would provide access 
to the machine hall; (11) a 15-foot-wide, 16-foot-high surge chamber 
access tunnel lined with shotcrete; (12) an approximately 2.6-mile-long 
access road around the reservoir; (13) a 40-foot-wide road to the main 
access tunnel portal, including a new bridge over the tailrace of 
Seminoe Dam; and (14) appurtenant facilities. In addition, portions of 
Western Area Power Administration's Miracle Mile-Snowy Range 1 115 kV 
and Miracle Mile-Snowy Range 2 230 kV transmission lines would be 
relocated around the upper reservoir. Additionally, the existing 
Bennett Mountain Road (also called Dry Lake Road) for accessing the 
proposed upper reservoir site and a section of an

[[Page 74271]]

existing powerline road for accessing the proposed lower intake 
structure at Seminoe Reservoir would be upgraded (i.e., widened to 24 
feet and realigned in places to reduce steep grades) to accommodate 
two-way traffic and heavy equipment.
    BCH would draw 13,400 acre-feet of water from Seminoe Reservoir to 
initially fill the new upper reservoir and would need 672 acre-feet of 
water each year to replenish water lost through evaporation. BCH states 
it would either make contractual arrangements or potentially purchase 
an additional water right for the annual refill water. BCH states that 
generation would depend on grid conditions and market demands but that 
the project is designed to generate for up to approximately 10 hours 
each day at maximum generating capacity of 972 MW, or for longer 
durations at reduced generating output. In generating mode, the project 
would have an estimated maximum operating flow rate of 12,600 cubic 
feet per second (cfs) at maximum hydraulic capacity with all three 
turbine units operating. In pumping mode, the project would have an 
estimated maximum pumping flow rate of 10,500 cfs with all three pumps 
operating against an upper reservoir minimum operating elevation of 
7,350 feet. The pumping capacity decreases to 8,298 cfs at the upper 
reservoir maximum operating elevation of 7,445 feet. The full pumping 
cycle to recharge the upper reservoir is estimated at approximately 
14.6 hours and the maximum generation is 13 hours.
    m. A copy of the application can be viewed on the Commission's 
website at https://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 (see item j above).
    You may also register 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, please 
contact FERC Online Support (see item j above).
    n. Anyone may submit a protest or a motion to intervene in 
accordance with the requirements of Rules of Practice and Procedure, 18 
CFR 385.210, 385.211, and 385.214. In determining the appropriate 
action to take, the Commission will consider all protests 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 protests 
or motions to intervene must be received on or before the specified 
deadline date for the particular application.
    When the application is ready for environmental analysis, the 
Commission will issue a public notice requesting comments, 
recommendations, terms and conditions, or prescriptions.
    All filings must (1) bear in all capital letters the title 
``PROTEST'' or ``MOTION TO INTERVENE;'' (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 protesting or intervening; and (4) otherwise 
comply with the requirements of 18 CFR 385.2001 through 385.2005. 
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.
    o. 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].
    p. The Commission's scoping process will help determine the 
required level of analysis and satisfy the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) scoping requirements, irrespective of whether the 
Commission issues an environmental assessment or an environmental 
impact statement.

Scoping Meetings

    In addition to written comments solicited by this notice, 
Commission staff will hold three public scoping meetings at the times 
and locations noted below. All interested individuals, resource 
agencies, Native American Tribes, and NGOs are invited to attend any of 
the meetings to assist Commission staff in identifying the scope of 
environmental issues that should be analyzed in the NEPA document. The 
times and locations of these meetings are as follows:

Daytime Scoping Meeting

    Date: Tuesday, September 24, 2024.
    Time: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. MDT.
    Location: Hilton Garden Inn Casper.
    Address: 1150 N Poplar Street, Casper, Wyoming 82601.

Evening Scoping Meeting

    Date: Tuesday, September 24, 2024.
    Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. MDT.
    Location: Hilton Garden Inn Casper.
    Address: 1150 N Poplar Street, Casper, Wyoming 82601.

Evening Scoping Meeting

    Date: Wednesday, September 25, 2024.
    Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. MDT.
    Location: Jeffrey Memorial Community Center.
    Address: 315 W Pine Street, Rawlins, Wyoming 82301.
    Scoping Document 1 (SD1), which outlines the subject areas to be 
addressed in the environmental document, was mailed to the individuals 
and entities on the Commission's mailing list. Copies of SD1 will be 
available at the scoping meetings, or may be viewed on the web at 
http://www.ferc.gov, using the ``eLibrary'' link. Follow the directions 
for accessing information in paragraph m.

