Appalachian Power Company; Notice of Application Accepted for Filing, Soliciting Motions To Intervene and Protests, Ready for Environmental Analysis, and Soliciting Comments, Recommendations, Preliminary Terms and Conditions, and Preliminary Fishway Prescriptions, 72056-72057 [2023-23100]
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72056
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 201 / Thursday, October 19, 2023 / Notices
Issue Scoping Document 2 .................................................................................................................................................
Issue Notice of Ready for Environmental Analysis ............................................................................................................
Dated: October 13, 2023.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023–23105 Filed 10–18–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Project No. 2514–029]
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
Appalachian Power Company; Notice
of Application Accepted for Filing,
Soliciting Motions To Intervene and
Protests, Ready for Environmental
Analysis, and Soliciting Comments,
Recommendations, Preliminary Terms
and Conditions, and Preliminary
Fishway Prescriptions
Take notice that the following
hydroelectric application has been filed
with the Commission and is available
for public inspection.
a. Type of Application: New Major
License.
b. Project No.: 2514–029.
c. Date filed: February 28, 2022.
Supplemented on February 28, 2023.
d. Applicant: Appalachian Power
Company (Appalachian).
e. Name of Project: Byllesby-Buck
Hydroelectric Project (Byllesby-Buck
Project or project).
f. Location: On the New River in
Carroll County, Virginia.
g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power
Act 16 U.S.C. 791(a)–825(r).
h. Applicant Contact: Ms. Elizabeth
Parcell, Process Supervisor, American
Electric Power Service Corporation, 40
Franklin Road SW, Roanoke, Virginia
24011, (540) 985–2441, ebparcell@
aep.com.
i. FERC Contact: Jody Callihan at
(202) 502–8278 or email at
jody.callihan@ferc.gov.
j. Deadline for filing motions to
intervene and protests, comments,
recommendations, preliminary terms
and conditions, and preliminary
prescriptions: 60 days from the issuance
date of this notice; reply comments are
due 105 days from the issuance date of
this notice.
The Commission strongly encourages
electronic filing. Please file motions to
intervene, protests, comments,
recommendations, preliminary terms
and conditions, and preliminary
fishway prescriptions using the
Commission’s eFiling system at https://
www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:48 Oct 18, 2023
Jkt 262001
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, 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,
Washington, DC 20426. Submissions
sent via any other carrier must be
addressed to: Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue,
Rockville, Maryland 20852. All filings
must clearly identify the project name
and docket number on the first page:
Byllesby-Buck Hydroelectric Project (P–
2514–029).
The Commission’s Rules of Practice
require all intervenors 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 intervenor 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. This application has been accepted
for filing and is now ready for
environmental analysis.
The Council on Environmental
Quality (CEQ) issued a final rule on
April 20, 2022, revising the regulations
under 40 CFR parts 1502, 1507, and
1508 that federal agencies use to
implement the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) (see National
Environmental Policy Act Implementing
Regulations Revisions, 87 FR 23453–70).
The final rule became effective on May
20, 2022. Commission staff intends to
conduct its NEPA review in accordance
with CEQ’s new regulations.
l. The Byllesby-Buck Project consists
of two developments (Byllesby and
Buck) that have a combined total
installed capacity of 26.1 megawatts
(MW). The Byllesby Development is
located 3 river miles upstream of the
Buck Development. The project had an
average annual generation of 92,820
megawatt-hours (MWh) between 2016
and 2020.
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
August 2024.
August 2024.
The Byllesby Development consists
of: (1) a 64-foot-high, 528-foot-long
concrete dam, sluice gate, and main
spillway section topped with four
sections of 9-foot-high flashboards, five
sections of 9-foot-high inflatable
Obermeyer crest gates, and six bays of
10-foot-high Tainter gates; (2) an
auxiliary spillway including six sections
of 9-foot-high flashboards; (3) a 239-acre
impoundment with a gross storage
capacity of 2,000 acre-feet; (4) a
powerhouse containing four turbinegenerator units with a total installed
capacity of 18.0 megawatts (MW); (5) a
control house and switchyard; and (6)
appurtenant facilities.
