[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 66 (Tuesday, April 8, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15144-15145]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-06016]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 15116-001]
Ocean Renewable Power Company, Inc.; Notice of Intent To File
License Application, Filing of Draft Application, Request for Waivers
of Integrated Licensing Process Regulations Necessary for Expedited
Processing of a Hydrokinetic Pilot Project License Application, and
Soliciting Comments
a. Type of Filing: Notice of Intent to File a License Application
for an Original License for a Hydrokinetic Pilot Project.
b. Project No.: 15116-001.
c. Date Filed: March 18, 2025.
d. Submitted By: Ocean Renewable Power Company, Inc. (ORPC).
e. Name of Project: East Foreland Tidal Energy Project.
f. Location: On the Cook Inlet waterway near Nikiski, Alaska and
adjacent lands of the Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska.
g. Filed Pursuant to: 18 CFR 5.3 of the Commission's regulations.
h. Applicant Contact: Nathan Johnson, Vice President, Development,
ORPC, 254 Commercial Street, Suite 119B, Portland, ME 04101; (207) 712-
2927; [email protected].
i. FERC Contact: Amy Chang at (202) 502-6154 or email at
[email protected].
j. ORPC has filed with the Commission: (1) a notice of intent (NOI)
to file an application for an original license for a hydrokinetic pilot
project and a draft license application with monitoring plans; (2) a
request for waivers of the integrated licensing process regulations
necessary for expedited processing of a hydrokinetic pilot project
license application; (3) a proposed process plan and schedule; (4) a
request to be designated as the non-federal representative for section
7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) consultation; and (5) a request
to be designated as the non-federal representative for section 106
consultation under the National Historic Preservation Act (collectively
the pre-filing materials).
k. With this notice, we are soliciting comments on the pre-filing
materials listed in paragraph j above, including the draft license
application and monitoring plans. All comments should be sent to the
address above in paragraph h. In addition, all comments must be filed
with the Commission. The Commission strongly encourages electronic
filing. Please file comments 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, 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, 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: East
Foreland Tidal Energy Project (P-15116-001). Any individual or entity
interested in submitting comments on the pre-filing materials must do
so by May 17, 2025.
l. With this notice, we are approving ORPC's request to be
designated as the non-federal representative for section 7 of the ESA
and its request to initiate consultation under section 106 of the
National Historic Preservation Act; and recommending that it begin
informal consultation with: (a) the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and
NOAA Fisheries as required by section 7 of ESA; and (b) the Alaska
State Historic Preservation Officer, as required by section 106 of the
National Historic Preservation Act, and the implementing regulations of
the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation at 36 CFR 800.2.
m. With this notice, we also are asking federal, state, local, and
tribal agencies with jurisdiction and/or expertise with respect to
environmental issues to cooperate with us in the preparation of the
environmental document. Agencies who would like to request cooperating
status should follow the instructions for filing comments described in
paragraph ``k'' above.
n. This notice does not constitute the Commission's approval of
ORPC's request to use the Pilot Project Licensing Procedures. Upon its
review of the project's overall characteristics relative to the pilot
project criteria, the draft license application contents, and any
comments filed, the Commission will determine whether there is adequate
information to conclude the pre-filing process.
o. The East Foreland Tidal Energy Project would consist of: (1) a
1.75-megawatt (MW) Proteus Marine Renewables AR1750 tidal device and
associated anchoring system; (2) a 0.23 MW ORPC TidGen80[supreg] tidal
device and associated mooring system; (3) two dedicated power and data
cables running from the tidal devices to respective shore stations; (4)
four pre-fabricated standard shipping container shore stations; (5) a
transmission line; and (6) appurtenant facilities. The project would
have a total estimated average annual generation of 6,078,000 kilowatt
hours per year.
p. A copy of the draft license application and all pre-filing
materials are available for review on the Commission's website (http://www.ferc.gov), using the ``eLibrary'' link. Enter the docket number,
excluding the last three digits of the sub-docket in the docket number
field, to access documents. For assistance,
[[Page 15145]]
contact FERC Online Support. A copy is also available via the contact
in paragraph h.
q. Pre-filing Process Schedule. The pre-filing process will be
conducted pursuant to the following tentative schedule. Revisions to
the schedule below may be made based on staff's review of the draft
application and any comments received.
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Milestone Date
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Comments on pre-filing materials due.... May 17, 2025.
Issuance of meeting notice (if needed).. June 1, 2025.
Public meeting/technical conference (if July 1, 2025.
needed).
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The Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure provide that if a
filing deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday, holiday, or other day when
the Commission is closed for business, the filing deadline does not end
until the close of business on the next business day. 18 CFR
385.2007(a)(2).
r. 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,
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 at [email protected].
Dated: April 2, 2025.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2025-06016 Filed 4-7-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P