Blackstone Hydro, Inc., City of Woonsocket, Rhode Island; Notice of Scoping Meetings and Environmental Site Review and Soliciting Scoping Comments, 14932-14934 [2019-07292]

Download as PDF 14932 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 71 / Friday, April 12, 2019 / Notices Decisions by the Forest Service to approve ‘‘plan level’’ amendments to Land Management Plans (proposed amendments UNF–4 and RRNF–7 in this Notice) are subject to the PreDecisional Administrative Review Process Regulations at 36 CFR 219 subpart B. The term ‘‘plan level’’ refers to plan amendments that would apply to future management actions. Decisions by the Forest Service to approve ‘‘project-specific’’ plan amendments (proposed amendments UNF–1 thru 3, RRNF–2 thru 6, and WNF–1 thru 5 in this Notice) are subject to the Administrative Review Process of 36 CFR 218 subpart A and B, in accordance with 36 CFR 219.59(b). The term ‘‘project specific’’ refers to amendments that would only apply to the proposed project and would not apply to any future management actions. Refer to the applicable administrative review regulations for eligibility requirements. The Forest Service concurrence to BLM to issue a right-of-way grant would not be a decision subject to NEPA and, therefore, would not be subject to the Forest Service administrative review procedures. [FR Doc. 2019–07313 Filed 4–11–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Notice of Revocation of Market-Based Rate Authority and Termination of Electric Market-Based Rate Tariff Docket Nos. jbell on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES Electric Quarterly Reports AmericaWide Energy, LLC K&R Energy Partners LLC Bluesource Energy LLC .... Greenbelt Energy .............. PJLB LLC .......................... ER02–2001–020 ER11–4386–001 ER17–2512–000 ER13–1120–001 ER11–3019–001 ER15–2466–000 On February 25, 2019, the Commission issued an order announcing its intent to revoke the market-based rate authority of several public utilities that had failed to file their required Electric Quarterly Reports.1 The Commission directed those public utilities to file the required Electric Quarterly Reports within 15 days of the date of issuance of the order or face revocation of their authority to sell power at market-based rates and 1 Electric Quarterly Reports, 166 FERC 61,147 (2019) (February 25 Order). VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:18 Apr 11, 2019 Jkt 247001 termination of their electric marketbased rate tariffs.2 The time period for compliance with the February 25 Order has elapsed. The above-captioned companies failed to file their delinquent Electric Quarterly Reports. The Commission hereby revokes, effective as of the date of issuance of this notice, the market-based rate authority and terminates the electric market-based rate tariff of each of the companies who are named in the caption of this order. Dated: April 5, 2019. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2019–07224 Filed 4–11–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. CP18–137–000] Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC; Notice of Revised Schedule for Environmental Review of the Buckeye Xpress Project This notice identifies the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission staff’s revised schedule for the completion of the environmental assessment (EA) for Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC’s (Columbia) Buckeye Xpress Project. The first notice of schedule, issued on February 28, 2019, identified April 8, 2019 as the EA issuance date based on receiving input from the U.S. Forest Service, our cooperating agency in preparation of this EA. The U.S. Forest Service is responsible for acting on Columbia’s requested Special Use Permit necessary to cross the Wayne National Forest. An extension is required for the U.S. Forest Service to review Columbia’s responses to recent information requests issued on March 1 and March 7, 2019, and to complete its respective input and to ensure that the EA will satisfy the needs of the federal permitting agencies. As a result, staff has revised the schedule for issuance of the EA. Schedule for Environmental Review Issuance of Notice of Availability of the EA May 20, 2019 90-day Federal Authorization Decision Deadline August 18, 2019 If a schedule change becomes necessary, an additional notice will be provided so that the relevant agencies are kept informed of the project’s progress. 