The Buck Development consists of: (1)
a 42-foot-high, 353-foot-long concrete
dam and sluice gate; (2) a 1,005-footlong, 19-foot-high spillway section
topped with twenty sections of 9-foothigh flashboards, four sections of 9-foothigh inflatable crest gates, and six bays
of 10-foot-high Tainter gates; (3) a 66acre impoundment with a gross storage
capacity of 661 acre-feet; (4) a
powerhouse containing three turbinegenerator units with a total installed
capacity of 8.1 MW; (5) two 2-mile-long
overhead 13.2-kilovolt transmission
lines extending from the Buck
powerhouse to the Byllesby control
house; and (6) appurtenant facilities.
The Byllesby-Buck Project is currently
operated in a run-of-river (ROR) mode,
with the Byllesby impoundment
maintained between elevations of
2,078.2 feet and 2,079.2 feet National
Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD
29) and the Buck impoundment
maintained between elevations of
2,002.4 feet and 2,003.4 feet NGVD 29.
A minimum flow of 360 cubic feet per
second (cfs), or project inflow if less, is
provided downstream of each
powerhouse. There is a bypassed reach
at each development (590 feet long at
Byllesby and 4,100 feet long at Buck),
but there is currently no dedicated
minimum flow for either of the
bypassed reaches, which receive leakage
flow of approximately 11 cfs (Byllesby)
and 17 cfs (Buck). Article 406 of the
current license specifies the downramping rates and procedures currently
required at the Buck Development to
minimize stranding of adult walleye (in
the bypassed reach) following large spill
events that occur during the spawning
season (late winter through spring).
Appalachian proposes to continue
operating the project in a ROR mode
and providing a 360-cfs minimum flow
E:\FR\FM\19OCN1.SGM
19OCN1
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 201 / Thursday, October 19, 2023 / Notices
downstream of each powerhouse
(Byllesby and Buck). In addition,
Appalachian proposes to release a
continuous, year-round minimum flow
of 35 cfs into the Byllesby bypassed
reach. At the Buck Development,
Applachian proposes to modify the
existing down-ramping procedures and
provide a seasonal minimum flow of
100 cfs in the bypassed reach (from
February 15 through May 15 of each
year) to increase habitat connectivity
and water depths in the reach to provide
adult walleye with additional escape
routes during the spawning season. In
addition to these measures,
Appalachian proposes environmental
measures for the protection and
enhancement of other aquatic resources
as well as terrestrial, recreation, and
cultural resources.
Appalachian also proposes to upgrade
three (of the four) turbine-generator
units at the Byllesby Development and
two (of the three) turbine-generator
units at the Buck Development. The
proposed upgrades are expected to
increase the total installed capacity from
26.1 MW to 29.8 MW and the project’s
average annual generation by 25,927
MWh. In addition, Appalachian
proposes to replace three flashboard
sections at the Byllesby Development
and six flashboard sections at the Buck
Development with inflatable
(Obermeyer) crest gates. Lastly,
Appalachian proposes to add to the
current project boundary: (1) the
Byllesby control house and switchyard
and (2) two 2-mile-long, overhead 13.2kilovolt transmission lines that extend
from the Buck powerhouse to the
Byllesby control house.
m. This filing 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. 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, call 1–866–208–3676 or
email FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, for
TTY, call (202) 502–8659. Agencies may
obtain copies of the application directly
from the applicant.
n. Anyone may submit comments, a
protest, or a motion to intervene in
accordance with the requirements of
Rules of Practice and Procedure, 18 CFR
385.210, .211, and .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, protests, or
motions to intervene must be received
on or before the specified comment date
for the particular application.
