Notice of Availability of Final Engineering Guidelines for the Evaluation of Hydropower Projects: Chapter 18-Level 2 Risk Analysis, 72945-72946 [2021-27779]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 244 / Thursday, December 23, 2021 / Notices Pipeline Project.7 Alternatives currently under consideration include the noaction alternative (i.e., the project would no longer be authorized to continue operating after the expiration of its current temporary certificate). Potential actions that will be analyzed as part of the no-action alternative also include: • Pipeline and aboveground facility abandonment by removal; • pipeline and aboveground facility abandonment in place; and • system alternatives (e.g., Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America, LLC; MoGas Pipeline, LLC; and Spire Missouri Inc. systems, as identified in Spire’s filing of November 12, 2021). jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with NOTICES1 Schedule for Environmental Review This notice identifies the Commission staff’s planned schedule for completion of the final supplemental EIS for the project, which is based on an issuance of the draft supplemental EIS in June 2022. Issuance of Notice of Availability of the final supplemental EIS: October 7, 2022 If a schedule change becomes necessary for the final supplemental EIS, an additional notice will be provided so that the relevant agencies are kept informed of the project’s progress. Environmental Mailing List This notice is being sent to the Commission’s current environmental mailing list for the project which includes federal, state, and local government representatives and agencies; elected officials; environmental and public interest groups; Native American Tribes; other interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. This list also includes all affected landowners (as defined in the Commission’s regulations) for the original Spire STL Pipeline Project and anyone who submits comments on the present case. Commission staff will update the environmental mailing list as the analysis proceeds to ensure that Commission notices related to this environmental review are sent to all individuals, organizations, and government entities interested in and/or potentially affected by the project. If you need to make changes to your name/address, or if you would like to remove your name from the mailing list, please complete one of the following steps: (1) Send an email to GasProjectAddressChange@ferc.gov stating your request. You must include the docket number CP17–40 in your 7 40 CFR 1508.1(z). VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:50 Dec 22, 2021 Jkt 256001 request. If you are requesting a change to your address, please be sure to include your name and the correct address. If you are requesting to delete your address from the mailing list, please include your name and address as it appeared on this notice. This email address is unable to accept comments. OR (2) Return the attached ‘‘Mailing List Update Form’’ (appendix 2). Additional Information Additional information about the project is available from the Commission’s Office of External Affairs, at (866) 208–FERC, or on the FERC website at www.ferc.gov using the eLibrary link. Click on the eLibrary link, click on ‘‘General Search’’ and enter the docket number in the ‘‘Docket Number’’ field (i.e., CP17–40). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or (866) 208–3676, or for TTY, contact (202) 502–8659. The eLibrary link also provides access to the texts of all formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rulemakings. Public sessions or site visits will be posted on the Commission’s calendar located at https://www.ferc.gov/newsevents/events along with other related information. Dated: December 15, 2021. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2021–27785 Filed 12–22–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. AD20–23–000] Notice of Availability of Final Engineering Guidelines for the Evaluation of Hydropower Projects: Chapter 18—Level 2 Risk Analysis The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) has prepared a final ‘‘Chapter 18—Level 2 Risk Analysis’’ of its Engineering Guidelines for the Evaluation of Hydropower Projects (Guidelines). This chapter is one of four new chapters of the Guidelines intended to provide additional guidance related to 18 CFR part 12, Safety of Water Power Projects and Project Works, Docket No. RM20–9–000, Order No 880, issued by the Commission on December 16, 2021. PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 72945 On July 16, 2020, the Commission issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) to revise its part 12 regulations. On the same day, the Commission solicited public review and comment on four new draft chapters of its Guidelines. Draft Chapter 18 was part of that issuance. The Commission received nine comment letters in response to draft Chapter 18. Most of the comments were submitted by licensees and individuals through trade associations, including National Hydropower Association, Dam Safety Interest Group of CEATI International, and US Society on Dams, as well as the US Army Corps of Engineers. Comments were also received from individual licensees, corporations, and individuals, including McMillen Jacobs Associates, David L. Mathews, City of North Little Rock Electric, Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District, and Upper Peninsular Power Company. In all, the nine comment letters consisted of over 250 discrete comments. The comments received were varied and ranged from requesting clarification of the overall need and approach to a risk analysis process to questions regarding implementation and execution of the risk analysis process. Commenters requested clarification of procedural aspects of performing a risk analysis and recommended improvements to the risk analysis process and methodology. Commenters asked the Commission to: • Consider that there is a limited availability of qualified individuals and consultants with the requisite experience and training to perform a semi-quantitative risk analysis; • Consider that the risk analysis process will increase the cost of conducting a Part 12D report; • Provide additional guidance on conducting hydrologic hazard analyses and consequence estimates; • Clarify whether training will be available from FERC or others for risk analysis facilitators and others conducting risk analyses; and • Provide additional guidance on the screening of potential failure modes prior to conducting the risk analysis. Commission staff has considered all comments in finalizing Chapter 18 of the Engineering Guidelines. Based on the comments received, Chapter 18 has been revised to: • Clarify the qualifications and role of the risk analysis facilitator(s) and team members; • Clarify the identification and screening of potential failure