Bear Swamp Power Company, LLC; Notice of Application Accepted for Filing, Soliciting Motions To Intervene and Protests, Ready for Environmental Analysis, and Soliciting Comments, Recommendations, Terms and Conditions, and Prescriptions, 2213-2215 [2019-01150]
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 25 / Wednesday, February 6, 2019 / Notices
clicking on the links or querying the
docket number.
Any person desiring to intervene or
protest in any of the above proceedings
must file in accordance with Rules 211
and 214 of the Commission’s
Regulations (18 CFR 385.211 and
385.214) on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern
time on the specified comment date.
Protests may be considered, but
intervention is necessary to become a
party to the proceeding.
eFiling is encouraged. More detailed
information relating to filing
requirements, interventions, protests,
service, and qualifying facilities filings
can be found at: https://www.ferc.gov/
docs-filing/efiling/filing-req.pdf. For
other information, call (866) 208–3676
(toll free). For TTY, call (202) 502–8659.
Dated: January 30, 2019.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019–01151 Filed 2–5–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. ER19–902–000]
Dated: January 30, 2019.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1
Valcour Wind Energy, LLC;
Supplemental Notice That Initial
Market-Based Rate Filing Includes
Request for Blanket Section 204
Authorization
[FR Doc. 2019–01147 Filed 2–5–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
This is a supplemental notice in the
above-referenced proceeding of Valcour
Wind Energy, LLC’s application for
market-based rate authority, with an
accompanying rate tariff, noting that
such application includes a request for
blanket authorization, under 18 CFR
part 34, of future issuances of securities
and assumptions of liability.
Any person desiring to intervene or to
protest should file with the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888
First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426,
in accordance with Rules 211 and 214
of the Commission’s Rules of Practice
and Procedure (18 CFR 385.211 and
385.214). Anyone filing a motion to
intervene or protest must serve a copy
of that document on the Applicant.
Notice is hereby given that the
deadline for filing protests with regard
to the applicant’s request for blanket
authorization, under 18 CFR part 34, of
future issuances of securities and
assumptions of liability, is February 19,
2019.
The Commission encourages
electronic submission of protests and
interventions in lieu of paper, using the
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FERC Online links at https://
www.ferc.gov. To facilitate electronic
service, persons with internet access
who will eFile a document and/or be
listed as a contact for an intervenor
must create and validate an
eRegistration account using the
eRegistration link. Select the eFiling
link to log on and submit the
intervention or protests.
Persons unable to file electronically
should submit an original and 5 copies
of the intervention or protest to the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
888 First Street NE, Washington, DC
20426.
The filings in the above-referenced
proceeding are accessible in the
Commission’s eLibrary system by
clicking on the appropriate link above.
They are also available for electronic
review in the Commission’s Public
Reference Room in Washington, DC.
There is an eSubscription link on the
website that enables subscribers to
receive email notification when a
document is added to a subscribed
docket(s). For assistance with any FERC
Online service, please email
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. or call
(866) 208–3676 (toll free). For TTY, call
(202) 502–8659.
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Project No. 2669–085]
Bear Swamp Power Company, LLC;
Notice of Application Accepted for
Filing, Soliciting Motions To Intervene
and Protests, Ready for Environmental
Analysis, and Soliciting Comments,
Recommendations, Terms and
Conditions, and Prescriptions
Take notice that the following
hydroelectric license application has
been filed with the Commission and is
available for public inspection.
a. Type of Application: New Major
License.
b. Project No.: 2669–085.
c. Date filed: March 30, 2018.
d. Applicant: Bear Swamp Power
Company, LLC (Bear Swamp).
e. Name of Project: Bear Swamp
Project.
f. Location: On the Deerfield River, in
Berkshire and Franklin Counties,
Massachusetts. There are no federal or
tribal lands within the project boundary.
PO 00000
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2213
g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power
Act 16 U.S.C. 791 (a)–825(r).
h. Applicant Contact: Steven P.
Murphy, Director of Licensing,
Brookfield Renewable Energy Group, 33
West 1st Street South, Fulton, NY
13069; Telephone at (315) 593–3118.
i. FERC Contact: Amy Chang, (202)
502–8250 or amy.chang@ferc.gov.
j. Deadline for filing motions to
intervene and protests, comments,
recommendations, terms and
conditions, and prescriptions: 60 days
from the issuance date of this notice;
reply comments are due 105 days from
the issuance date of this notice.
