Premium Energy Holdings, LLC; Notice of Preliminary Permit Application Accepted for Filing and Soliciting Comments, Motions To Intervene, and Competing Applications, 53134-53135 [2019-21638]

Download as PDF 53134 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 193 / Friday, October 4, 2019 / Notices NEPA in its Supplement Analysis issued in August 2018. This Supplement Analysis reviewed new information post-dating the 2011 SWEIS, and again determined that NNSA need not prepare a new or supplemental EIS because this new information did not result in environmental impacts significantly different or significantly greater than those reviewed in the prior analysis. As the result of a lawsuit filed against DOE and NNSA, the federal district court issued several rulings related to NNSA’s NEPA documents for Y–12. While the judge vacated the AROD, the 2016 Supplement Analysis, and the 2018 Supplement Analysis based on its determination that additional NEPA analysis of new information pertaining to seismic risks at Y–12 was needed, the court held that the NNSA’s new strategy of upgrading existing enriched uranium buildings pursuant to the Extended Life Program and constructing UPF with multiple buildings was adequately considered as part of the 2011 SWEIS. The court further held that NNSA is not required to prepare a Supplemental EIS for the UPF Project or the Extended Life Program. See Memorandum Opinion and Order in Case 3:18–cv–00150–PLR– DCP. khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES Summary of Impacts Associated With Continued Interim Operation of the Y– 12 National Security Complex With respect to the environmental impacts associated with the revised UPF strategy and the Extended Life Program, the court determined that ‘‘[b]ecause the environmental effects in the 2011 SWEIS were evaluated along a spectrum—from ‘no action’ at one end, to a brand-new UPF at the other, and with an ‘Upgrade-in-Place’ program occupying the middle,’’ NNSA’s new strategy is adequately supported by theY–12 SWEIS, and the court did not vacate the 2011 ROD or Y–12 SWEIS or enjoin any activities at Y–12. The court also found the NEPA analysis in the 2016 Supplement Analysis and the 2018 Supplement Analysis deficient only as to their analysis of new information pertaining to seismic risks. Thus, consistent with 10 CFR 1021.315(e), the existing 2011 ROD for the Y–12 SWEIS can be amended. However, in accordance with the court’s determination that additional NEPA analysis of new information pertaining to seismic risks at Y–12 is needed, further NEPA documentation will be developed on an expedited basis that includes an unbounded accident analysis of earthquake consequences at Y–12, using updated seismic hazard VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:49 Oct 03, 2019 Jkt 250001 analyses that incorporate the 2014 United States Geological Survey maps. Amended Decision NNSA has decided to continue to operate Y–12 to meet the stockpile stewardship mission critical activities assigned to the site on an interim basis, pending further review of seismic risks at Y–12. NNSA will also meet EU requirements using a hybrid approach of upgrading existing EU buildings under its Extended Life Program and separating the single-structure UPF into multiple buildings, with each constructed to safety and security requirements appropriate to the building’s function; This amended decision will enable NNSA to maintain the required expertise and capabilities to deliver uranium products while modernizing production facilities. This amended decision to continue operations on an interim basis will avoid many of the safety risks of operating aged buildings and equipment by relocating processes that cannot be sustained in existing, enduring buildings or through process improvements. Through an Extended Life Program, mission-critical existing and enduring buildings and infrastructure will be maintained and/or upgraded, which will enhance safety and security at the Y–12 site, pending further review of seismic risks at Y–12. Such continued operations are consistent with the court’s ruling and will continue to implement safety improvements under previously approved contracts, pending the completion of additional NEPA documentation on an expedited basis. Once further seismic analysis has been performed, NNSA will issue a new ROD describing, what, if any, changes it has decided to make