2 Id. PO 00000 at Ordering Paragraph A. Frm 00022 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Additional Information In order to receive notification of the issuance of the EA and to keep track of all formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets, the Commission offers a free service called eSubscription. This can reduce the amount of time you spend researching proceedings by automatically providing you with notification of these filings, document summaries, and direct links to the documents. Go to www.ferc.gov/docsfiling/esubscription.asp. Additional information about the Project is available from the Commission’s Office of External Affairs at (866) 208–FERC or on the FERC website (www.ferc.gov). Using the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link, select ‘‘General Search’’ from the eLibrary menu, enter the selected date range and ‘‘Docket Number’’ excluding the last three digits (i.e., CP18–137), and follow the instructions. For assistance with access to eLibrary, the helpline can be reached at (866) 208–3676, TTY (202) 502–8659, or at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. The eLibrary link on the FERC website also provides access to the texts of formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rule makings. Dated: April 4, 2019. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2019–07222 Filed 4–11–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Project No. 3023–014; Project No. 2972– 027] Blackstone Hydro, Inc., City of Woonsocket, Rhode Island; Notice of Scoping Meetings and Environmental Site Review and Soliciting Scoping Comments Take notice that the following hydroelectric applications have been filed with Commission and are available for public inspection: a. Type of Application: New Major License (P–3023–014) Subsequent Minor License (P–2972– 027) b. Project Nos.: 3023–014 and 2972– 027. c. Dates filed: October 1, 2018 (P–3023–014) November 1, 2018 (P–2972–027) d. Submitted By: E:\FR\FM\12APN1.SGM 12APN1 jbell on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 71 / Friday, April 12, 2019 / Notices Blackstone Hydro, Inc. (Blackstone Hydro) (P–3023–014) City of Woonsocket, Rhode Island (City) (P–2972–027) e. Names of Project: Blackstone Hydroelectric Project (P– 3023–014) Woonsocket Falls Project (P–2972–027) f. Location: The Blackstone Hydroelectric Project is located on the Blackstone River in Providence County, Rhode Island and Worchester County, Massachusetts. The Woonsocket Falls Project is located on the Blackstone River in the City of Woonsocket, Providence County, Rhode Island. The Blackstone Hydroelectric and Woonsocket Falls Projects do not occupy any federal land. g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791(a)–825(r). h. Applicant Contacts: Blackstone Hydroelectric Project—Lewis C. Loon, General Manager, Operations and Maintenance—USA/QC, KEI USA Power Management, Inc., 423 Brunswick Avenue, Gardiner, ME 04345; (207) 203–3027, or lewis.loon@ kruger.com. Woonsocket Falls Project—Mr. Michael Debroisse, City of Woonsocket, Engineering, 169 Main Street, Woonsocket, RI 02895; (401) 767–9213. i. FERC Contact: Patrick Crile, (202) 502–8042 or Patrick.Crile@ferc.gov. j. Deadline for filing scoping comments: June 9, 2019. The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file scoping comments 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. All filings must clearly identify the project name and docket number on the first page: Blackstone Hydroelectric Project No. 3023–014 and/or Woonsocket Falls Project No. 2972–027. The Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure require all interveners 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 intervener files comments or documents with the VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:18 Apr 11, 2019 Jkt 247001 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. The applications are not ready for environmental analysis at this time. l. The existing Blackstone Hydroelectric Project consists of: (1) A 210-foot-long, 12-foot-high arch-type masonry dam and spillway (Blackstone Dam) with 12-inch-high flashboards and a crest elevation of 192.8 feet above mean sea level (msl) at the top of the flashboards; (2) an approximately 2mile-long impoundment with a normal maximum elevation of 192.8 feet msl; (3) water conveyance structures that consist of: (a) A 1,100-foot-long, 60- to 100-foot-wide power canal located 700 feet upstream of the Blackstone Dam; (b) an 11.5-acre headpond at a normal maximum elevation of 192.8 feet msl; (c) a 46-foot-long, 16-foot-high headgate dam structure with four 7-foot-high, 8foot-wide intake gates; (d) a 300-footlong, 40-foot-wide headrace canal structure; and (e) four 8-foot-diameter, 22-foot-long buried penstocks; (4) a concrete and brick powerhouse containing four vertical Francis turbinegenerator units with a total authorized capacity of 1,724 kilowatts; (5) a 100foot-long, 40-foot-wide tailrace channel that discharges into the Blackstone River; (6) outlet work structures located downstream of the headgate dam structure in the headrace canal that consist of: (a) A 37-foot-long, 12-foothigh emergency spillway with a crest elevation of 196 feet msl located at the north end of the headrace; (b) two 5foot-wide, 5-foot-high outlet gates; (c) a 60-foot-long outlet channel; and (d) two 36-inch-diameter, 150-foot-long concrete conduits that empty into a 190foot-long, 20-foot-wide channel that discharges into the Blackstone River downstream from the tailrace; (7) a 90foot-long, 4.16-kilovolt (kV) transmission line, a 4.16/13.8-kV