Empire District Electric 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, 80291-80293 [2023-25397]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
80291
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 221 / Friday, November 17, 2023 / Notices
Signed in Washington, DC, on November
14, 2023.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S.
Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2023–25433 Filed 11–16–23; 8:45 am]
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Project No. 4639–033]
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Ampersand Christine Falls Hydro, LLC;
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Assessment
On September 29, 2021, Ampersand
Christine Falls Hydro, LLC filed an
application for a subsequent minor
license for the 850-kilowatt Christine
Falls Hydroelectric Project (Christine
Falls Project or project; FERC No. 4639).
The Christine Falls Project is located on
the Sacandaga River near the Village of
Speculator, Hamilton County, New
York.
In accordance with the Commission’s
regulations, on August 16, 2023,
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 Christine Falls
Project.
The EA will be issued and circulated
for review by all interested parties. All
comments filed on the EA will be
analyzed by staff and considered in the
Commission’s final licensing decision.
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.
The application will be processed
according to the following schedule.
Revisions to the schedule may be made
as appropriate.
21:24 Nov 16, 2023
Jkt 262001
Commission issues
EA.
Comments on EA ......
Target date
July 2024 1
August 2024
1 The Council on Environmental Quality’s
(CEQ)
regulations
under
40
CFR
1501.10(b)(1) (2022) require that EAs be completed within 1 year of the federal action agency’s decision to prepare an EA. See National
Environmental Policy Act, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq., as amended by section 107(g)(1)(B)(iii)
of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, Public
Law 118–5, 4336a, 137 Stat. 42.
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
VerDate Sep<11>2014
Milestone
Any questions regarding this notice
may be directed to Andy Bernick at
(202) 502–8660 or andrew.bernick@
ferc.gov.
Dated: November 9, 2023.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023–25396 Filed 11–16–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
Northern States Power CompanyWisconsin; Notice of Intent To Prepare
an Environmental Assessment
On November 30, 2021, Northern
States Power Company-Wisconsin filed
an application for a new major license
to continue operating the existing,
licensed, 30.75-megawatt Cornell
Hydroelectric Project No. 2639 (Cornell
Project). The project is located on the
Lower Chippewa River, in the township
of Cornell, in Chippewa County,
Wisconsin. The project does not occupy
Federal land.
In accordance with the Commission’s
regulations, on July 14, 2023,
Commission staff issued a notice that
the project was ready for environmental
analysis (REA notice). Based on the
information in the record 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 Cornell Project.
The EA will be issued and circulated
for review by all interested parties. All
comments filed on the EA will be
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.
Sfmt 4703
May 2024.
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 Cornell Project. Therefore, in accordance with CEQ’s regulations, the EA must
be issued within 1 year of the issuance date of
this notice.
Any questions regarding this notice
may be directed to Michael Davis at
Michael.davis@ferc.gov or call at 202–
502–8339.
Dated: November 9, 2023.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Project No. 2639–028]
Fmt 4703
April 2024 1
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
Frm 00023
Commission
issues EA.
Comments on EA
Target date
[FR Doc. 2023–25398 Filed 11–16–23; 8:45 am]
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
PO 00000
Milestone
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Project No. 2221–041]
Empire District Electric 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.: 2221–041.
c. Date filed: February 28, 2020 and
amended on August 28, 2020.
d. Applicant: Empire District Electric
Company (Empire District).
e. Name of Project: Ozark Beach
Hydroelectric Project (Ozark Beach
Project).
f. Location: On the White River near
the Town of Forsyth, in Taney County,
Missouri. The project occupies 5.1 acres
of United States lands administered by
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(Corps).
g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power
Act 16 U.S.C. 791(a)–825(r).
h. Applicant Contact: Randy
Richardson, Plant Manager, Empire
District Electric Company, 2537 Fir
Road, Sarcoxie, MO 64862, (417) 625–
E:\FR\FM\17NON1.SGM
17NON1
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
80292
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 221 / Friday, November 17, 2023 / Notices
6138 or RRichardson@
empiredistrict.com.
i. FERC Contact: Colleen Corballis at
colleen.corballis@ferc.gov or (202) 502–
8598.
j. Deadline for filing comments,
recommendations, terms and
conditions, and 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://
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 request.
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 Wilkins Avenue,
Rockville, Maryland 20852. All filings
must clearly identify the project name
and docket number on the first page:
Ozark Beach Hydroelectric Project (P–
2221–041).
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
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:57 Nov 16, 2023
Jkt 262001
Regulations Revisions, 87 FR 23,453–
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.