Environmental Site Review

    BCH and Commission staff will conduct an environmental site review 
of the project beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 25, 2024. 
All interested individuals, resource agencies, Native American Tribes, 
and NGOs are invited to attend the site review. Participants will 
initially meet in the lobby at the Hilton Garden Inn at 1150 N Poplar 
Street, Casper, Wyoming 82601 before traveling to the site. The 
applicant will provide a detailed site visit agenda that includes 
approximately 7 stops, and will take up to 8 hours to complete. 
Attendees are responsible for their own vehicle transport and should 
wear appropriate outdoor clothing. The existing road to the upper 
reservoir site is steep and rocky; therefore, attendees wishing to see 
the upper reservoir site should plan on driving their own 4x4, high 
clearance, off-road capable vehicle to access that particular site. 
Please contact Lars Dorr, Program Manager at rPlus at (858) 925-3743 or 
via email at [email protected] no later than Friday September 20, 
2024, to register for the environmental site review.

Meeting Procedures

    Individuals, NGOs, Native American Tribes, and agencies with 
environmental expertise and concerns are encouraged to attend the 
meetings and to assist the staff in defining and clarifying the issues 
to be addressed in the NEPA document. At the start of each meeting, 
Commission staff will provide a brief overview of the meeting format

[[Page 74272]]

and objectives. Individual oral comments will be taken on a one-on-one 
basis with a court reporter (with Commission staff present). This 
format is designed to receive the maximum number of oral comments in a 
convenient way during the timeframe allotted. If you wish to speak, 
Commission staff will hand out numbers in the order of your arrival. If 
all individuals who wish to provide comments have had an opportunity to 
do so, Commission staff may conclude the meeting a half hour earlier 
than the scheduled time. Please see appendix 1 for additional 
information on the session format and conduct.\1\
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    \1\ The appendix referenced in this notice will not appear in 
the Federal Register. Copies of the appendix were sent to all those 
receiving this notice in the mail and are available at www.ferc.gov 
using the ``eLibrary'' link. For assistance, contact FERC at 
[email protected] or call toll free, (886) 208-3676 or TTY 
(202) 502-8659.
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    Scoping comments will be recorded by the court reporter and become 
part of the public record for this proceeding. Transcripts will be 
publicly available on FERC's eLibrary system. If a significant number 
of people are interested in providing oral comments in the one-on-one 
settings, a time limit of 5 minutes may be implemented for each 
commentor.
    It is important to note that the Commission provides equal 
consideration to all comments received, whether filed in writing or 
provided orally at a scoping session. Although there will not be a 
formal presentation, Commission staff will be available throughout the 
scoping session to answer your questions about the environmental review 
process. Representatives from BCH will also be present to answer 
project-specific questions.
    q. Procedural Schedule: The application will be processed according 
to the following anticipated processing schedule. Revisions to the 
schedule will be made as appropriate. The schedule for issuing draft 
and final NEPA documents is consistent with the Commission's Notice of 
Revised Schedule issued January 10, 2024:

Scoping Document 1 Issued--September 2024
Acceptance and Scoping Notice Issued--September 2024
Scoping Document 1 Comments Due--November 2024
Issue Scoping Document 2 (if needed)--December 2024
Issue Notice of Ready for Environmental Analysis--December 2024
Comments, Recommendations and Agency Terms and Conditions/Prescriptions 
Due--February 2025
Applicant's Reply Comments Due--March 2025
Commission Issues Draft NEPA Document--August 2025
Commission Issues Final NEPA Document--March 2026

    Dated: September 6, 2024.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Acting Secretary.

Appendix 1

FERC Session Format and Conduct

Session Format

    FERC is conducting the session to solicit your scoping comments. 
There will not be a formal presentation by Commission staff; 
however, FERC staff is available to answer questions about the 
environmental review process. The session format is as follows:
     Tickets are handed out on a ``first come, first serve'' 
basis starting at the time listed in the Notice.
     Individuals are called in ticket number order to 
provide oral comments to be transcribed by a court reporter for the 
public record.
     Time limits on oral comments may be enforced to ensure 
that all those wishing to comment have the opportunity to do so 
within the designated session time.
     Additional materials about FERC and the environmental 
review process are available at information stations at the session.
    Session Conduct
    Proper conduct will help the sessions maintain a respectful 
atmosphere for attendees to learn about the FERC Environmental 
Review Process and to be able to provide comments effectively.
     Loudspeakers, lighting, oversized visual aids, or other 
visual or audible disturbances are not permitted.
     Disruptive video and photographic equipment may not be 
used.
     Conversations should be kept to a reasonable volume. 
Attendees should be respectful of those providing oral comments to 
the court reporters.
     Recorded interviews are not permitted within the 
session space.
     FERC reserves the right end the session if disruptions 
interfere with the opportunity for individuals to provide oral 
comments or if there is a safety or security risk.

[FR Doc. 2024-20768 Filed 9-11-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P