[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 174 (Friday, September 7, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55206-55207]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-22046]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 14421-000]
Freedom Falls, LLC; Notice of Application Accepted for Filing,
Intent To Waive Scoping, and Soliciting 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. Type of Application: Exemption from Licensing.
b. Project No.: 14421-000.
c. Date filed: June 1, 2012.
d. Applicant: Freedom Falls, LLC.
e. Name of Project: Freedom Falls Hydroelectric Project.
f. Location: On Sandy Stream, in the Town of Freedom, Waldo County,
Maine. 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: Anthony P. Grassi, Freedom Falls, LLC, 363
Belfast Road, Camden, ME 04843, (207) 236-4663.
i. FERC Contact: Samantha Davidson, (202) 502-6839 or
[email protected].
j. Deadline for filing motions to intervene and protests: 60 days
from the issuance 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/ferconline.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]; call toll-free at (866) 208-
3676; or, for TTY, contact (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
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. The proposed Freedom Falls Hydroelectric Project would consist
of: (1) An existing 90-foot-long, 12-foot-high concrete-capped stone
masonry dam with a 25-foot-long, 10-foot-high spillway with two
vertical lift sluice gates and a crest elevation of 452.5 feet mean sea
level (msl); (2) an existing 1.6-acre impoundment with a normal maximum
water surface elevation of 453.0 feet msl; (3) a new intake structure
equipped with an 8-foot-high, 5-foot-wide trashrack that would be
modified to have 1-inch clear bar spacing, and a 3-foot-high, 4.75-
foot-wide slide gate; (4) a new downstream American eel passage
facility and working platform; (5) a new 60-foot-long, 30-inch-diameter
steel penstock leading to; (6) an existing 20-foot-wide, by 30-foot-
long generating room containing a new 38.3 kilowatt turbine-generator
unit; (7) a new 20-foot-long, 5-foot-wide tailrace; (8) a new 30-foot-
long, 110-volt transmission line; and (9) appurtenant facilities. The
proposed project is estimated to generate an average of 66,000
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 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, terrestrial, threatened and endangered species,
recreation and 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.
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, contact FERC
Online Support.
o. Any qualified applicant desiring to file a competing application
must submit to the Commission, on or before the specified intervention
deadline date, a competing development application, or a notice of
intent to file such an application. Submission of a timely notice of
intent allows an interested person to file the competing development
application no later than 120 days after the specified intervention
deadline date. Applications for preliminary permits will not be
accepted in response to this notice.
A notice of intent must specify the exact name, business address,
and telephone number of the prospective applicant, and must include an
unequivocal statement of intent to submit a development application. A
notice of intent must be served on the applicant(s) named in this
public notice.
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
[[Page 55207]]
motions to intervene must be received on or before the specified
deadline date for the particular application.
All filings must (1) bear in all capital letters the title
``PROTEST'', ``MOTION TO INTERVENE,'' ``NOTICE OF INTENT TO FILE
COMPETING APPLICATION,'' or ``COMPETING APPLICATION;'' (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.
Dated: August 31, 2012.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012-22046 Filed 9-6-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P