in light of that analysis. Signed in Washington, DC, this 27th day of September 2019, for the United States Department of Energy. Lisa E. Gordon-Hagerty, Under Secretary for Nuclear Security, National Nuclear Security Administration. [FR Doc. 2019–21660 Filed 10–3–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450–01–P PO 00000 Frm 00037 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Project No. 15002–000] Premium Energy Holdings, LLC; Notice of Preliminary Permit Application Accepted for Filing and Soliciting Comments, Motions To Intervene, and Competing Applications On July 10, 2019, Premium Energy Holdings, LLC, filed an application for a preliminary permit, pursuant to section 4(f) of the Federal Power Act, proposing to study the feasibility of the Walker Lake Pumped Storage Project (Walker Lake or project) to be located on Walker Lake and Walker River, near the community of Walker Lake, Mineral County, Nevada. The sole purpose of a preliminary permit, if issued, is to grant the permit holder priority to file a license application during the permit term. A preliminary permit does not authorize the permit holder to perform any land-disturbing activities or otherwise enter upon lands or waters owned by others without the owners’ express permission. The proposed project would be a closed-loop pumped storage hydropower facility. The applicant proposes three alternative upper reservoirs: Bald Mountain Reservoir, Copper Canyon Reservoir, or Dry Creek Reservoir. The existing Walker Lake would be the lower reservoir for each alternative. Upper Reservoir Alternative 1: Bald Mountain Reservoir The Bald Mountain Reservoir alternative consists of: (1) A 101-acre upper reservoir having a total storage capacity of 23,419 acre-feet at a normal maximum operating elevation of 6,500 feet mean sea level (msl); (2) a 615-foothigh, 2,195-foot-long roller compacted concrete upper reservoir dam; (3) a 0.88mile-long, 30-foot-diameter concretelined headrace tunnel; (4) a 0.3-milelong, 27-foot-diameter concrete-lined vertical shaft; (5) a 1.85-mile-long, 27foot-diameter concrete-lined horizontal tunnel; (6) five 0.15-mile-long, 17-footdiameter steel penstocks; (7) a 500-footlong, 85-foot-wide, 160-foot-high concrete-lined powerhouse located in an underground cavern, housing five pump-turbine generator-motor units rated for 400 megawatts (MW) each; and (8) a 0.45-mile-long, 32-foot-diameter concrete-lined tailrace tunnel discharging into the existing Walker Lake. E:\FR\FM\04OCN1.SGM 04OCN1 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 193 / Friday, October 4, 2019 / Notices Upper Reservoir Alternative 2: Copper Canyon Reservoir The Copper Canyon Reservoir alternative consists of: (1) A 235-acre upper reservoir having a total storage capacity of 36,266 acre-feet at a normal maximum operating elevation of 5,740 feet msl; (2) a 505-foot-high, 6,105-footlong roller compacted concrete upper reservoir dam; (3) a 0.56-mile-long, 35foot-diameter concrete-lined headrace tunnel; (4) a 0.2-mile-long, 31-footdiameter concrete-lined vertical shaft; (5) a 1.05-mile-long, 31-foot-diameter concrete-lined horizontal tunnel; (6) five 0.1-mile-long, 20-foot-diameter steel penstocks; (7) a 500-foot-long, 85-footwide, 160-foot-high concrete-lined powerhouse located in an underground cavern, housing five pump-turbine generator-motor units rated for 400 MW each; and (8) a 0.6-mile-long, 38-footdiameter concrete-lined tailrace tunnel discharging into the existing Walker Lake. Upper Reservoir Alternative 3: Dry Creek Reservoir The Dry Creek Canyon Reservoir alternative consists of: (1) A 105-acre upper reservoir having a total storage capacity of 21,953 acre-feet at a normal maximum operating elevation of 6,560 feet msl; (2) a 775-foot-high, 6,870-footlong roller compacted concrete upper reservoir dam; (3) a 0.98-mile-long, 29foot-diameter concrete-lined headrace tunnel; (4) a 0.33-mile-long, 26-footdiameter concrete-lined vertical shaft; (5) a 2.56-mile-long, 26-foot-diameter concrete-lined horizontal tunnel; (6) five 0.1-mile-long, 17-foot-diameter steel penstocks; (7) a 500-foot-long, 85-footwide, 160-foot-high concrete-lined powerhouse located in an underground cavern, housing five pump-turbine generator-motor units rated for 400 MW each; and (8) a 0.23-mile-long, 31-footdiameter concrete-lined tailrace tunnel discharging into the existing Walker