modes; E:\FR\FM\23DEN1.SGM 23DEN1 72946 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 244 / Thursday, December 23, 2021 / Notices • Provide additional discussion and examples of the critical load method to estimate the likelihood of failure; • Provide clarification and additional guidance on estimating consequences (e.g., life safety consequences, economic consequences, financial consequences for damage state potential failure modes, and environmental and other nonmonetary consequences); • Add a risk analysis matrix for incremental financial/damage state consequences; and • Include background information on developing hydrologic hazard curves for semi-quantitative risk analyses. All information related to ‘‘Chapter 18—Level 2 Risk Analysis,’’ including the draft chapter, all submitted comments, and the final chapter, can be found on the FERC website (www.ferc.gov) using the eLibrary link. Click on the eLibrary link, click on ‘‘General Search’’ and enter the docket number, excluding the last three digits in the Docket Number field (i.e., AD20– 23). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. The Commission also offers a free service called eSubscription which allows you to keep track of all formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets. This can reduce the amount of time you spend researching proceedings by automatically providing you with electronic notification of these filings and direct links to the documents. Go to the Commission’s website (www.ferc.gov), select the FERC Online option from the left-hand column, and click on eSubscription. Users must be registered in order to use eSubscription. The final version of Chapter 18 is also available on the Commission’s Division of Dam Safety and Inspections website at: Engineering Guidelines for the Evaluation of Hydropower Projects | Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (ferc.gov). Information Collection Statement DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Chapter 18 includes information collection activities for which the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501–3521, requires approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The Commission has included the burden and cost estimates for information collection activities related to this chapter in the rulemaking document (Docket No. RM20–9–000, Order No. 880). The Commission has designated the information collection activities in the rule as FERC–517. Upon final approval of FERC–517, OMB will assign an OMB Control Number and expiration date. Send written comments on FERC–517 to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) through www.reginfo.gov/public/ do/PRAMain, Attention: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Desk Officer. Please identify the OMB control number (1902–TBD) in the subject line. Your comments should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice in the Federal Register. OMB submissions must be formatted and filed in accordance with submission guidelines at www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Using the search function under the ‘‘Currently Under Review field,’’ select Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; click ‘‘submit’’ and select ‘‘comment’’ to the right of the subject collection. For assistance with any of the Commission’s online systems, please contact FERC Online Support at FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free at (866) 208–3676, or for TTY, contact (202) 502–8258. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Dated: December 16, 2021. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2021–27779 Filed 12–22–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P [Docket No. CD22–2–000] Notice of Preliminary Determination of a Qualifying Conduit Hydropower Facility and Soliciting Comments and Motions To Intervene; City of Beaverton, Oregon On December 7, 2021, as supplemented on December 15, 2021, the City of Beaverton, Oregon filed a notice of intent to construct a qualifying conduit hydropower facility, pursuant to section 30 of the Federal Power Act (FPA). The proposed Sexton Mountain Pump Station Hydroelectric Project would have an installed capacity of up to 200 kilowatts (kW), and would be located along an existing 30-inch pipeline adjacent to the Sexton Mountain Pumping Station in the City of Beaverton, Washington County, Oregon. Applicant Contact: Ronan Igloria, GSI Water Solutions, Inc., 55 SW Yamhill St., Suite 300, Portland, OR 97204, 971– 200–8510, rigloria@gsiws.com. FERC Contact: Christopher Chaney, 202–502–6778, christopher.chaney@ ferc.gov. Qualifying Conduit Hydropower Facility Description: The proposed project would consist of: (1) One Francis turbine unit with a capacity of 100 kW, with a second up to 100-kW unit planned in the future; (2) intake and discharge pipes connecting to the 30inch pipeline; and (3) appurtenant facilities. The proposed project would have an estimated annual generation of approximately 392 megawatt-hours during the first year of operation. A qualifying conduit hydropower facility is one that is determined or deemed to meet all the criteria shown in the table below. TABLE 1—CRITERIA FOR QUALIFYING CONDUIT HYDROPOWER FACILITY Statutory provision Description Satisfies (Y/N) FPA 30(a)(3)(A) ............. The conduit the facility uses is a tunnel, canal, pipeline, aqueduct, flume, ditch, or similar manmade water conveyance that is operated for the distribution of water for agricultural, municipal, or industrial consumption and not primarily for the generation of electricity. The facility is constructed, operated, or maintained for the generation of electric power and uses for such generation only the hydroelectric potential of a non-federally owned conduit. The facility has an installed capacity that does not exceed 40 megawatts ........................................... On or before August 9, 2013, the facility is not licensed, or exempted from the licensing requirements of Part I of the FPA. Y jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with NOTICES1 FPA 30(a)(3)(C)(i) .......... FPA 30(a)(3)(C)(ii) ......... FPA 30(a)(3)(C)(iii) ........ Preliminary Determination: The proposed Sexton Mountain Pump Station Hydroelectric Project will not VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:50 Dec 22, 2021 Jkt 256001 alter the primary purpose of the conduit, which is to transport water for municipal use. Therefore, based upon PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Y Y Y the above criteria, Commission staff preliminarily determines that the proposal satisfies the requirements for a E:\FR\FM\23DEN1.SGM 23DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 244 (Thursday, December 23, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72945-72946]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-27779]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. AD20-23-000]