The Commission strongly encourages
electronic filing. Please file motions to
intervene and protests, comments,
recommendations, terms and
conditions, and prescriptions using the
Commission’s eFiling system at 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, (866)
208–3676 (toll free), or (202) 502–8659
(TTY). In lieu of electronic filing, please
send a paper copy to: Secretary, Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888
First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426.
The first page of any filing should
include docket number P–2669–085.
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 and is now ready for
environmental analysis.
l. The existing Bear Swamp Project
consists of a pumped storage
development, the Bear Swamp Pumped
Storage Development, and a
conventional hydropower development,
the Fife Brook Development, with a
combined authorized capacity of 676
megawatts (MW). The project generates
an average of 483,863 megawatt-hours
(MWh) annually, and uses an average of
618,293 MWh annually to operate the
pumped storage development.
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 25 / Wednesday, February 6, 2019 / Notices
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Bear Swamp Pumped Storage
Development
The existing Bear Swamp Pumped
Storage Development consists of: (1) A
118-acre upper reservoir with a gross
storage capacity of 8,300 acre-feet at the
normal full water surface elevation of
approximately 1,600 feet National
Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929
(NGVD), which is contained by existing
topography and four dikes: (a) An
approximately 1,300-foot-long, 155-foothigh curved, earth and rock-fill dike
(North Dike); (b) an approximately 350foot-long, 23-foot-high earth and rockfill dike extending from the eastside of
the North Dike (North Dike Extension);
(c) an approximately 2,880-foot-long,
140-foot-high earth and rock-fill dike
(South Dike); and (d) an approximately
750-foot-long, 50-foot-high earth and
rock-fill dike (East Dike); (2) a 420-footlong emergency spillway excavated into
bedrock to the east of the North Dike
Extension; (3) an 88-foot-long, 1.5- to 4foot-wide, 4-foot-high submerged weir
with three 5-foot-wide, 3-foot-high
concrete stoplog gates; (4) a 40-footdiameter concrete inlet/outlet structure
located at the bottom of the upper
reservoir to the west of the North Dike;
(5) an approximately 1,430.5-foot-long
tunnel system that conveys water from
the upper reservoir to two 11-footdiameter, steel-lined penstock sections;
(6) a 227-foot-long, 79-foot-wide, 182foot-high underground powerhouse
containing two reversible Francis pump
turbine-generator units with a total
authorized capacity of 666 MW; (7) a
lower reservoir inlet/outlet structure
with four 15-foot-wide, 20-foot-high
bays, each equipped with 16-foot-wide,
20.6-foot-high steel slide gates; (8) four
15-foot-wide, 26.7-foot-tall steel
trashracks with 6-inch bar spacing; (9)
two 13.8-kilovolt (kV) pump motorgenerator lead electrical lines, one
approximately 890 feet long (east lead),
and one approximately 900 feet long
(west lead); (10) two 13.8/230-kV stepup transformers; (11) two 230-kV aboveground transmission lines, one
approximately 4,075 feet long (south
line) and one approximately 3,960 feet
long (north line), which terminate at a
non-project switchyard owned by
National Grid; and (12) appurtenant
facilities.
Fife Brook Development
The existing Fife Brook Development
consists of: (1) An 890-foot-long, 130foot-high earthen rock-fill dam; (2) a
152-acre impoundment with a gross
storage capacity of 6,900 acre-feet at a
normal maximum water surface
elevation of 870 feet NGVD, which also
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serves as the lower reservoir for the Bear
Swamp Pumped Storage Development;
(3) two 36-foot-wide, 40-foot-high steel
Tainter spillway gates that are integral
with the dam; (4) a concrete intake
structure that is integral with the dam
and includes an 11.2-foot-wide, 24-foottall trashrack with 3-inch bar spacing
and a 15-foot-wide, 18-foot-high
headgate; (5) a 10-foot-diameter, 200foot-long steel penstock; (6) an
approximately 79.25-foot-long, 44-footwide, 94-foot-tall concrete powerhouse
containing a 10–MW Francis turbinegenerator unit; (7) a 21-foot-long steellined draft tube; (8) an approximately
325-foot-long, 30-inch-diameter
minimum flow release pipe that is gated
at its intake and bifurcates into an
approximately 55-foot-long, 20-inchdiameter pipe and an approximately 55foot-long, 24-inch-diameter pipe; (9) a
partially buried (860-foot-long section)
and partially above-ground (7,060-footlong section) 13.8-kV transmission line
that connects the turbine-generator unit
to the regional grid at a non-project
substation owned by Great River Hydro,
LLC; and (10) appurtenant facilities.