All filings must (1) bear in all capital
letters the title ‘‘PROTEST,’’ ‘‘MOTION
TO INTERVENE,’’ ‘‘COMMENTS,’’
‘‘REPLY COMMENTS,’’
‘‘RECOMMENDATIONS,’’
‘‘PRELIMINARY TERMS AND
CONDITIONS,’’ or ‘‘PRELIMINARY
FISHWAY PRESCRIPTIONS;’’ (2) set
forth in the heading the name of the
applicant and the project number of the
application to which the filing
responds; (3) furnish the name, address,
and telephone number of the person
protesting or intervening; and (4)
otherwise comply with the requirements
of 18 CFR 385.2001 through 385.2005.
All comments, recommendations, terms
and conditions or prescriptions must set
forth their evidentiary basis and
otherwise comply with the requirements
of 18 CFR 4.34(b). Agencies may obtain
copies of the application directly from
the applicant. A copy of any protest or
motion to intervene must be served
upon each representative of the
applicant specified in the particular
application. 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
4.34(b) and 385.2010.
o. Procedural Schedule:
The application will be processed
according to the following schedule.
Revisions to the schedule may be made
as appropriate.
Milestone
Target date
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
Filing of Comments, Recommendations, Preliminary Terms and Conditions, and Preliminary Fishway Prescriptions ...
Filing of Reply Comments .................................................................................................................................................
p. Final amendments to the
application must be filed with the
Commission no later than 30 days from
the issuance date of this notice.
q. The Commission’s Office of Public
Participation (OPP) supports meaningful
public engagement and participation in
Commission proceedings. OPP can help
members of the public, including
landowners, environmental justice
communities, Tribal members and
others, access publicly available
information and navigate Commission
processes. For public inquiries and
assistance with making filings such as
interventions, comments, or requests for
rehearing, the public is encouraged to
contact OPP at (202) 502–6595 or OPP@
ferc.gov.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:48 Oct 18, 2023
Jkt 262001
Dated: October 13, 2023.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023–23100 Filed 10–18–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. CP23–519–000]
Rio Bravo Pipeline Company, LLC;
Notice of Schedule for the Preparation
of an Environmental Assessment for
the Rio Bravo Pipeline Route
Amendment
On July 20, 2023, Rio Bravo Pipeline
Company, LLC (Rio Bravo) filed an
application in Docket No. CP23–519–
000 requesting a Certificate of Public
Convenience and Necessity pursuant to
PO 00000
Frm 00017
72057
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
December 12, 2023.
January 26, 2024.
Section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act to
construct and operate certain natural gas
pipeline facilities. The proposed project
is known as the Rio Bravo Pipeline
Route Amendment (Amendment), and
would involve four minor route
adjustments to the previously
authorized route for the Rio Bravo
Pipeline, as well as incorporate several
minor design changes.
On August 1, 2023, the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission
(Commission or FERC) issued its Notice
of Application for the Amendment.
Among other things, that notice alerted
agencies issuing federal authorizations
of the requirement to complete all
necessary reviews and to reach a final
decision on a request for a federal
authorization within 90 days of the date
of issuance of the Commission staff’s
environmental document for the
Amendment.
E:\FR\FM\19OCN1.SGM
19OCN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 201 (Thursday, October 19, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72056-72057]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-23100]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 2514-029]
Appalachian Power Company; Notice of Application Accepted for
Filing, Soliciting Motions To Intervene and Protests, Ready for
Environmental Analysis, and Soliciting Comments, Recommendations,
Preliminary Terms and Conditions, and Preliminary Fishway Prescriptions
Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been
filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection.
a. Type of Application: New Major License.
b. Project No.: 2514-029.
c. Date filed: February 28, 2022. Supplemented on February 28,
2023.
d. Applicant: Appalachian Power Company (Appalachian).
e. Name of Project: Byllesby-Buck Hydroelectric Project (Byllesby-
Buck Project or project).
