Brookfield White Pine Hydro, LLC, Merimil Limited Partnership, Hydro-Kennebec, LLC; Revised Procedural Schedule for Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Project Relicense, Interim Species Protection Plan, and Final Species Protection Plan, 11430-11431 [2023-03687]

Download as PDF 11430 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 36 / Thursday, February 23, 2023 / Notices so indicate by writing to the Secretary of the Commission. n. Comments, Motions to Intervene, or Protests: Anyone may submit comments, a motion to intervene, or a protest in accordance with the requirements of Rules of Practice and Procedure, 18 CFR 385.210, .211, .214. In determining the appropriate action to take, the Commission will consider all protests or other comments filed, but only those who file a motion to intervene in accordance with the Commission’s Rules may become a party to the proceeding. Any comments, motions to intervene, or protests must be received on or before the specified comment date for the particular application. o. Filing and Service of Responsive Documents: Any filing must (1) bear in all capital letters the title ‘‘COMMENTS’’, ‘‘MOTION TO INTERVENE’’, or ‘‘PROTEST’’ as applicable; (2) set forth in the heading the name of the applicant and the project number(s) of the application to which the filing responds; (3) furnish the name, address, and telephone number of the person intervening or protesting; and (4) otherwise comply with the requirements of 18 CFR 385.2001 through 385.2005. All comments, motions to intervene, or protests must set forth their evidentiary basis. A copy of all other filings in reference to this application must be accompanied by proof of service on all persons listed in the service list prepared by the Commission in this proceeding, in accordance with 18 CFR 385.2010. Dated: February 16, 2023. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. Dated: February 16, 2023. Debbie-Anne A. Reese, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2023–03734 Filed 2–22–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [FR Doc. 2023–03723 Filed 2–22–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P [Project Nos. 2322–069, 2322–071, 2325– 100, 2574–092, 2611–091] DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY New England Winter Gas-Electric Forum; Notice of Second New England Winter Gas-Electric Forum Brookfield White Pine Hydro, LLC, Merimil Limited Partnership, HydroKennebec, LLC; Revised Procedural Schedule for Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Project Relicense, Interim Species Protection Plan, and Final Species Protection Plan Take notice that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) will convene a forum on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, from approximately 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time. The forum will be held in Portland, Maine and will be open to the public. The purpose of this forum is to continue discussions from the On January 31, 2020, Brookfield White Pine Hydro, LLC filed an application for a new license to continue to operate and maintain the 8.65-megawatt (MW) Shawmut Hydroelectric Project No. 2322 (Shawmut Project). On June 1, 2021, in a separate compliance proceeding for the Shawmut Project, Brookfield White Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. AD22–9–000] lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 September 8, 2022 forum regarding the electricity and natural gas challenges facing the New England Region. The objective of the forum is to shift from defining electric and natural gas system challenges in the New England Region to discussing potential solutions, including both infrastructure and market-based solutions. Registration for in-person attendance will be required and there is no fee for attendance. The forum will also be available on webcast. A supplemental notice will be issued with further details regarding the forum agenda, as well as any updates on timing and logistics, including registration for members of the public and the nomination process for panelists. Information will also be posted on the Calendar of Events on the Commission’s website, www.ferc.gov, prior to the event. The forum will be transcribed. Commission conferences are accessible under section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. For accessibility accommodations, please send an email to accessibility@ferc.gov, call toll-free (866) 208–3372 (voice) or (202) 208–8659 (TTY), or send a fax to (202) 208–2106 with the required accommodations. For more information about this forum, please contact NewEnglandForum@ferc.gov for technical or logistical questions. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:12 Feb 22, 2023 Jkt 259001 PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Pine Hydro, LLC filed an Interim Species Protection Plan (Interim Plan) for Atlantic salmon and requested Commission approval to amend the current Shawmut license to incorporate the Interim Plan. The Interim Plan includes measures to protect endangered Atlantic salmon until the Commission issues a decision on the relicense application for the Shawmut Project. Also on June 1, 2021, Brookfield Power US Asset Management, LLC (Brookfield), on behalf of the affiliated licensees for the 6.915–MW Lockwood Hydroelectric Project No. 2574, 15.433– MW Hydro-Kennebec Hydroelectric Project No. 2611, and 15.98–MW Weston Hydroelectric Project No. 2325, filed a Final Species Protection Plan (Final Plan) for Atlantic salmon, Atlantic sturgeon, and shortnose sturgeon and requested Commission approval to amend the three project licenses to incorporate the Final Plan. All four projects are located on the Kennebec River, in Kennebec and Somerset Counties, Maine. On November 23, 2021, Commission staff issued a notice of intent to prepare a draft and final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the effects of relicensing the Shawmut Project and amending the licenses of all four projects to incorporate the measures in the Interim and Final Plans. The notice of intent included a schedule for preparing a draft and final EIS. On September 21, 2022, Brookfield filed supplemental information for the Final Plan, Interim Plan, and License Application. The filing includes a delayed mortality analysis for salmon smolts and additional measures that are intended to improve the downstream survival of juvenile and adult Atlantic salmon at the four projects. On October 5, 2022, Commission staff noticed the filing and solicited comments. Numerous comments were filed by stakeholders. The EIS will consider Brookfield’s additional measures and the comments filed in response to the notice. Therefore, by this notice, Commission staff is updating the procedural schedule for completing a draft and final EIS. The revised schedule is shown below. Further revisions to the schedule may be made as appropriate. Milestone Issue Draft EIS .................. Issue Final EIS .................. Target date August 2023. March 2024. Any questions regarding this notice may be directed to Matt Cutlip at (503) E:\FR\FM\23FEN1.SGM 23FEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 36 / Thursday, February 23, 2023 / Notices 552–2762, or by email at matt.cutlip@ ferc.gov. Dated: February 15, 2023. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2023–03687 Filed 2–22–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. CP23–56–000] lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 Eastern Gas Transmission and Storage, Inc.; Notice of Request Under Blanket Authorization and Establishing Intervention and Protest Deadline Take notice that February 8, 2023, Eastern Gas Transmission and Storage, Inc. (EGTS) filed a prior notice request for authorization, in accordance with section 7 of the Natural Gas Act, and Part 157 Sections 157.205(b) and 157.216(b) of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (Commission) regulations under the Natural Gas Act and EGTS’s blanket certificate issued in Docket No. CP82–537–000 to abandon one transmission compressor station (CS); known as Helvetia CS, along with associated pipeline LN–1423/1 in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, all as more fully set forth in the application which is on file with the Commission and open for public inspection. In addition to publishing the full text of this document in the Federal Register, the Commission provides all interested persons an opportunity to view and/or print the contents of this document via the internet through the Commission’s Home Page (https:// ferc.gov) using the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link. Enter the docket number excluding the last three digits in the docket number field to access the document. At this time, the Commission has suspended access to the Commission’s Public Reference Room, due to the proclamation declaring a National Emergency concerning the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID–19), issued by the President on March 13, 2020. For assistance, contact the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or call toll-free, (886) 208–3676 or TYY, (202) 502–8659. Any questions concerning this application should be directed to James Scribner, Regulatory and Certificates Analyst, 6603 West Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23230 at 804–397–5113; or email at James.Scribner@bhegts.com VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:12 Feb 22, 2023 Jkt 259001 Pursuant to Section 157.9 of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure,1 within 90 days of this Notice the Commission staff will either: complete its environmental review and place it into the Commission’s public record (eLibrary) for this proceeding; or issue a Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review. If a Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review is issued, it will indicate, among other milestones, the anticipated date for the Commission staff’s issuance of the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) or environmental assessment (EA) for this proposal. The filing of an EA in the Commission’s public record for this proceeding or the issuance of a Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review will serve to notify federal and state agencies of the timing for the completion of all necessary reviews, and the subsequent need to complete all federal authorizations within 90 days of the date of issuance of the Commission staff’s FEIS or EA. Public Participation There are three ways to become involved in the Commission’s review of this project: you can file a protest to the project, you can file a motion to intervene in the proceeding, and you can file comments on the project. There is no fee or cost for filing protests, motions to intervene, or comments. The deadline for filing protests, motions to intervene, and comments is 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on April 17, 2023. How to file protests, motions to intervene, and comments is explained below. Protests Pursuant to section 157.205 of the Commission’s regulations under the NGA,2 any person 3 or the Commission’s staff may file a protest to the request. If no protest is filed within the time allowed or if a protest is filed and then withdrawn within 30 days after the allowed time for filing a protest, the proposed activity shall be deemed to be authorized effective the day after the time allowed for protest. If a protest is filed and not withdrawn within 30 days after the time allowed for filing a protest, the instant request for authorization will be considered by the Commission. Protests must comply with the requirements specified in section 157.205(e) of the Commission’s regulations,4 and must be submitted by 1 18 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) 157.9. CFR 157.205. 3 Persons include individuals, organizations, businesses, municipalities, and other entities. 18 CFR 385.102(d). 4 18 CFR 157.205(e). 2 18 PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 11431 the protest deadline, which is April 17, 2023. A protest may also serve as a motion to intervene so long as the protestor states it also seeks to be an intervenor. Interventions Any person has the option to file a motion to intervene in this proceeding. Only intervenors have the right to request rehearing of Commission orders issued in this proceeding and to subsequently challenge the Commission’s orders in the U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeal. To intervene, you must submit a motion to intervene to the Commission in accordance with Rule 214 of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure 5 and the regulations under the NGA 6 by the intervention deadline for the project, which is April 17, 2023. As described further in Rule 214, your motion to intervene must state, to the extent known, your position regarding the proceeding, as well as your interest in the proceeding. For an individual, this could include your status as a landowner, ratepayer, resident of an impacted community, or recreationist. You do not need to have property directly impacted by the project in order to intervene. For more information about motions to intervene, refer to the FERC website at https://www.ferc.gov/ how-guides. All timely, unopposed motions to intervene are automatically granted by operation of Rule 214(c)(1). Motions to intervene that are filed after the intervention deadline are untimely and may be denied. Any late-filed motion to intervene must show good cause for being late and must explain why the time limitation should be waived and provide justification by reference to factors set forth in Rule 214(d) of the Commission’s Rules and Regulations. A person obtaining party status will be placed on the service list maintained by the Secretary of the Commission and will receive copies (paper or electronic) of all documents filed by the applicant and by all other parties. Comments Any person wishing to comment on the project may do so. The Commission considers all comments received about the project in determining the appropriate action to be taken. To ensure that your comments are timely and properly recorded, please submit your comments on or before April 17, 2023. The filing of a comment alone will not serve to make the filer a party to the 5 18 6 18 E:\FR\FM\23FEN1.SGM CFR 385.214. CFR 157.10. 23FEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 36 (Thursday, February 23, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11430-11431]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-03687]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project Nos. 2322-069, 2322-071, 2325-100, 2574-092, 2611-091]