The Bear Swamp Pumped Storage
Development uses a storage capacity of
4,600 acre-feet to produce
approximately 3,028 MWh of generation
over approximately 5.3 hours. The Bear
Swamp Pumped Storage Development
normally generates and pumps back
some or all of the useable storage
capacity over a 24-hour period.
The Fife Brook impoundment is the
lower reservoir of the Bear Swamp
Pumped Storage Development, and has
an allowable drawdown of 40 feet to
provide a useable storage capacity of
4,600 acre-feet to the upper reservoir of
the Bear Swamp Pumped Storage
Development for daily peaking
operations. Releases from Fife Brook
dam generally match the inflow from
the Station No. 5 Development of Great
River Hydro LLC’s Deerfield River
Project (FERC No. 2323), which
discharges directly into the Fife Brook
impoundment.
The existing license requires Bear
Swamp to release a continuous
minimum flow of 125 cubic feet per
second (cfs) from the Fife Brook dam.
The existing license also requires Bear
Swamp to provide 106 scheduled
annual releases of 700 cfs for
whitewater recreation downstream of
the Fife Brook dam from April 1 through
October 31. Bear Swamp proposes to
continue the current licensed mode of
operation, including the minimum flow
and whitewater recreation releases. Bear
Swamp proposes to increase the volume
of the whitewater flow releases from 700
cfs to 800 cfs.
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Bear Swamp proposes to continue to
operate and maintain the existing
licensed project recreation facilities.
Bear Swamp also proposes several new
measures to enhance recreational
resources: (1) Improve the overflow
parking area at the Fife Brook Fishing
and Boating Access Area; (2) construct
a new portage trail that begins
downstream from the Showtime
whitewater feature and extends
upstream to the existing vehicle
turnaround at the Dunbar Brook Picnic
Area; (3) provide additional seasonal
restroom facilities at the Zoar Picnic
Area; (4) install a handrail on the stairs
at the Fife Brook Fishing and Boating
Access Area; (5) construct a stall-type
changing facility at the Zoar Picnic
Area; and (6) install additional signage
to educate recreationists on safety and
the Deerfield River flow regime. Finally,
Bear Swamp proposes to continue to
include 201 acres of river corridor lands
downstream from the Fife Brook
Development in the project boundary
for the protection of wildlife and
riverine habitat.
m. 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 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. Copies are also
available for inspection and
reproduction at the Rowe Town Library,
318 Zoar Road, Rowe, Massachusetts
01367; and the North Adams Public
Library, 74 Church Street, North Adams,
Massachusetts 01247.
n. Anyone may submit comments, a
protest, or a motion to intervene in
accordance with the requirements of the
Commission’s 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
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 25 / Wednesday, February 6, 2019 / Notices
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.
You may also register online at https://
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. Procedural Schedule:
The application will be processed
according to the following revised
schedule. Revisions to the schedule may
be made as appropriate.
Milestone
Target date
Filing of interventions, protests, comments, recommendations, preliminary terms and conditions, and preliminary fishway
prescriptions.
Commission issues Draft Environmental Assessment ...............................................................................................................
Comments on Draft Environmental Assessment ........................................................................................................................
Modified terms and conditions ....................................................................................................................................................
Commission issues Final Environmental Assessment ...............................................................................................................
Final amendments to the application
must be filed with the Commission no
later than 30 days from the issuance
date of this notice.
p. A license applicant must file no
later than 60 days following the date of
issuance of this notice: (1) A copy of the
water quality certification; (2) a copy of
the request for certification, including
proof of the date on which the certifying
agency received the request; or (3)
evidence of waiver of water quality
certification.