f. Location: On the New River in Carroll County, Virginia.
g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act 16 U.S.C. 791(a)-825(r).
h. Applicant Contact: Ms. Elizabeth Parcell, Process Supervisor,
American Electric Power Service Corporation, 40 Franklin Road SW,
Roanoke, Virginia 24011, (540) 985-2441, [email protected].
i. FERC Contact: Jody Callihan at (202) 502-8278 or email at
[email protected].
j. Deadline for filing motions to intervene and protests, comments,
recommendations, preliminary terms and conditions, and preliminary
prescriptions: 60 days from the issuance date of this notice; reply
comments are due 105 days from the issuance date of this notice.
The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file
motions to intervene, protests, comments, recommendations, preliminary
terms and conditions, and preliminary fishway prescriptions 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, 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, Washington, DC 20426. Submissions sent via any other
carrier must be addressed to: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland
20852. All filings must clearly identify the project name and docket
number on the first page: Byllesby-Buck Hydroelectric Project (P-2514-
029).
The Commission's Rules of Practice require all intervenors 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
intervenor 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. This application has been accepted for filing and is now ready
for environmental analysis.
The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) issued a final rule on
April 20, 2022, revising the regulations under 40 CFR parts 1502, 1507,
and 1508 that federal agencies use to implement the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (see National Environmental Policy Act
Implementing Regulations Revisions, 87 FR 23453-70). The final rule
became effective on May 20, 2022. Commission staff intends to conduct
its NEPA review in accordance with CEQ's new regulations.
l. The Byllesby-Buck Project consists of two developments (Byllesby
and Buck) that have a combined total installed capacity of 26.1
megawatts (MW). The Byllesby Development is located 3 river miles
upstream of the Buck Development. The project had an average annual
generation of 92,820 megawatt-hours (MWh) between 2016 and 2020.
The Byllesby Development consists of: (1) a 64-foot-high, 528-foot-
long concrete dam, sluice gate, and main spillway section topped with
four sections of 9-foot-high flashboards, five sections of 9-foot-high
inflatable Obermeyer crest gates, and six bays of 10-foot-high Tainter
gates; (2) an auxiliary spillway including six sections of 9-foot-high
flashboards; (3) a 239-acre impoundment with a gross storage capacity
of 2,000 acre-feet; (4) a powerhouse containing four turbine-generator
units with a total installed capacity of 18.0 megawatts (MW); (5) a
control house and switchyard; and (6) appurtenant facilities.
The Buck Development consists of: (1) a 42-foot-high, 353-foot-long
concrete dam and sluice gate; (2) a 1,005-foot-long, 19-foot-high
spillway section topped with twenty sections of 9-foot-high
flashboards, four sections of 9-foot-high inflatable crest gates, and
six bays of 10-foot-high Tainter gates; (3) a 66-acre impoundment with
a gross storage capacity of 661 acre-feet; (4) a powerhouse containing
three turbine-generator units with a total installed capacity of 8.1
MW; (5) two 2-mile-long overhead 13.2-kilovolt transmission lines
extending from the Buck powerhouse to the Byllesby control house; and
(6) appurtenant facilities.
The Byllesby-Buck Project is currently operated in a run-of-river
(ROR) mode, with the Byllesby impoundment maintained between elevations
of 2,078.2 feet and 2,079.2 feet National Geodetic Vertical Datum of
1929 (NGVD 29) and the Buck impoundment maintained between elevations
of 2,002.4 feet and 2,003.4 feet NGVD 29. A minimum flow of 360 cubic
feet per second (cfs), or project inflow if less, is provided
downstream of each powerhouse. There is a bypassed reach at each
development (590 feet long at Byllesby and 4,100 feet long at Buck),
but there is currently no dedicated minimum flow for either of the
bypassed reaches, which receive leakage flow of approximately 11 cfs
(Byllesby) and 17 cfs (Buck). Article 406 of the current license
specifies the down-ramping rates and procedures currently required at
the Buck Development to minimize stranding of adult walleye (in the
bypassed reach) following large spill events that occur during the
spawning season (late winter through spring).