Lake. khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES Lower Reservoir: Walker Lake The existing Walker Lake has a surface are of 32,120 acres at 3,920 feet msl, and a total storage capacity of 1.4 million acre-feet. Interconnection For each upper reservoir alternative, project power would be transmitted to the grid via: (1) A new, approximately 10-mile-long, 500 kilovolt (kV) transmission line extending from the powerhouse to the proposed Walker Converter Station (the point of interconnection); and (2) appurtenant facilities. The estimated annual generation of the Pyramid Lake Project VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:49 Oct 03, 2019 Jkt 250001 under each of the alternatives would be 6,900 gigawatt-hours. Applicant Contact: Victor M. Rojas, Managing Director, Premium Energy Holdings, LLC, 355 South Lemon Avenue, Suite A, Walnut, California 91789; phone: (909) 595–5314. FERC Contact: Kyle Olcott; phone: (202) 502–8963. Deadline for filing comments, motions to intervene, competing applications (without notices of intent), or notices of intent to file competing applications: 60 days from the issuance of this notice. Competing applications and notices of intent must meet the requirements of 18 CFR 4.36. The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file comments, motions to intervene, notices of intent, and competing applications 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–15002–000. More information about this project, including a copy of the application, can be viewed or printed on the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link of Commission’s website at https:// www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/elibrary.asp. Enter the docket number (P–15002) in the docket number field to access the document. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support. Dated: September 30, 2019. Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr., Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2019–21638 Filed 10–3–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Project No. 2814–025] Great Falls Hydroelectric Company, City of Paterson, New Jersey; Notice of Scoping Meetings and Environmental Site Review and Soliciting Scoping Comments Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been filed PO 00000 Frm 00038 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 53135 with the Commission and is available for public inspection. a. Type of Application: New Major License. b. Project No.: 2814–025. c. Date Filed: February 28, 2019. d. Applicants: Great Falls Hydroelectric Company and the City of Paterson, New Jersey, as co-licensees. e. Name of Project: Great Falls Hydroelectric Project. f. Location: On the Passaic River, near the City of Paterson, Passaic County, New Jersey. The project does not occupy federal land. g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act 16 U.S.C. 791 (a)–825 (r). h. Applicant Contact: Mr. Robert Gates, Senior Vice President of Operations, Eagle Creek Renewable Energy, 65 Madison Avenue, Suite 500, Morristown, NJ 07960; (973) 998–8400; email—bob.gates@eaglecreekre.com and/or Ben-David Seligman, 2nd Assistant Corp. Counsel, City of Paterson, 155 Market Street, Paterson, NJ; (973) 321–1366; email—bseligman@ patersonnj.gov. i. FERC Contact: Christopher Millard at (202) 502–8256; or email at christopher.millard@ferc.gov. j. Deadline for filing scoping comments: November 23, 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. The first page of any filing should include docket number P–2814–025. k. This application is not ready for environmental analysis at this time. l. The existing project works consist of: (1) The Society for the Establishment of Useful Manufactures dam, an overflow granite stone gravity structure about 315 feet long, with a maximum height of 15 feet and having a crest elevation of 114.6 feet mean sea level (msl); (2) a reservoir with a surface area of 202 acres and a storage capacity of 1,415 acre-feet at elevation 114.6 feet msl; (3) a forebay inlet structure; (4) a headgate control structure containing three trashracks and three steel gates; (5) E:\FR\FM\04OCN1.SGM 04OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 193 (Friday, October 4, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53134-53135]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-21638]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 15002-000]