Dated: January 30, 2019.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019–01150 Filed 2–5–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. CP19–51–000]
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Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC;
Notice of Application
Take notice that on January 17, 2019,
Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC
(Columbia), 700 Louisiana Street, Suite
700, Houston, Texas 77002–2700, filed
an application pursuant to sections 7(b)
and 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act (NGA)
and Part 157 of the Commission’s
regulations for authorization to replace
and upgrade its VNG Suffolk No. 3
Meter Station, located in Suffolk,
Virginia. Columbia states that the
proposed project will increase the
delivery capability of that meter station
by 8,270 dekatherms per day while
maintaining Columbia’s current
certificated capacity levels. Columbia
asserts that there will be no change in
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18:09 Feb 05, 2019
Jkt 247001
pipeline system capacity as a result of
the proposed project. Columbia
estimates the cost of the project to be
approximately $6.3 million, all as more
fully set forth in the application, which
is on file with the Commission and open
for public inspection.
The filing may also be viewed on the
web 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, please contact
FERC at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov
or toll free at (866) 208–3676, or TTY,
(202) 502–8659.
Any questions regarding the proposed
project should be directed to Jonathan
Scullion, Regulatory and Commercial
Law, TransCanada Corporation, 700
Louisiana Street, Houston, Texas 77002,
by telephone at (832) 320–5520.
Pursuant to section 157.9 of the
Commission’s rules, 18 CFR 157.9,
within 90 days of this Notice the
Commission staff will either: Complete
its environmental assessment (EA) and
place it into the Commission’s public
record (eLibrary) for this proceeding; or
issue a Notice of Schedule for
Environmental Review. If a Notice of
Schedule for Environmental Review is
issued, it will indicate, among other
milestones, the anticipated date for the
Commission staff’s issuance of the EA
for this proposal. The filing of the EA
in the Commission’s public record for
this proceeding or the issuance of a
Notice of Schedule for Environmental
Review will serve to notify federal and
state agencies of the timing for the
completion of all necessary reviews, and
the subsequent need to complete all
federal authorizations within 90 days of
the date of issuance of the Commission
staff’s EA.
PO 00000
Frm 00077
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
April 2019.
October 2019.
November 2019.
January 2020.
April 2020.
There are two ways to become
involved in the Commission’s review of
this project. First, any person wishing to
obtain legal status by becoming a party
to the proceedings for this project
should, on or before the comment date
stated below, file with the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888
First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426,
a motion to intervene in accordance
with the requirements of the
Commission’s Rules of Practice and
Procedure (18 CFR 385.214 or 385.211)
and the Regulations under the NGA (18
CFR 157.10). A person obtaining party
status will be placed on the service list
maintained by the Secretary of the
Commission and will receive copies of
all documents filed by the applicant and
by all other parties. A party must submit
3 copies of filings made with the
Commission and must provide a copy to
the applicant and to every other party in
the proceeding. Only parties to the
proceeding can ask for court review of
Commission orders in the proceeding.
However, a person does not have to
intervene in order to have comments
considered. The second way to
participate is by filing with the
Secretary of the Commission, as soon as
possible, an original and two copies of
comments in support of or in opposition
to this project. The Commission will
consider these comments in
determining the appropriate action to be
taken, but the filing of a comment alone
will not serve to make the filer a party
to the proceeding. The Commission’s
rules require that persons filing
comments in opposition to the project
provide copies of their protests only to
the party or parties directly involved in
the protest.
Persons who wish to comment only
on the environmental review of this
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 6, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2213-2215]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-01150]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 2669-085]
Bear Swamp Power Company, LLC; Notice of Application Accepted for
Filing, Soliciting Motions To Intervene and Protests, Ready for
Environmental Analysis, and Soliciting Comments, Recommendations, Terms
and Conditions, and Prescriptions
Take notice that the following hydroelectric license application
has been filed with the Commission and is available for public
inspection.
a. Type of Application: New Major License.
b. Project No.: 2669-085.
c. Date filed: March 30, 2018.
d. Applicant: Bear Swamp Power Company, LLC (Bear Swamp).
e. Name of Project: Bear Swamp Project.
f. Location: On the Deerfield River, in Berkshire and Franklin
Counties, Massachusetts. There are no federal or tribal lands within
the project boundary.
g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act 16 U.S.C. 791 (a)-825(r).
h. Applicant Contact: Steven P. Murphy, Director of Licensing,
Brookfield Renewable Energy Group, 33 West 1st Street South, Fulton, NY
13069; Telephone at (315) 593-3118.
i. FERC Contact: Amy Chang, (202) 502-8250 or amy.chang@ferc.gov.
j. Deadline for filing motions to intervene and protests, comments,
recommendations, terms and conditions, and prescriptions: 60 days from
the issuance date of this notice; reply comments are due 105 days from
the issuance date of this notice.