stepup transformer, and a 1,300-foot-long, 13.8-kV transmission line connecting the project generators to the regional electric grid; and (8) appurtenant facilities. Blackstone Hydro operates the project in a run-of-river mode with an annual average generation of approximately 4,027 megawatt-hours. The project bypasses approximately 1 mile of the Blackstone River, and there is currently no required minimum instream flow for the bypassed reach. However, Blackstone Hydro voluntarily maintains a flow between 11 and 21 cubic feet per second (cfs) over the crest of the Blackstone Dam to the bypassed reach PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 14933 using an automatic pond level controller. Blackstone Hydro proposes to: (1) Continue operating the project in a runof-river mode; (2) provide a year-round minimum flow of 35 cfs to the bypassed reach; (3) provide upstream eel passage at the project, following installation of an upstream eel passage facility at the downstream Woonsocket Falls Project; (4) implement nighttime turbine shutdowns during the downstream eel passage season to facilitate downstream passage, 10 years after the installation of the upstream eel passage facility; and (5) provide a continuous flow through the intake canal to improve dissolved oxygen levels in the power canal under certain flow conditions from June 1 to October 31. The existing Woonsocket Falls Project utilizes water from an impoundment that is created by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (Corps) Woonsocket Falls Dam. The project consists of: (1) A 14foot-wide, 20.5-foot-high concrete intake structure located about 60 feet upstream of the Woonsocket Falls Dam and fitted with a 12-foot-wide, 18-foot-high steel trash rack having 3.5-inch clear bar spacing; (2) a 275-foot long, 12-footwide, 10-foot-high concrete penstock; (3) a steel headgate integral with the powerhouse; (4) a 65-foot-long, 25-footwide, 20-foot-high concrete powerhouse containing one adjustable blade turbinegenerator unit with an authorized capacity of 1,200 kilowatts; (5) a 50-footlong, 12.5-foot-diameter steel draft tube; (6) an approximately 50-foot-long, 20foot-wide, 15-foot-deep tailrace; (7) a 35foot-long 4.16 kilovolt (kV) generator lead line, a 4.16/13.8-kV step-up transformer, and a 1,200-foot-long, 13.8kV transmission line connecting the project generator to the regional grid; and (8) appurtenant facilities. The dam and impoundment are operated in a run-of-river mode. The Woonsocket Falls Project bypasses approximately 360 feet of the Blackstone River and there is currently no required minimum instream flow for the bypassed reach. However, a flow of 20 cfs is provided to the bypassed reach over the crest of the dam. The Woonsocket Falls project has an average annual generation of approximately 4,584 megawatt-hours. The City proposes to: (1) Operate the impoundment in a run-of-river mode pursuant to an operating plan and Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Corps; (2) provide a year-round minimum flow of 20 cfs to the bypassed reach pursuant to an operating plan and MOA with the Corps; (3) provide upstream eel passage at the dam pursuant to an operating plan and MOA E:\FR\FM\12APN1.SGM 12APN1 14934 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 71 / Friday, April 12, 2019 / Notices jbell on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES with the Corps; and (4) implement nighttime turbine shutdowns during the downstream eel passage season to protect eels during passage. m. Copies of the applications are 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 addresses in item h above. Additionally, copies of the Blackstone project license application are available for viewing during normal business hours at the Blackstone Public Library located at 86 Main Street, Blackstone, MA 01504 and at the North Smithfield Public Library located at 20 N Main St., Slatersville, Rhode Island 02876. 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. n. Scoping Process The Commission intends to prepare an environmental assessment (EA) on the project in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act. The EA will consider both site-specific and cumulative environmental impacts and reasonable alternatives to the proposed action. Scoping Meetings FERC staff will conduct one agency scoping meeting and one public meeting. The agency scoping meeting will focus on resource agency and nongovernmental organization (NGO) concerns, while the public scoping meeting is primarily for public input. All interested individuals, organizations, and agencies are invited to attend one or both of the meetings, and to assist the staff in identifying the scope of the environmental issues that should be analyzed in the EA. The times and locations of these meetings are as follows: Evening Scoping Meeting Date: Thursday, May 9, 2019 Time: 6:00 p.m. (ET) Place: Holiday Inn Express & Suites Address: 194 Fortin Drive, Woonsocket, Rhode Island 02895 Daytime Scoping Meeting Date: Friday, May 