Appalachian proposes to continue operating the project in a ROR
mode and providing a 360-cfs minimum flow
[[Page 72057]]
downstream of each powerhouse (Byllesby and Buck). In addition,
Appalachian proposes to release a continuous, year-round minimum flow
of 35 cfs into the Byllesby bypassed reach. At the Buck Development,
Applachian proposes to modify the existing down-ramping procedures and
provide a seasonal minimum flow of 100 cfs in the bypassed reach (from
February 15 through May 15 of each year) to increase habitat
connectivity and water depths in the reach to provide adult walleye
with additional escape routes during the spawning season. In addition
to these measures, Appalachian proposes environmental measures for the
protection and enhancement of other aquatic resources as well as
terrestrial, recreation, and cultural resources.
Appalachian also proposes to upgrade three (of the four) turbine-
generator units at the Byllesby Development and two (of the three)
turbine-generator units at the Buck Development. The proposed upgrades
are expected to increase the total installed capacity from 26.1 MW to
29.8 MW and the project's average annual generation by 25,927 MWh. In
addition, Appalachian proposes to replace three flashboard sections at
the Byllesby Development and six flashboard sections at the Buck
Development with inflatable (Obermeyer) crest gates. Lastly,
Appalachian proposes to add to the current project boundary: (1) the
Byllesby control house and switchyard and (2) two 2-mile-long, overhead
13.2-kilovolt transmission lines that extend from the Buck powerhouse
to the Byllesby control house.
m. This filing 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. 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,
call 1-866-208-3676 or email [email protected], for TTY, call
(202) 502-8659. Agencies may obtain copies of the application directly
from the applicant.
n. Anyone may submit comments, a protest, or a motion to intervene
in accordance with the requirements of Rules of Practice and Procedure,
18 CFR 385.210, .211, and .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, protests, or motions to intervene must be received on or
before the specified comment date for the particular application.
All filings must (1) bear in all capital letters the title
``PROTEST,'' ``MOTION TO INTERVENE,'' ``COMMENTS,'' ``REPLY COMMENTS,''
``RECOMMENDATIONS,'' ``PRELIMINARY TERMS AND CONDITIONS,'' or
``PRELIMINARY FISHWAY PRESCRIPTIONS;'' (2) set forth in the heading the
name of the applicant and the project number of the application to
which the filing responds; (3) furnish the name, address, and telephone
number of the person protesting or intervening; and (4) otherwise
comply with the requirements of 18 CFR 385.2001 through 385.2005. All
comments, recommendations, terms and conditions or prescriptions must
set forth their evidentiary basis and otherwise comply with the
requirements of 18 CFR 4.34(b). Agencies may obtain copies of the
application directly from the applicant. A copy of any protest or
motion to intervene must be served upon each representative of the
applicant specified in the particular application. 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 4.34(b) and
385.2010.
o. Procedural Schedule:
The application will be processed according to the following
schedule. Revisions to the schedule may be made as appropriate.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Milestone Target date
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Filing of Comments, Recommendations, Preliminary December 12, 2023.
Terms and Conditions, and Preliminary Fishway
Prescriptions.
Filing of Reply Comments........................ January 26, 2024.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
p. Final amendments to the application must be filed with the
Commission no later than 30 days from the issuance date of this notice.
q. The Commission's Office of Public Participation (OPP) supports
meaningful public engagement and participation in Commission
proceedings. OPP can help members of the public, including landowners,
environmental justice communities, Tribal members and others, access
publicly available information and navigate Commission processes. For
public inquiries and assistance with making filings such as
interventions, comments, or requests for rehearing, the public is
encouraged to contact OPP at (202) 502-6595 or [email protected].
Dated: October 13, 2023.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-23100 Filed 10-18-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