The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file
motions to intervene and protests, comments, recommendations, terms and
conditions, and prescriptions using the Commission's eFiling system at
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, (866) 208-3676 (toll free), or
(202) 502-8659 (TTY). In lieu of electronic filing, please send a paper
copy to: Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First
Street NE, Washington, DC 20426. The first page of any filing should
include docket number P-2669-085.
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 and is now ready
for environmental analysis.
l. The existing Bear Swamp Project consists of a pumped storage
development, the Bear Swamp Pumped Storage Development, and a
conventional hydropower development, the Fife Brook Development, with a
combined authorized capacity of 676 megawatts (MW). The project
generates an average of 483,863 megawatt-hours (MWh) annually, and uses
an average of 618,293 MWh annually to operate the pumped storage
development.
[[Page 2214]]
Bear Swamp Pumped Storage Development
The existing Bear Swamp Pumped Storage Development consists of: (1)
A 118-acre upper reservoir with a gross storage capacity of 8,300 acre-
feet at the normal full water surface elevation of approximately 1,600
feet National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD), which is
contained by existing topography and four dikes: (a) An approximately
1,300-foot-long, 155-foot-high curved, earth and rock-fill dike (North
Dike); (b) an approximately 350-foot-long, 23-foot-high earth and rock-
fill dike extending from the eastside of the North Dike (North Dike
Extension); (c) an approximately 2,880-foot-long, 140-foot-high earth
and rock-fill dike (South Dike); and (d) an approximately 750-foot-
long, 50-foot-high earth and rock-fill dike (East Dike); (2) a 420-
foot-long emergency spillway excavated into bedrock to the east of the
North Dike Extension; (3) an 88-foot-long, 1.5- to 4-foot-wide, 4-foot-
high submerged weir with three 5-foot-wide, 3-foot-high concrete
stoplog gates; (4) a 40-foot-diameter concrete inlet/outlet structure
located at the bottom of the upper reservoir to the west of the North
Dike; (5) an approximately 1,430.5-foot-long tunnel system that conveys
water from the upper reservoir to two 11-foot-diameter, steel-lined
penstock sections; (6) a 227-foot-long, 79-foot-wide, 182-foot-high
underground powerhouse containing two reversible Francis pump turbine-
generator units with a total authorized capacity of 666 MW; (7) a lower
reservoir inlet/outlet structure with four 15-foot-wide, 20-foot-high
bays, each equipped with 16-foot-wide, 20.6-foot-high steel slide
gates; (8) four 15-foot-wide, 26.7-foot-tall steel trashracks with 6-
inch bar spacing; (9) two 13.8-kilovolt (kV) pump motor-generator lead
electrical lines, one approximately 890 feet long (east lead), and one
approximately 900 feet long (west lead); (10) two 13.8/230-kV step-up
transformers; (11) two 230-kV above-ground transmission lines, one
approximately 4,075 feet long (south line) and one approximately 3,960
feet long (north line), which terminate at a non-project switchyard
owned by National Grid; and (12) appurtenant facilities.
Fife Brook Development
The existing Fife Brook Development consists of: (1) An 890-foot-
long, 130-foot-high earthen rock-fill dam; (2) a 152-acre impoundment
with a gross storage capacity of 6,900 acre-feet at a normal maximum
water surface elevation of 870 feet NGVD, which also serves as the
lower reservoir for the Bear Swamp Pumped Storage Development; (3) two
36-foot-wide, 40-foot-high steel Tainter spillway gates that are
integral with the dam; (4) a concrete intake structure that is integral
with the dam and includes an 11.2-foot-wide, 24-foot-tall trashrack
with 3-inch bar spacing and a 15-foot-wide, 18-foot-high headgate; (5)
a 10-foot-diameter, 200-foot-long steel penstock; (6) an approximately
79.25-foot-long, 44-foot-wide, 94-foot-tall concrete powerhouse
containing a 10-MW Francis turbine-generator unit; (7) a 21-foot-long
steel-lined draft tube; (8) an approximately 325-foot-long, 30-inch-
diameter minimum flow release pipe that is gated at its intake and
bifurcates into an approximately 55-foot-long, 20-inch-diameter pipe
and an approximately 55-foot-long, 24-inch-diameter pipe; (9) a
partially buried (860-foot-long section) and partially above-ground
(7,060-foot-long section) 13.8-kV transmission line that connects the
turbine-generator unit to the regional grid at a non-project substation
owned by Great River Hydro, LLC; and (10) appurtenant facilities.
