Mad River Power Associates; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment, 53047-53048 [2021-20777]

Download as PDF 53047 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 183 / Friday, September 24, 2021 / Notices f. Location: In the Cape Cod Canal near the Town of Bourne, in Barnstable County, MA. The project would be located on approximately one acre of federal land under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. g. Filed Pursuant to: 18 CFR 5.3 of the Commission’s regulations. h. Applicant Contact: John Miller, Executive Director, Marine Renewable Energy Collaborative of New England, P.O. Box 479, Marion, MA 02738; Phone at (508) 728–5825; email at mrecnewengland@gmail.com. i. FERC Contact: Robert Haltner at (202) 502–8612, or email at robert.haltner@ferc.gov. j. MRECo 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 nonfederal 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 prefiling 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. The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file comments using the Commission’s eFiling system at https:// ferconline.ferc.gov/FERCOnline.aspx. Commenters can submit brief comments up to 6,000 characters, without prior registration, using the eComment system at https://ferconline.ferc.gov/ QuickComment.aspx. 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, you may submit a paper copy. Submissions sent via the U.S. Postal Service must be addressed to: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426. Submissions sent via any other carrier must be addressed to: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 12225 VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:50 Sep 23, 2021 Jkt 253001 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852. The first page of any filing should include docket number P– 14775–004. Any individual or entity interested in submitting comments on the pre-filing materials must do so by October 20, 2021. l. With this notice, we are approving MRECo’s 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 Massachusetts State Historic Preservation Officer, as required by section 106 of the National Historical Preservation Act, and the implementing regulations of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation at 36 CFR 800.2. m. With this notice, we also are asking federal, state, local, and tribal agencies with jurisdiction and/or expertise with respect to environmental issues to cooperate with us in the preparation of the environmental document. Agencies who would like to request cooperating status should follow the instructions for filing comments described in paragraph k above. n. This notice does not constitute the Commission’s approval of MRECo’s 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, and any comments filed, the Commission will determine whether there is adequate information to conclude the pre-filing process. o. The proposed Bourne Tidal Test Site Project would consist of: (1) An existing 56.2-foot-high, 23-foot-wide support structure; (2) a proposed horizontal axis, open-bladed, 50kilowatt turbine-generator unit (other in-stream turbine-generators would also be tested at the site) having a 3-meterdiameter sweep area; (3) a proposed 13.2-kilovolt overhead transmission line connecting the turbine-generator unit to the regional grid; and (4) appurtenant facilities. The hydrokinetic project would have an estimated average annual generation of 175-megawatt hours. p. A copy of the draft license application and all pre-filing materials can be viewed on the Commission’s website at https://www.ferc.gov using the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link. Enter the docket number (P–14775), excluding the last three digits in the docket number field to access the document. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support. PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 q. 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 Comments on pre-filing materials due. Issuance of additional information request. Issuance of meeting notice (if needed). Public meeting/technical conference (if needed). Date October 20, 2021. November 4, 2021. November 4, 2021. December 4, 2021. r. Register online at https:// ferconline.ferc.gov/FERCOnline.aspx to be notified via email of new filing and issuances related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support. Dated: September 20, 2021. Debbie-Anne A. Reese, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2021–20776 Filed 9–23–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Project No. 3253–015] Mad River Power Associates; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment On November 3, 2020, Mad River Power Associates filed an application for a subsequent license to continue operating the existing 639-kilowatt Campton Hydroelectric Project No. 3253 (project). The project is located on the Mad River in Grafton County, New Hampshire, and occupies approximately 0.08 acre of federal land administered by the U.S. Forest Service. In accordance with the Commission’s regulations, on July 7, 2021, Commission staff issued a notice that the project was ready for environmental analysis (REA notice). Based on the information in the record, including comments filed on the REA notice, staff does not anticipate that licensing the project would constitute a major federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. Therefore, staff intends to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) on the application to license the project. The EA will be issued and circulated for review by all interested parties. All comments filed on the EA will be E:\FR\FM\24SEN1.SGM 24SEN1 53048 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 183 / Friday, September 24, 2021 / Notices analyzed by staff and considered in the Commission’s final licensing decision. The application will be processed according to the following schedule. Revisions to the schedule may be made as appropriate. Milestone Commission issues EA. Comments on EA ...... Target date March 2022.1 May 2022. Any questions regarding this notice may be directed to Amanda Gill at (202) 502–6773 or amanda.gill@ferc.gov. Dated: September 20, 2021. Debbie-Anne A. Reese, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2021–20777 Filed 9–23–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. IC21–38–000] Commission Information Collection Activities; (FERC–920, Electric Quarterly Report); Comment Request; Extension Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, DOE. ACTION: Notice of information collection and request for