Natural Currents Energy Services, LLC; 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, 1612 [2011-303]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
• Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 7 (Tuesday, January 11, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 1612]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-303]



[[Page 1612]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 13247-001]


Natural Currents Energy Services, LLC; 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

January 4, 2011.
    a. Type of Filing: Notice of Intent to File a License Application 
for an Original License for a Hydrokinetic Pilot Project.
    b. Project No.: 13247-001.
    c. Date Filed: December 22, 2010.
    d. Submitted By: Natural Currents Energy Services, LLC.
    e. Name of Project: Will's Hole Tidal Electric Project.
    f. Location: The project would be located in the Manasquan River in 
Ocean County, New Jersey. The project would not occupy Federal lands.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: 18 CFR 5.3 of the Commission's regulations.
    h. Applicant Contact: Mr. Roger Bason, Natural Currents Energy 
Services, LLC, 24 Roxanne Boulevard, Highland, New York 12561, (845) 
691-4009.
    i. FERC Contact: Timothy Konnert, (202) 502-6359.
    j. Natural Currents Energy Services, LLC (Natural Currents) 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 may be filed 
electronically via the Internet. See 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the 
instructions on the Commission's Web site https://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 
https://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 
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov 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. Any individual or entity interested in submitting comments on 
the pre-filing materials must do so by March 7, 2011.
    l. With this notice, we are approving Natural Currents' 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 
the National Marine Fisheries Service as required by section 7 of ESA; 
and (b) the New Jersey State Historic Preservation Officer, as required 
by section 106, National Historical Preservation Act, and the 
implementing regulations of the Advisory Council on Historic 
Preservation at 36 CFR 800.2.
    m. This notice does not constitute the Commission's approval of 
Natural Currents' 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, any comments filed, and Natural Currents' response to any 
additional information requests by the Commission, the Commission will 
determine whether there is adequate information to conclude the pre-
filing process and approve the use the Pilot Project Licensing 
Procedures.
    n. The proposed Will's Hole Tidal Electric Project would consist 
of: (1) An approximately 50-foot by 20-foot floating dock structure 
that would be anchored by thirteen 12-inch diameter pilings; (2) two 
7.9-foot-diameter Natural Currents Red Hawk Tidal generating units, 
with a total installed capacity of 40 kilowatts, each surrounded by a 
5-foot by 11-foot stainless steel cage; (3) a 200-foot-long underwater 
transmission cable that would interconnect with the existing Jersey 
Central Power and Light system, and (4) appurtenant facilities for 
operating and maintaining the project. The project is estimated to have 
an annual generation of 70-megawatt-hours, which would be sold to the 
Kingsbridge Financial Group, Inc. and Will's Hole Marina.
    o. A copy of the draft license application and all pre-filing 
materials are available for review at the Commission in the Public 
Reference Room or may be viewed on the Commission's Web site 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 at 
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free at 1-866-208-3676, or for TTY, 
(202) 502-8659.
    p. 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.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Milestone                              Date
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comments on pre-filing materials due..  March 7, 2011.
Issuance of Notice of Site Visit/       March 22, 2011.
 Meetings.
Site Visit & Public Meetings/Technical  April 21, 2011.
 Conference.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    q. Register online at https://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp to be notified via e-mail of new filing and issuances 
related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC 
Online Support.

Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011-303 Filed 1-10-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P