The Bear Swamp Pumped Storage Development uses a storage capacity
of 4,600 acre-feet to produce approximately 3,028 MWh of generation
over approximately 5.3 hours. The Bear Swamp Pumped Storage Development
normally generates and pumps back some or all of the useable storage
capacity over a 24-hour period.
The Fife Brook impoundment is the lower reservoir of the Bear Swamp
Pumped Storage Development, and has an allowable drawdown of 40 feet to
provide a useable storage capacity of 4,600 acre-feet to the upper
reservoir of the Bear Swamp Pumped Storage Development for daily
peaking operations. Releases from Fife Brook dam generally match the
inflow from the Station No. 5 Development of Great River Hydro LLC's
Deerfield River Project (FERC No. 2323), which discharges directly into
the Fife Brook impoundment.
The existing license requires Bear Swamp to release a continuous
minimum flow of 125 cubic feet per second (cfs) from the Fife Brook
dam. The existing license also requires Bear Swamp to provide 106
scheduled annual releases of 700 cfs for whitewater recreation
downstream of the Fife Brook dam from April 1 through October 31. Bear
Swamp proposes to continue the current licensed mode of operation,
including the minimum flow and whitewater recreation releases. Bear
Swamp proposes to increase the volume of the whitewater flow releases
from 700 cfs to 800 cfs.
Bear Swamp proposes to continue to operate and maintain the
existing licensed project recreation facilities. Bear Swamp also
proposes several new measures to enhance recreational resources: (1)
Improve the overflow parking area at the Fife Brook Fishing and Boating
Access Area; (2) construct a new portage trail that begins downstream
from the Showtime whitewater feature and extends upstream to the
existing vehicle turnaround at the Dunbar Brook Picnic Area; (3)
provide additional seasonal restroom facilities at the Zoar Picnic
Area; (4) install a handrail on the stairs at the Fife Brook Fishing
and Boating Access Area; (5) construct a stall-type changing facility
at the Zoar Picnic Area; and (6) install additional signage to educate
recreationists on safety and the Deerfield River flow regime. Finally,
Bear Swamp proposes to continue to include 201 acres of river corridor
lands downstream from the Fife Brook Development in the project
boundary for the protection of wildlife and riverine habitat.
m. 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 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. Copies are also available for inspection and
reproduction at the Rowe Town Library, 318 Zoar Road, Rowe,
Massachusetts 01367; and the North Adams Public Library, 74 Church
Street, North Adams, Massachusetts 01247.
n. Anyone may submit comments, a protest, or a motion to intervene
in accordance with the requirements of the Commission's 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
[[Page 2215]]
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.
You may also register online at https://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. Procedural Schedule:
The application will be processed according to the following
revised schedule. Revisions to the schedule may be made as appropriate.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Milestone Target date
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Filing of interventions, protests, April 2019.
comments, recommendations, preliminary
terms and conditions, and preliminary
fishway prescriptions.
Commission issues Draft Environmental October 2019.
Assessment.
Comments on Draft Environmental Assessment. November 2019.
Modified terms and conditions.............. January 2020.
Commission issues Final Environmental April 2020.
Assessment.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final amendments to the application must be filed with the
Commission no later than 30 days from the issuance date of this notice.
p. A license applicant must file no later than 60 days following
the date of issuance of this notice: (1) A copy of the water quality
certification; (2) a copy of the request for certification, including
proof of the date on which the certifying agency received the request;
or (3) evidence of waiver of water quality certification.
Dated: January 30, 2019.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-01150 Filed 2-5-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