comments. AGENCY: In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) is soliciting public comment on the currently approved information collection, FERC– 920 (Electric Quarterly Report (EQR)), which will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a review of the information collection requirements. SUMMARY: Comments on the collection of information are due November 23, 2021. ADDRESSES: You may submit copies of your comments (identified by Docket No. IC21–38–000 and the specific FERC collection number (FERC–920) by one of the following methods: Electronic filing through https:// www.ferc.gov is preferred. DATES: 1 The Council on Environmental Quality’s (CEQ) regulations under 40 CFR 1501.10(b)(1) require that EAs be completed within 1 year of the federal action agency’s decision to prepare an EA. This notice establishes the Commission’s intent to prepare an EA for the Campton Hydroelectric Project. Therefore, in accordance with CEQ’s regulations, the EA must be issued within 1 year of the issuance date of this notice. VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:50 Sep 23, 2021 Jkt 253001 • Electronic Filing: Documents must be filed in acceptable native applications and print-to-PDF, but not in scanned or picture format. • For those unable to file electronically, comments may be filed by USPS mail or by hand (including courier) delivery: Æ Mail via U.S. Postal Service Only: Addressed to: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426. Æ Hand (including courier) delivery to: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, MD 20852. Instructions: All submissions must be formatted and filed in accordance with submission guidelines at: https:// www.ferc.gov. For user assistance, contact FERC Online Support by email at ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov, or by phone at (866) 208–3676 (toll-free). Docket: Users interested in receiving automatic notification of activity in this docket or in viewing/downloading comments and issuances in this docket may do so at https://www.ferc.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Brown may be reached by email at DataClearance@FERC.gov and telephone at (202) 502–8663. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: FERC–920, (Electric Quarterly Reports (EQR)). OMB Control No.: 1902–0255. Type of Respondent: Public utilities, and non-public utilities with more than a de minimis market presence. Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC–920 information collection with no changes to the current reporting requirements.1 Abstract: The Commission originally set forth the EQR filing requirements in Order No. 2001 (Docket No. RM01–8– 000) which required public utilities to electronically file EQRs summarizing transaction information for short-term and long-term cost-based sales and market-based rate sales and the contractual terms and conditions in their agreements for all jurisdictional services.2 The Commission established 1 This Notice in Docket No. IC21–38 is separate from, and does not address, the activities in Docket No. AD21–8–000. 2 Revised Public Utility Filing Requirements, Order No. 2001, 67 FR 31043 (May 8, 2002), FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 31,127, reh’g denied, Order No. 2001–A, 100 FERC ¶ 61,074, reh’g denied, Order No. 2001–B, 100 FERC ¶ 61,342, order directing filing, Order No. 2001–C, 101 FERC ¶ 61,314 (2002), order directing filing, Order No. 2001–D, 102 FERC ¶ 61,334, order refining filing requirements, Order No. 2001–E, 105 FERC ¶ 61,352 (2003), order on clarification, Order No. 2001–F, 106 FERC ¶ 61,060 (2004), order revising filing requirements, Order No. 2001–G, 72 FR 56735 (Oct. 4, 2007), 120 FERC PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 the EQR reporting requirements to help ensure the collection of information needed to perform its regulatory functions over transmission and sales, while making data more useful to the public and allowing public utilities to better fulfill their responsibility under Federal Power Act (FPA) section 205(c) 3 to have rates on file in a convenient form and place. As noted in Order No. 2001, the EQR data is designed to ‘‘provide greater price transparency, promote competition, enhance confidence in the fairness of the markets, and provide a better means to detect and discourage discriminatory practices.’’ Since issuing Order No. 2001, the Commission has provided guidance and refined the reporting requirements, as necessary, to reflect changes in the Commission’s rules and regulations.4 The Commission also adopted an Electric Quarterly Report Data Dictionary, which provides in one document the definitions of certain terms and values used in filing EQR data.5 To increase transparency broadly across all wholesale markets subject to the Commission’s jurisdiction, the Commission issued Order No. 768 in 2012.6 Order No. 768 required market participants that are excluded from the Commission’s jurisdiction under the FPA section 205 (non-public utilities) and have more than a de minimis market presence to file EQRs with the Commission. In addition, Order No. 768 revised the EQR filing requirements to build upon the Commission’s prior improvements to the reporting requirements and further enhance the goals of providing greater price transparency, promoting competition, instilling confidence in the fairness of the markets, and providing a better means to detect and discourage anticompetitive, discriminatory, and manipulative practices. EQR information allows the public to assess supply and demand fundamentals and to price interstate wholesale market transactions. This, in turn, results in greater market confidence, lower transaction costs, and ¶ 61,270, order on reh’g and clarification, Order No. 2001–H, 73 FR 1876 (Jan. 10, 2008), 121 FERC ¶ 61,289 (2007), order revising filing requirements, Order No. 2001–I, 73 FR 65526 (Nov. 4, 2008), 125 FERC ¶ 61,103 (2008). 3 16 U.S.C. 824d(c). 4 See, e.g., Revised Public Utility Filing Requirements for Electric Quarterly Reports, 124 FERC ¶ 61,244 (2008) (providing guidance on the filing of information on transmission capacity reassignments in EQRs). 5 Order No. 2001–G, 120 FERC ¶ 61,270 (2007). 6 Order No. 768, 77 FR 61896 (Oct. 11, 2012), FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 31,336 (2012). E:\FR\FM\24SEN1.SGM 24SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 183 (Friday, September 24, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53047-53048]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-20777]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 3253-015]


