[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 175 (Friday, September 9, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55893-55894]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-23017]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 13583-001]
Crane & Company; Notice of Application Accepted for Filing With
the Commission, Intent To Waive Scoping, Soliciting Motions To
Intervene and Protests, Ready for Environmental Analysis, Soliciting
Comments, Terms and Conditions, Recommendations, and Prescriptions, and
Establishing an Expedited Schedule for Processing
Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been
filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection.
a. Type of Application: Exemption from Licensing.
b. Project No.: 13583-001.
c. Date filed: March 9, 2011.
d. Applicant: Crane & Company.
e. Name of Project: Byron Weston Hydroelectric Project.
f. Location: On the East Branch of the Housatonic River, in the
Town of Dalton, Berkshire County, Massachusetts. The project would not
occupy lands of the United States.
g. Filed Pursuant to: Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of
1978, 16 U.S.C. 2705, 2708.
h. Applicant Contact: Chad Cox, GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc., One
Edgewater Drive, Norwood, MA 02062, (781) 278-5787.
i. FERC Contact: Brandon Cherry, (202) 502-8328.
j. Deadline for filing motions to intervene and protests, comments,
terms and conditions, recommendations, and prescriptions: Due to the
small size and particular location of this project and the close
coordination with state and federal agencies during the preparation of
the application, the 60-day timeframe in 18 CFR 4.34(b) for filing
motions to intervene and protests, comments, terms and conditions,
recommendations, and prescriptions is shortened. Instead, motions to
intervene and protests, comments, terms and conditions,
recommendations, and prescriptions will be due 30 days from the
issuance date of this notice. All reply comments must be filed with the
Commission within 45 days from the date of this notice.
All documents may be filed electronically via the Internet. See 18
CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the Commission's Web
site 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. You must include your name and contact information at the
end of your comments. For assistance, please contact FERC Online
Support at [email protected] or toll free at 1-866-208-3676,
or for TTY, (202) 502-8659. Although the Commission strongly encourages
electronic filing, documents may also be paper-filed. To paper-file,
mail an original and seven copies to: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary,
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE.,
Washington, DC 20426.
The Commission's Rules of Practice 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
intervenor files comments or documents with the Commission relating to
the merits of an issue that may affect the responsibilities of a
[[Page 55894]]
particular resource agency, they must also serve a copy of the document
on that resource agency.
k. This application has been accepted for filing and is now ready
for environmental analysis.
l. Project Description: The Byron Weston Hydroelectric Project
would consist of: (1) The existing 90-foot-long, 30-foot-high Byron
Weston Dam No. 2; (2) an existing 0.94-acre impoundment with a normal
water surface elevation of 1,116.7 feet NAVD (1988); (3) an existing
intake structure, trashrack, and headgate; (4) an existing 6.5-foot-
long, 6-foot-diameter penstock that conveys flow to an existing 50-
foot-long, 9.5-foot-wide headrace canal connected to a new 15-foot-
long, 4.4-foot-diameter penstock; (5) an existing powerhouse containing
one new 250-kilowatt turbine generating unit; (6) a new steel draft
tube placed within the existing tailrace; and (7) a new 100-foot-long,
600-volt transmission line connected to the Crane & Company mill
complex. The proposed project is estimated to generate an average of
938,000 kilowatt-hours annually.
m. Due to the project works already existing and the limited scope
of proposed rehabilitation of the project site described above, the
applicant's close coordination with federal and state agencies during
the preparation of the application, completed studies during pre-filing
consultation, and agency-recommended preliminary terms and conditions,
we intend to waive scoping, shorten the notice filing period, and
expedite the exemption process. Based on a review of the application,
resource agency consultation letters including the preliminary 30(c)
terms and conditions, and comments filed to date, Commission staff
intends to prepare a single environmental assessment (EA). Commission
staff determined that the issues that need to be addressed in its EA
have been adequately identified during the pre-filing period, which
included a public meeting and site visit, and no new issues are likely
to be identified through additional scoping. The EA will consider
assessing the potential effects of project construction and operation
on geology and soils, aquatic, threatened and endangered species, land
use, aesthetic, and cultural and historic resources.
n. A copy of the application is available for review at the
Commission in the Public Reference Room or may be viewed on the
Commission's Web site 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. For assistance, contact
FERC Online Support.
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, contact FERC
Online Support.
o. 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, and .214. 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.
All filings must (1) Bear in all capital letters the title
``Protest'', ``Motion to Intervene'', ``Comments,'' ``Reply Comments,''
``Recommendations,'' ``Terms and Conditions,'' or ``Prescriptions;''
(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. All comments, recommendations, terms and
conditions or prescriptions must set forth their evidentiary basis and
otherwise comply with the requirements of 18 CFR 4.34(b). 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. 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.
p. Procedural schedule: The application will be processed according
to the following procedural schedule. Revisions to the schedule may be
made as appropriate.
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Milestone Target Date
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Notice of the availability of the EA...... February 2012.
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Dated: September 1, 2011.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011-23017 Filed 9-8-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P