10, 2019 Time: 9:00 a.m. (ET) Place: Holiday Inn Express & Suites Address: 194 Fortin Drive, VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:18 Apr 11, 2019 Jkt 247001 Woonsocket, Rhode Island 02895 Copies of the Scoping Document (SD1) outlining the subject areas to be addressed in the EIS were distributed to the parties on the Commission’s mailing list. Copies of the SD1 will be available at the scoping meeting or may be viewed on the web at https:// www.ferc.gov using the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link (see item m above). Environmental Site Review Blackstone Hydro and FERC staff will conduct an environmental site review of the Blackstone Hydroelectric Project beginning at 9:00 a.m. on May 9, 2019. All interested individuals, organizations, and agencies are invited to attend. All participants should meet at the project powerhouse located at 2 Tupperware Drive, North Smithfield, Rhode Island 02896. All participants interesting in seeing the inside of the project powerhouse will be required to wear steel-toed safety shoes. All participants interested in seeing the project dam, which is located approximately 0.5 mile from the project powerhouse, are responsible for their own transportation. Directions to the dam from the powerhouse will be provided during the environmental site review. Anyone planning to attend the environmental site review should contact Sherri Loon at (207) 203–3026 or Sherri.Loon@kruger.com by May 3, 2019, and indicate how many participants will be attending with you. The City and FERC staff will conduct a project environmental site review of the Woonsocket Falls Project beginning at 1:00 p.m. on May 9, 2019. All interested individuals, organizations, and agencies are invited to attend. All participants should meet at the City Park located at 0 South Main Street, Woonsocket, RI 02895. The City Park is located adjacent to the Woonsocket Falls Dam, on the east riverbank, near the intersection of South Main and River Streets. All participants are responsible for their own transportation to the site. Anyone planning to attend the environmental site review should contact Bruce DiGennaro at (401) 835– 1185 or bruce@essexpartnership.com by May 3, 2019, and indicate how many participants will be attending with you. Objectives At the scoping meetings, the staff will: (1) Summarize the environmental issues tentatively identified for analysis in the EA; (2) solicit from the meeting participants all available information, especially quantifiable data, on the resources at issue; (3) encourage statements from experts and the public on issues that should be analyzed in the PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 EA, including viewpoints in opposition to, or in support of, the staff’s preliminary views; (4) determine the resource issues to be addressed in the EA; and (5) identify those issues that require a detailed analysis, as well as those issues that do not require a detailed analysis. Procedures The meetings are recorded by a stenographer and become part of the formal record of the Commission proceeding on the projects. Individuals, organizations, and agencies with environmental expertise and concerns are encouraged to attend the meeting and to assist the staff in defining and clarifying the issues to be addressed in the EA. Dated: April 8, 2019. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2019–07292 Filed 4–11–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. EL19–60–000] City of Prescott, Arkansas v. Southwestern Electric Power Company, and Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc.; Notice of Complaint Take notice that on April 5, 2019, pursuant to section 206, 306, and 309 of the Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 824e, 825e, and 825h, and Rule 206 and 212 of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (Commission) Rules of Practice and Procedure, 18 CFR 385.206 and 385.212, the City of Prescott, Arkansas (Complainant) filed a formal complaint against Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) and Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc. (MISO) (collectively Respondents) alleging that, (a) the Power Supply Agreement (PSA) is unjust and unreasonable and should be amended in certain respects or terminated; (b) the PSA requires SWEPCO to implement the effective MISO congestion hedging strategy; or, in the alternative, that the PSA violates the public interest by depriving the Complainant of an effective hedge for MISO congestion charges and justifies termination of the PSA; and (c) MISO violated the Joint Operating Agreement between MISO and Southwest Power Pool (SPP) with respect to the assessment of certain congestion charges E:\FR\FM\12APN1.SGM 12APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 71 (Friday, April 12, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14932-14934]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-07292]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 3023-014; Project No. 2972-027]