The Ozark Beach Project consists of
the following existing facilities: (1) a
2,312-acre reservoir (Lake Taneycomo)
with a gross storage capacity of 24,640
acre-feet and a usable storage capacity of
2,840 acre-feet at a water surface
elevation of 701.35 feet National
Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929
(NGVD29); (2) a 1,301-foot-long dam
consisting of, from west to east: (a) a
420-foot-long earth fill embankment
with a concrete core wall, (b) an 18-footlong concrete overflow spillway topped
with a sharp-crested steel weir having a
compound section, (c) a 575-foot-long,
57-foot-high, concrete overflow spillway
topped with 32 4-foot-high Obermeyer
gates, (d) an 18-foot-long concrete nonoverflow section, (e) an integral 220foot-long reinforced concrete
powerhouse, and (f) a 50-foot-long
concrete non-overflow section; (3) a
220-foot-long, 88-foot-wide, 92-foot-high
reinforced concrete integral powerhouse
with an operating head of 48 feet; (4)
trash racks at the entrance to the
intakes; (5) two 7,500 horsepower (5.625
megawatt (MW)) and two 7,200
horsepower (5.400 MW) vertical-shaft
Francis-type turbines with a total
capacity of 29,400 horsepower (22.050
MW), each coupled to a 4.0 MW
generator with a total nameplate rating
of 16.0 MW; (6) a 445-foot-long, 4,600volt overhead transmission line
connected to a three-phase, 4,600 to
161,000 volt step-up transformer with a
rating of 22,400-kilovolt ampere that
connects to Empire District’s 161,000volt transmission system; and (7)
appurtenant facilities.
The Ozark Beach Project is situated
between two multipurpose projects
owned by the Corps. The Corps’ Table
Rock Project, which is located
approximately 22 miles upstream of the
Ozark Beach Project, is operated in a
peaking mode based on regional
electrical demand requirements. The
Ozark Beach Project discharges directly
into the Corps’ Bull Shoals Project
reservoir, which is located immediately
downstream. Using the storage in Lake
Taneycomo, the Ozark Beach Project is
currently operated based on various
conditions including closely matching
the releases of the Corps’ upstream
Table Rock Project, market pricing, Lake
Taneycomo water level, the water level
of the Corps’ downstream Bull Shoals
Project, and rainfall. The project
currently operates to maintain water
surface elevations between 701.35 and
700.00 feet NGVD29 in Lake
PO 00000
Frm 00024
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Taneycomo. The Ozark Beach Project
currently has an estimated annual
energy production of about 50,768
megawatt-hours (MWh).
In its amended application, Empire
District proposes to replace the existing
4-foot-high Obermeyer gates with new
5.15-foot-high Obermeyer gates. As
proposed, the water surface elevation of
Lake Taneycomo would be raised from
701.35 to 702.5 feet NGVD29 when the
5.15-foot gates are fully raised. At a
water surface elevation of 702.5 feet
NGVD29, Lake Taneycomo would
increase from 2,312 to 2,398 acres, its
gross storage capacity would increase
from 24,640 to 25,790 acre-feet, and its
usable storage capacity would increase
from 2,840 to 3,990 acre-feet. As
amended, the project would operate
between 702.5 and 700.0 feet NGVD29,
the total generating capacity would
remain 16.0 MW, and the estimated
annual energy production would
increase from 50,768 to 51,980 MWh.
The current project boundary for the
project encompasses approximately
8,271 acres of water and land. Empire
District proposes to modify the current
project boundary by removing 5,959
acres for a proposed project boundary
that encompasses 2,475 acres. Empire
District’s proposal would increase the
existing area of federal land occupied by
the project from 5.1 acres to 5.47 acres.
m. A copy of the application can 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. For assistance, contact FERC
at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or call
toll free, (886) 208–3676 or TTY (202)
502–8659.
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, contact FERC Online
Support.
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
E:\FR\FM\17NON1.SGM
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80293
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 221 / Friday, November 17, 2023 / Notices
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 will be made as
appropriate.
Milestone
Target date
Deadline for Filing Protest, Motion to Intervene, Comments, Recommendations, Preliminary Terms and Conditions, and Preliminary Fishway Prescriptions.
Deadline for Filing Reply Comments ..............................................................................................................................................