Mad River Power Associates; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Assessment

    On November 3, 2020, Mad River Power Associates filed an 
application for a subsequent license to continue operating the existing 
639-kilowatt Campton Hydroelectric Project No. 3253 (project). The 
project is located on the Mad River in Grafton County, New Hampshire, 
and occupies approximately 0.08 acre of federal land administered by 
the U.S. Forest Service.
    In accordance with the Commission's regulations, on July 7, 2021, 
Commission staff issued a notice that the project was ready for 
environmental analysis (REA notice). Based on the information in the 
record, including comments filed on the REA notice, staff does not 
anticipate that licensing the project would constitute a major federal 
action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. 
Therefore, staff intends to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) on 
the application to license the project.
    The EA will be issued and circulated for review by all interested 
parties. All comments filed on the EA will be

[[Page 53048]]

analyzed by staff and considered in the Commission's final licensing 
decision.
    The application will be processed according to the following 
schedule. Revisions to the schedule may be made as appropriate.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Milestone                           Target date
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commission issues EA......................  March 2022.\1\
Comments on EA............................  May 2022.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Any questions regarding this notice may be directed to Amanda Gill 
at (202) 502-6773 or [email protected].
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The Council on Environmental Quality's (CEQ) regulations 
under 40 CFR 1501.10(b)(1) require that EAs be completed within 1 
year of the federal action agency's decision to prepare an EA. This 
notice establishes the Commission's intent to prepare an EA for the 
Campton Hydroelectric Project. Therefore, in accordance with CEQ's 
regulations, the EA must be issued within 1 year of the issuance 
date of this notice.

    Dated: September 20, 2021.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-20777 Filed 9-23-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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