Notice of Availability of Final Engineering Guidelines for the 
Evaluation of Hydropower Projects: Chapter 18--Level 2 Risk Analysis

    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or 
Commission) has prepared a final ``Chapter 18--Level 2 Risk Analysis'' 
of its Engineering Guidelines for the Evaluation of Hydropower Projects 
(Guidelines). This chapter is one of four new chapters of the 
Guidelines intended to provide additional guidance related to 18 CFR 
part 12, Safety of Water Power Projects and Project Works, Docket No. 
RM20-9-000, Order No 880, issued by the Commission on December 16, 
2021.
    On July 16, 2020, the Commission issued a Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking (NOPR) to revise its part 12 regulations. On the same day, 
the Commission solicited public review and comment on four new draft 
chapters of its Guidelines. Draft Chapter 18 was part of that issuance.
    The Commission received nine comment letters in response to draft 
Chapter 18. Most of the comments were submitted by licensees and 
individuals through trade associations, including National Hydropower 
Association, Dam Safety Interest Group of CEATI International, and US 
Society on Dams, as well as the US Army Corps of Engineers. Comments 
were also received from individual licensees, corporations, and 
individuals, including McMillen Jacobs Associates, David L. Mathews, 
City of North Little Rock Electric, Central Nebraska Public Power and 
Irrigation District, and Upper Peninsular Power Company.
    In all, the nine comment letters consisted of over 250 discrete 
comments. The comments received were varied and ranged from requesting 
clarification of the overall need and approach to a risk analysis 
process to questions regarding implementation and execution of the risk 
analysis process. Commenters requested clarification of procedural 
aspects of performing a risk analysis and recommended improvements to 
the risk analysis process and methodology. Commenters asked the 
Commission to:
     Consider that there is a limited availability of qualified 
individuals and consultants with the requisite experience and training 
to perform a semi-quantitative risk analysis;
     Consider that the risk analysis process will increase the 
cost of conducting a Part 12D report;
     Provide additional guidance on conducting hydrologic 
hazard analyses and consequence estimates;
     Clarify whether training will be available from FERC or 
others for risk analysis facilitators and others conducting risk 
analyses; and
     Provide additional guidance on the screening of potential 
failure modes prior to conducting the risk analysis.
    Commission staff has considered all comments in finalizing Chapter 
18 of the Engineering Guidelines. Based on the comments received, 
Chapter 18 has been revised to:
     Clarify the qualifications and role of the risk analysis 
facilitator(s) and team members;
     Clarify the identification and screening of potential 
failure modes;