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
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 license applicant must file no
later than 60 days following the date of
issuance of this notice: (1) a copy of the
water quality certification; (2) a copy of
the request for certification, including
proof of the date on which the certifying
agency received the request; or (3)
evidence of waiver of water quality
certification. Please note that the
certification request must comply with
40 CFR 121.5(b), including
documentation that a pre-filing meeting
request was submitted to the certifying
authority at least 30 days prior to
submitting the certification request.
Please note that the certification request
must be sent to the certifying authority
and to the Commission concurrently.
r. 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.
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
Western Area Power Administration
[Project No. 7920–006]
Tridam Energy LLC, Madko Hydro LLC;
Notice of Transfer of Exemption
1. On October 13, 2023, Tridam
Energy LLC filed a notification of the
transfer for the 150-kilowatt Waterloom
Falls Hydroelectric Project No. 7920
from Tridam Energy LLC to Madko
Hydro LLC. The exemption from
licensing was originally issued on
March 11, 1985.1 The project is located
on the Merrimack River, Hillsboro
County, New Hampshire. The transfer of
an exemption does not require
Commission approval.
2. Madko Hydro LLC is now the
exemptee of the Waterloom Falls
Hydroelectric Project No. 7920. All
correspondence must be forwarded to
Jacob Komar, Madko Hydro LLC, 94
River Road, New Ipswich, NH 03071,
Phone: 860–214–3219, Email:
jacobkomar@me.com.
Dated: November 9, 2023.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023–25401 Filed 11–16–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
[FR Doc. 2023–25397 Filed 11–16–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
1 Alden T. Greenwood (Environmental
Assessment 1985). Subsequently, on June 6, 2014,
the project was transferred to Tridam Energy LLC.
18:57 Nov 16, 2023
Jkt 262001
February 2024
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Dated: November 9, 2023.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
January 2024
PO 00000
Frm 00025
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Extension of Public Comment Period
for Central Valley Project Power,
Transmission, and Ancillary Services;
and the California-Oregon
Transmission Project Transmission
Service—Rate Order No. WAPA–207
Western Area Power
Administration, DOE.
ACTION: Notice of extension of public
comment period for power,
transmission, and ancillary services
formula rates.
AGENCY:
The Sierra Nevada Region
(SN) of the Western Area Power
Administration (WAPA) is extending
the public comment period for 30 days
on its proposed formula rates for Central
Valley Project (CVP) power,
transmission, and ancillary services;
and California-Oregon Transmission
Project (COTP) transmission service
under Rate Order No. WAPA–207.
DATES: The consultation and comment
period for the proposed formula rates
under Rate Order No. WAPA–207 is
extended from November 28, 2023, to
December 28, 2023.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Autumn Wolfe, Rates Manager, Sierra
Nevada Region, Western Area Power
Administration, (916) 353–4686 or
email: SNR-RateCase@wapa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August
30, 2023, SN published a notice in the
Federal Register (88 FR 59909)
announcing proposed formula rates for
Central Valley Project power,
transmission, and ancillary services;
and California-Oregon Transmission
Project transmission service under Rate
Order No. WAPA–207. In that notice,
the consultation and comment period
was reported to close November 28,
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\17NON1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 221 (Friday, November 17, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80291-80293]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-25397]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 2221-041]
Empire District Electric 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.: 2221-041.
c. Date filed: February 28, 2020 and amended on August 28, 2020.
d. Applicant: Empire District Electric Company (Empire District).
e. Name of Project: Ozark Beach Hydroelectric Project (Ozark Beach
Project).
f. Location: On the White River near the Town of Forsyth, in Taney
County, Missouri. The project occupies 5.1 acres of United States lands
administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps).
g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act 16 U.S.C. 791(a)-825(r).
h. Applicant Contact: Randy Richardson, Plant Manager, Empire
District Electric Company, 2537 Fir Road, Sarcoxie, MO 64862, (417)
625-
[[Page 80292]]
6138 or [email protected].
i. FERC Contact: Colleen Corballis at [email protected] or
(202) 502-8598.
j. Deadline for filing comments, recommendations, terms and
conditions, and 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://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
[email protected], (866) 208-3676 (toll free), or (202) 502-
8659 (TTY). In lieu of electronic filing, you may submit a paper
request.
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 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville,
Maryland 20852. All filings must clearly identify the project name and
docket number on the first page: Ozark Beach Hydroelectric Project (P-
2221-041).
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 23,453-70). The final rule
became effective on May 20, 2022. Commission staff intends to conduct
its NEPA review in accordance with CEQ's new regulations.