 Premium Energy Holdings, LLC; Notice of Preliminary Permit 
Application Accepted for Filing and Soliciting Comments, Motions To 
Intervene, and Competing Applications

    On July 10, 2019, Premium Energy Holdings, LLC, filed an 
application for a preliminary permit, pursuant to section 4(f) of the 
Federal Power Act, proposing to study the feasibility of the Walker 
Lake Pumped Storage Project (Walker Lake or project) to be located on 
Walker Lake and Walker River, near the community of Walker Lake, 
Mineral County, Nevada. The sole purpose of a preliminary permit, if 
issued, is to grant the permit holder priority to file a license 
application during the permit term. A preliminary permit does not 
authorize the permit holder to perform any land-disturbing activities 
or otherwise enter upon lands or waters owned by others without the 
owners' express permission.
    The proposed project would be a closed-loop pumped storage 
hydropower facility. The applicant proposes three alternative upper 
reservoirs: Bald Mountain Reservoir, Copper Canyon Reservoir, or Dry 
Creek Reservoir. The existing Walker Lake would be the lower reservoir 
for each alternative.

Upper Reservoir Alternative 1: Bald Mountain Reservoir

    The Bald Mountain Reservoir alternative consists of: (1) A 101-acre 
upper reservoir having a total storage capacity of 23,419 acre-feet at 
a normal maximum operating elevation of 6,500 feet mean sea level 
(msl); (2) a 615-foot-high, 2,195-foot-long roller compacted concrete 
upper reservoir dam; (3) a 0.88-mile-long, 30-foot-diameter concrete-
lined headrace tunnel; (4) a 0.3-mile-long, 27-foot-diameter concrete-
lined vertical shaft; (5) a 1.85-mile-long, 27-foot-diameter concrete-
lined horizontal tunnel; (6) five 0.15-mile-long, 17-foot-diameter 
steel penstocks; (7) a 500-foot-long, 85-foot-wide, 160-foot-high 
concrete-lined powerhouse located in an underground cavern, housing 
five pump-turbine generator-motor units rated for 400 megawatts (MW) 
each; and (8) a 0.45-mile-long, 32-foot-diameter concrete-lined 
tailrace tunnel discharging into the existing Walker Lake.

[[Page 53135]]

Upper Reservoir Alternative 2: Copper Canyon Reservoir

    The Copper Canyon Reservoir alternative consists of: (1) A 235-acre 
upper reservoir having a total storage capacity of 36,266 acre-feet at 
a normal maximum operating elevation of 5,740 feet msl; (2) a 505-foot-
high, 6,105-foot-long roller compacted concrete upper reservoir dam; 
(3) a 0.56-mile-long, 35-foot-diameter concrete-lined headrace tunnel; 
(4) a 0.2-mile-long, 31-foot-diameter concrete-lined vertical shaft; 
(5) a 1.05-mile-long, 31-foot-diameter concrete-lined horizontal 
tunnel; (6) five 0.1-mile-long, 20-foot-diameter steel penstocks; (7) a 
500-foot-long, 85-foot-wide, 160-foot-high concrete-lined powerhouse 
located in an underground cavern, housing five pump-turbine generator-
motor units rated for 400 MW each; and (8) a 0.6-mile-long, 38-foot-
diameter concrete-lined tailrace tunnel discharging into the existing 
Walker Lake.

Upper Reservoir Alternative 3: Dry Creek Reservoir

    The Dry Creek Canyon Reservoir alternative consists of: (1) A 105-
acre upper reservoir having a total storage capacity of 21,953 acre-
feet at a normal maximum operating elevation of 6,560 feet msl; (2) a 
775-foot-high, 6,870-foot-long roller compacted concrete upper 
reservoir dam; (3) a 0.98-mile-long, 29-foot-diameter concrete-lined 
headrace tunnel; (4) a 0.33-mile-long, 26-foot-diameter concrete-lined 
vertical shaft; (5) a 2.56-mile-long, 26-foot-diameter concrete-lined 
horizontal tunnel; (6) five 0.1-mile-long, 17-foot-diameter steel 
penstocks; (7) a 500-foot-long, 85-foot-wide, 160-foot-high concrete-
lined powerhouse located in an underground cavern, housing five pump-
turbine generator-motor units rated for 400 MW each; and (8) a 0.23-
mile-long, 31-foot-diameter concrete-lined tailrace tunnel discharging 
into the existing Walker Lake.

Lower Reservoir: Walker Lake

    The existing Walker Lake has a surface are of 32,120 acres at 3,920 
feet msl, and a total storage capacity of 1.4 million acre-feet.

Interconnection

    For each upper reservoir alternative, project power would be 
transmitted to the grid via: (1) A new, approximately 10-mile-long, 500 
kilovolt (kV) transmission line extending from the powerhouse to the 
proposed Walker Converter Station (the point of interconnection); and 
(2) appurtenant facilities. The estimated annual generation of the 
Pyramid Lake Project under each of the alternatives would be 6,900 
gigawatt-hours.
    Applicant Contact: Victor M. Rojas, Managing Director, Premium 
Energy Holdings, LLC, 355 South Lemon Avenue, Suite A, Walnut, 
California 91789; phone: (909) 595-5314.
    FERC Contact: Kyle Olcott; phone: (202) 502-8963.
    Deadline for filing comments, motions to intervene, competing 
applications (without notices of intent), or notices of intent to file 
competing applications: 60 days from the issuance of this notice. 
Competing applications and notices of intent must meet the requirements 
of 18 CFR 4.36.
    The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file 
comments, motions to intervene, notices of intent, and competing 
applications 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 
FERCOnli[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. The first page of any filing should include 
docket number P-15002-000.
    More information about this project, including a copy of the 
application, can be viewed or printed on the ``eLibrary'' link of 
Commission's website at https://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/elibrary.asp. 
Enter the docket number (P-15002) in the docket number field to access 
the document. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support.

    Dated: September 30, 2019.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-21638 Filed 10-3-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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