[[Page 72946]]

     Provide additional discussion and examples of the critical 
load method to estimate the likelihood of failure;
     Provide clarification and additional guidance on 
estimating consequences (e.g., life safety consequences, economic 
consequences, financial consequences for damage state potential failure 
modes, and environmental and other non-monetary consequences);
     Add a risk analysis matrix for incremental financial/
damage state consequences; and
     Include background information on developing hydrologic 
hazard curves for semi-quantitative risk analyses.
    All information related to ``Chapter 18--Level 2 Risk Analysis,'' 
including the draft chapter, all submitted comments, and the final 
chapter, can be found on the FERC website (www.ferc.gov) using the 
eLibrary link. Click on the eLibrary link, click on ``General Search'' 
and enter the docket number, excluding the last three digits in the 
Docket Number field (i.e., AD20-23). Be sure you have selected an 
appropriate date range. The Commission also offers a free service 
called eSubscription which allows you to keep track of all formal 
issuances and submittals in specific dockets. This can reduce the 
amount of time you spend researching proceedings by automatically 
providing you with electronic notification of these filings and direct 
links to the documents. Go to the Commission's website (www.ferc.gov), 
select the FERC Online option from the left-hand column, and click on 
eSubscription. Users must be registered in order to use eSubscription.
    The final version of Chapter 18 is also available on the 
Commission's Division of Dam Safety and Inspections website at: 
Engineering Guidelines for the Evaluation of Hydropower Projects [bond] 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (ferc.gov).

Information Collection Statement

    Chapter 18 includes information collection activities for which the 
Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3521, requires approval by the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The Commission has included the 
burden and cost estimates for information collection activities related 
to this chapter in the rulemaking document (Docket No. RM20-9-000, 
Order No. 880). The Commission has designated the information 
collection activities in the rule as FERC-517. Upon final approval of 
FERC-517, OMB will assign an OMB Control Number and expiration date.
    Send written comments on FERC-517 to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) through www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain, Attention: 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Desk Officer. Please identify the 
OMB control number (1902-TBD) in the subject line. Your comments should 
be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register. OMB submissions must be formatted and filed in accordance 
with submission guidelines at www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Using 
the search function under the ``Currently Under Review field,'' select 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; click ``submit'' and select 
``comment'' to the right of the subject collection.
    For assistance with any of the Commission's online systems, please 
contact FERC Online Support at ferc.gov">[email protected]ferc.gov or toll free 
at (866) 208-3676, or for TTY, contact (202) 502-8258.

    Dated: December 16, 2021.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-27779 Filed 12-22-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P

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