Blackstone Hydro, Inc., City of Woonsocket, Rhode Island; Notice 
of Scoping Meetings and Environmental Site Review and Soliciting 
Scoping Comments

    Take notice that the following hydroelectric applications have been 
filed with Commission and are available for public inspection:

    a. Type of Application:

New Major License (P-3023-014)
Subsequent Minor License (P-2972-027)

    b. Project Nos.: 3023-014 and 2972-027.

    c. Dates filed:

October 1, 2018 (P-3023-014)
November 1, 2018 (P-2972-027)

    d. Submitted By:

[[Page 14933]]

Blackstone Hydro, Inc. (Blackstone Hydro) (P-3023-014)
City of Woonsocket, Rhode Island (City) (P-2972-027)

    e. Names of Project:

Blackstone Hydroelectric Project (P-3023-014)
Woonsocket Falls Project (P-2972-027)

    f. Location: The Blackstone Hydroelectric Project is located on the 
Blackstone River in Providence County, Rhode Island and Worchester 
County, Massachusetts. The Woonsocket Falls Project is located on the 
Blackstone River in the City of Woonsocket, Providence County, Rhode 
Island. The Blackstone Hydroelectric and Woonsocket Falls Projects do 
not occupy any federal land.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791(a)-825(r).
    h. Applicant Contacts: Blackstone Hydroelectric Project--Lewis C. 
Loon, General Manager, Operations and Maintenance--USA/QC, KEI USA 
Power Management, Inc., 423 Brunswick Avenue, Gardiner, ME 04345; (207) 
203-3027, or [email protected].
    Woonsocket Falls Project--Mr. Michael Debroisse, City of 
Woonsocket, Engineering, 169 Main Street, Woonsocket, RI 02895; (401) 
767-9213.
    i. FERC Contact: Patrick Crile, (202) 502-8042 or 
[email protected].
    j. Deadline for filing scoping comments: June 9, 2019.
    The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file 
scoping comments 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 
[email protected], (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. All filings must clearly identify the project 
name and docket number on the first page: Blackstone Hydroelectric 
Project No. 3023-014 and/or Woonsocket Falls Project No. 2972-027.
    The Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure require all 
interveners 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 intervener 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. The applications are not ready for environmental analysis at 
this time.
    l. The existing Blackstone Hydroelectric Project consists of: (1) A 
210-foot-long, 12-foot-high arch-type masonry dam and spillway 
(Blackstone Dam) with 12-inch-high flashboards and a crest elevation of 
192.8 feet above mean sea level (msl) at the top of the flashboards; 
(2) an approximately 2-mile-long impoundment with a normal maximum 
elevation of 192.8 feet msl; (3) water conveyance structures that 
consist of: (a) A 1,100-foot-long, 60- to 100-foot-wide power canal 
located 700 feet upstream of the Blackstone Dam; (b) an 11.5-acre 
headpond at a normal maximum elevation of 192.8 feet msl; (c) a 46-
foot-long, 16-foot-high headgate dam structure with four 7-foot-high, 
8-foot-wide intake gates; (d) a 300-foot-long, 40-foot-wide headrace 
canal structure; and (e) four 8-foot-diameter, 22-foot-long buried 
penstocks; (4) a concrete and brick powerhouse containing four vertical 
Francis turbine-generator units with a total authorized capacity of 
1,724 kilowatts; (5) a 100-foot-long, 40-foot-wide tailrace channel 
that discharges into the Blackstone River; (6) outlet work structures 
located downstream of the headgate dam structure in the headrace canal 
that consist of: (a) A 37-foot-long, 12-foot-high emergency spillway 
with a crest elevation of 196 feet msl located at the north end of the 
headrace; (b) two 5-foot-wide, 5-foot-high outlet gates; (c) a 60-foot-
long outlet channel; and (d) two 36-inch-diameter, 150-foot-long 
concrete conduits that empty into a 190-foot-long, 20-foot-wide channel 
that discharges into the Blackstone River downstream from the tailrace; 
(7) a 90-foot-long, 4.16-kilovolt (kV) transmission line, a 4.16/13.8-
kV step-up transformer, and a 1,300-foot-long, 13.8-kV transmission 