Brookfield White Pine Hydro, LLC, Merimil Limited Partnership, 
Hydro-Kennebec, LLC; Revised Procedural Schedule for Environmental 
Impact Statement for the Proposed Project Relicense, Interim Species 
Protection Plan, and Final Species Protection Plan

    On January 31, 2020, Brookfield White Pine Hydro, LLC filed an 
application for a new license to continue to operate and maintain the 
8.65-megawatt (MW) Shawmut Hydroelectric Project No. 2322 (Shawmut 
Project). On June 1, 2021, in a separate compliance proceeding for the 
Shawmut Project, Brookfield White Pine Hydro, LLC filed an Interim 
Species Protection Plan (Interim Plan) for Atlantic salmon and 
requested Commission approval to amend the current Shawmut license to 
incorporate the Interim Plan. The Interim Plan includes measures to 
protect endangered Atlantic salmon until the Commission issues a 
decision on the relicense application for the Shawmut Project.
    Also on June 1, 2021, Brookfield Power US Asset Management, LLC 
(Brookfield), on behalf of the affiliated licensees for the 6.915-MW 
Lockwood Hydroelectric Project No. 2574, 15.433-MW Hydro-Kennebec 
Hydroelectric Project No. 2611, and 15.98-MW Weston Hydroelectric 
Project No. 2325, filed a Final Species Protection Plan (Final Plan) 
for Atlantic salmon, Atlantic sturgeon, and shortnose sturgeon and 
requested Commission approval to amend the three project licenses to 
incorporate the Final Plan. All four projects are located on the 
Kennebec River, in Kennebec and Somerset Counties, Maine.
    On November 23, 2021, Commission staff issued a notice of intent to 
prepare a draft and final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to 
evaluate the effects of relicensing the Shawmut Project and amending 
the licenses of all four projects to incorporate the measures in the 
Interim and Final Plans. The notice of intent included a schedule for 
preparing a draft and final EIS.
    On September 21, 2022, Brookfield filed supplemental information 
for the Final Plan, Interim Plan, and License Application. The filing 
includes a delayed mortality analysis for salmon smolts and additional 
measures that are intended to improve the downstream survival of 
juvenile and adult Atlantic salmon at the four projects. On October 5, 
2022, Commission staff noticed the filing and solicited comments. 
Numerous comments were filed by stakeholders. The EIS will consider 
Brookfield's additional measures and the comments filed in response to 
the notice.
    Therefore, by this notice, Commission staff is updating the 
procedural schedule for completing a draft and final EIS. The revised 
schedule is shown below. Further revisions to the schedule may be made 
as appropriate.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Milestone                           Target date
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Issue Draft EIS........................   August 2023.
Issue Final EIS........................  March 2024.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Any questions regarding this notice may be directed to Matt Cutlip 
at (503)

[[Page 11431]]

552-2762, or by email at [email protected].

    Dated: February 15, 2023.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-03687 Filed 2-22-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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