The Ozark Beach Project consists of the following existing
facilities: (1) a 2,312-acre reservoir (Lake Taneycomo) with a gross
storage capacity of 24,640 acre-feet and a usable storage capacity of
2,840 acre-feet at a water surface elevation of 701.35 feet National
Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD29); (2) a 1,301-foot-long dam
consisting of, from west to east: (a) a 420-foot-long earth fill
embankment with a concrete core wall, (b) an 18-foot-long concrete
overflow spillway topped with a sharp-crested steel weir having a
compound section, (c) a 575-foot-long, 57-foot-high, concrete overflow
spillway topped with 32 4-foot-high Obermeyer gates, (d) an 18-foot-
long concrete non-overflow section, (e) an integral 220-foot-long
reinforced concrete powerhouse, and (f) a 50-foot-long concrete non-
overflow section; (3) a 220-foot-long, 88-foot-wide, 92-foot-high
reinforced concrete integral powerhouse with an operating head of 48
feet; (4) trash racks at the entrance to the intakes; (5) two 7,500
horsepower (5.625 megawatt (MW)) and two 7,200 horsepower (5.400 MW)
vertical-shaft Francis-type turbines with a total capacity of 29,400
horsepower (22.050 MW), each coupled to a 4.0 MW generator with a total
nameplate rating of 16.0 MW; (6) a 445-foot-long, 4,600-volt overhead
transmission line connected to a three-phase, 4,600 to 161,000 volt
step-up transformer with a rating of 22,400-kilovolt ampere that
connects to Empire District's 161,000-volt transmission system; and (7)
appurtenant facilities.
The Ozark Beach Project is situated between two multipurpose
projects owned by the Corps. The Corps' Table Rock Project, which is
located approximately 22 miles upstream of the Ozark Beach Project, is
operated in a peaking mode based on regional electrical demand
requirements. The Ozark Beach Project discharges directly into the
Corps' Bull Shoals Project reservoir, which is located immediately
downstream. Using the storage in Lake Taneycomo, the Ozark Beach
Project is currently operated based on various conditions including
closely matching the releases of the Corps' upstream Table Rock
Project, market pricing, Lake Taneycomo water level, the water level of
the Corps' downstream Bull Shoals Project, and rainfall. The project
currently operates to maintain water surface elevations between 701.35
and 700.00 feet NGVD29 in Lake Taneycomo. The Ozark Beach Project
currently has an estimated annual energy production of about 50,768
megawatt-hours (MWh).
In its amended application, Empire District proposes to replace the
existing 4-foot-high Obermeyer gates with new 5.15-foot-high Obermeyer
gates. As proposed, the water surface elevation of Lake Taneycomo would
be raised from 701.35 to 702.5 feet NGVD29 when the 5.15-foot gates are
fully raised. At a water surface elevation of 702.5 feet NGVD29, Lake
Taneycomo would increase from 2,312 to 2,398 acres, its gross storage
capacity would increase from 24,640 to 25,790 acre-feet, and its usable
storage capacity would increase from 2,840 to 3,990 acre-feet. As
amended, the project would operate between 702.5 and 700.0 feet NGVD29,
the total generating capacity would remain 16.0 MW, and the estimated
annual energy production would increase from 50,768 to 51,980 MWh.
The current project boundary for the project encompasses
approximately 8,271 acres of water and land. Empire District proposes
to modify the current project boundary by removing 5,959 acres for a
proposed project boundary that encompasses 2,475 acres. Empire
District's proposal would increase the existing area of federal land
occupied by the project from 5.1 acres to 5.47 acres.
m. A copy of the application can 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. For assistance, contact FERC at
[email protected] or call toll free, (886) 208-3676 or TTY
(202) 502-8659.
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, contact FERC
Online Support.
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
[[Page 80293]]
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 will be made as
appropriate.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Milestone Target date
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deadline for Filing Protest, Motion to January 2024
Intervene, Comments, Recommendations,
Preliminary Terms and Conditions, and
Preliminary Fishway Prescriptions.
Deadline for Filing Reply Comments........... February 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 license applicant must file no later than 60 days following
the date of issuance of this notice: (1) a copy of the water quality
certification; (2) a copy of the request for certification, including
proof of the date on which the certifying agency received the request;
or (3) evidence of waiver of water quality certification. Please note
that the certification request must comply with 40 CFR 121.5(b),
including documentation that a pre-filing meeting request was submitted
to the certifying authority at least 30 days prior to submitting the
certification request. Please note that the certification request must
be sent to the certifying authority and to the Commission concurrently.
r. 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: November 9, 2023.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-25397 Filed 11-16-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