line connecting the project generators to the regional electric grid; 
and (8) appurtenant facilities.
    Blackstone Hydro operates the project in a run-of-river mode with 
an annual average generation of approximately 4,027 megawatt-hours. The 
project bypasses approximately 1 mile of the Blackstone River, and 
there is currently no required minimum instream flow for the bypassed 
reach. However, Blackstone Hydro voluntarily maintains a flow between 
11 and 21 cubic feet per second (cfs) over the crest of the Blackstone 
Dam to the bypassed reach using an automatic pond level controller.
    Blackstone Hydro proposes to: (1) Continue operating the project in 
a run-of-river mode; (2) provide a year-round minimum flow of 35 cfs to 
the bypassed reach; (3) provide upstream eel passage at the project, 
following installation of an upstream eel passage facility at the 
downstream Woonsocket Falls Project; (4) implement nighttime turbine 
shutdowns during the downstream eel passage season to facilitate 
downstream passage, 10 years after the installation of the upstream eel 
passage facility; and (5) provide a continuous flow through the intake 
canal to improve dissolved oxygen levels in the power canal under 
certain flow conditions from June 1 to October 31.
    The existing Woonsocket Falls Project utilizes water from an 
impoundment that is created by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' 
(Corps) Woonsocket Falls Dam. The project consists of: (1) A 14-foot-
wide, 20.5-foot-high concrete intake structure located about 60 feet 
upstream of the Woonsocket Falls Dam and fitted with a 12-foot-wide, 
18-foot-high steel trash rack having 3.5-inch clear bar spacing; (2) a 
275-foot long, 12-foot-wide, 10-foot-high concrete penstock; (3) a 
steel headgate integral with the powerhouse; (4) a 65-foot-long, 25-
foot-wide, 20-foot-high concrete powerhouse containing one adjustable 
blade turbine-generator unit with an authorized capacity of 1,200 
kilowatts; (5) a 50-foot-long, 12.5-foot-diameter steel draft tube; (6) 
an approximately 50-foot-long, 20-foot-wide, 15-foot-deep tailrace; (7) 
a 35-foot-long 4.16 kilovolt (kV) generator lead line, a 4.16/13.8-kV 
step-up transformer, and a 1,200-foot-long, 13.8-kV transmission line 
connecting the project generator to the regional grid; and (8) 
appurtenant facilities.
    The dam and impoundment are operated in a run-of-river mode. The 
Woonsocket Falls Project bypasses approximately 360 feet of the 
Blackstone River and there is currently no required minimum instream 
flow for the bypassed reach. However, a flow of 20 cfs is provided to 
the bypassed reach over the crest of the dam. The Woonsocket Falls 
project has an average annual generation of approximately 4,584 
megawatt-hours.
    The City proposes to: (1) Operate the impoundment in a run-of-river 
mode pursuant to an operating plan and Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) 
with the Corps; (2) provide a year-round minimum flow of 20 cfs to the 
bypassed reach pursuant to an operating plan and MOA with the Corps; 
(3) provide upstream eel passage at the dam pursuant to an operating 
plan and MOA

[[Page 14934]]

with the Corps; and (4) implement nighttime turbine shutdowns during 
the downstream eel passage season to protect eels during passage.
    m. Copies of the applications are 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 addresses in item h above. Additionally, copies of 
the Blackstone project license application are available for viewing 
during normal business hours at the Blackstone Public Library located 
at 86 Main Street, Blackstone, MA 01504 and at the North Smithfield 
Public Library located at 20 N Main St., Slatersville, Rhode Island 
02876.
    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.
    n. Scoping Process
    The Commission intends to prepare an environmental assessment (EA) 
on the project in accordance with the National Environmental Policy 
Act. The EA will consider both site-specific and cumulative 
environmental impacts and reasonable alternatives to the proposed 
action.

Scoping Meetings

    FERC staff will conduct one agency scoping meeting and one public 
meeting. The agency scoping meeting will focus on resource agency and 
non-governmental organization (NGO) concerns, while the public scoping 
meeting is primarily for public input. All interested individuals, 
organizations, and agencies are invited to attend one or both of the 
meetings, and to assist the staff in identifying the scope of the 
environmental issues that should be analyzed in the EA. The times and 
locations of these meetings are as follows:

Evening Scoping Meeting
    Date: Thursday, May 9, 2019
    Time: 6:00 p.m. (ET)
    Place: Holiday Inn Express & Suites
    Address: 194 Fortin Drive, Woonsocket, Rhode Island 02895
Daytime Scoping Meeting
    Date: Friday, May 10, 2019
    Time: 9:00 a.m. (ET)
    Place: Holiday Inn Express & Suites
    Address: 194 Fortin Drive, Woonsocket, Rhode Island 02895

    Copies of the Scoping Document (SD1) outlining the subject areas to 
be addressed in the EIS were distributed to the parties on the 
Commission's mailing list. Copies of the SD1 will be available at the 
scoping meeting or may be viewed on the web at https://www.ferc.gov 
using the ``eLibrary'' link (see item m above).

Environmental Site Review

    Blackstone Hydro and FERC staff will conduct an environmental site 
review of the Blackstone Hydroelectric Project beginning at 9:00 a.m. 
on May 9, 2019. All interested individuals, organizations, and agencies 
are invited to attend. All participants should meet at the project 
powerhouse located at 2 Tupperware Drive, North Smithfield, Rhode 
Island 02896. All participants interesting in seeing the inside of the 
project powerhouse will be required to wear steel-toed safety shoes. 
All participants interested in seeing the project dam, which is located 
approximately 0.5 mile from the project powerhouse, are responsible for 
their own transportation. Directions to the dam from the powerhouse 
will be provided during the environmental site review. Anyone planning 
to attend the environmental site review should contact Sherri Loon at 
(207) 203-3026 or [email protected] by May 3, 2019, and indicate 
how many participants will be attending with you.
    The City and FERC staff will conduct a project environmental site 
review of the Woonsocket Falls Project beginning at 1:00 p.m. on May 9, 
2019. All interested individuals, organizations, and agencies are 
invited to attend. All participants should meet at the City Park 
located at 0 South Main Street, Woonsocket, RI 02895. The City Park is 
located adjacent to the Woonsocket Falls Dam, on the east riverbank, 
near the intersection of South Main and River Streets. All participants 
are responsible for their own transportation to the site. Anyone 
planning to attend the environmental site review should contact Bruce 
DiGennaro at (401) 835-1185 or [email protected] by May 3, 
2019, and indicate how many participants will be attending with you.

Objectives

    At the scoping meetings, the staff will: (1) Summarize the 
environmental issues tentatively identified for analysis in the EA; (2) 
solicit from the meeting participants all available information, 
especially quantifiable data, on the resources at issue; (3) encourage 
statements from experts and the public on issues that should be 
analyzed in the EA, including viewpoints in opposition to, or in 
support of, the staff's preliminary views; (4) determine the resource 
issues to be addressed in the EA; and (5) identify those issues that 
require a detailed analysis, as well as those issues that do not 
require a detailed analysis.

Procedures

    The meetings are recorded by a stenographer and become part of the 
formal record of the Commission proceeding on the projects.
    Individuals, organizations, and agencies with environmental 
expertise and concerns are encouraged to attend the meeting and to 
assist the staff in defining and clarifying the issues to be addressed 
in the EA.

    Dated: April 8, 2019.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-07292 Filed 4-11-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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