Great Lakes Hydro America, LLC; Notice of Application Tendered for Filing With the Commission and Establishing Procedural Schedule for Licensing and Deadline for Submission of Final Amendments, 84347-84348 [2024-24379]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 204 / Tuesday, October 22, 2024 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Project No. 2458–273] ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 Great Lakes Hydro America, LLC; Notice of Application Tendered for Filing With the Commission and Establishing Procedural Schedule for Licensing and Deadline for Submission of Final Amendments 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.: 2458–273. c. Date Filed: September 30, 2024. d. Applicant: Great Lakes Hydro American, LLC (GLHA). e. Name of Project: Penobscot Mills Hydroelectric Project (project). f. Location: On the West Branch of the Penobscot River (West Branch) and Millinocket Stream in Piscataquis and Penobscot Counties, Maine. g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791(a)–825(r). h. Applicant Contact: Michael Scarzello, Licensing Manager, Brookfield Renewable U.S., 399 Big Bay Road, Queensbury, NY 12804; (315) 566–0197; Michael.scarzello@ brookfieldrenewable.com. i. FERC Contact: Allan Creamer, Project Coordinator; telephone at (202) 502–8365; email at allan.creamer@ ferc.gov. j. The application is not ready for environmental analysis at this time. k. Project Description: The Penobscot Mills Project consists of: (1) four hydropower developments (North Twin, Millinocket, Dolby, and East Millinocket; located between river mile 15 and river mile 2 on the West Branch) that include (a) water retaining features (e.g., dam/spillway, flashboards/rubber dam, and dikes), (b) water conduits/ canals and penstocks, (c) intake structures equipped with trashracks, (d) four powerhouses, and (e) transmission equipment (e.g., transmission lines); (2) a pool-and-weir fish passage facility at North Twin; and (3) one storage development (Millinocket Lake Storage Development; located on Millinocket Stream). The total rated capacity of the project is 67.9 megawatts. The North Twin impoundment is at the upstream end of the Penobscot Mills Project and receives flow from the Ripogenus Project. Releases from the North Twin Development pass through three other developments (i.e., Millinocket, Dolby, and East Millinocket). The Millinocket VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:10 Oct 21, 2024 Jkt 265001 Lake Storage Development includes a pumping station through which water can be pumped to Ambajejus Lake (within the North Twin impoundment). Water not pumped to Ambajejus Lake is discharged to Millinocket Stream, which enters the West Branch at Shad Pond, downstream from the Millinocket Development, then passes through the Dolby and East Millinocket Developments. In addition to these developments, the project includes two battery energy sites that operate as a single Battery Energy Storage System to enhance system reliability. The five developments that compose the Penobscot Mills Project are operated as an integrated system, along with upstream storage projects, including the Ripogenus Project No. 2572, to manage water levels and flows downstream from the project. GLHA operates the North Twin Development as a store-andrelease facility, and uses storage in the Millinocket Lake Storage impoundment, as necessary, to maintain North Twin Lake levels. The two storage developments (North Twin and Millinocket Lake Storage) are located upstream of the run-of-release developments (Millinocket, Dolby, and East Millinocket). GLHA releases minimum flows from Millinocket Lake into Millinocket Stream, as well as a continuous minimum flow in the West Branch downstream from the North Twin Development. Additional details regarding the Penobscot Mills Project facilities and operations can be found in Exhibit A (Penobscot Mills Project) and Exhibit B of the license application, and can be access by following the instructions in paragraph l. GLHA proposes to continue to operate: (1) the North Twin Development for generation and seasonal storage, with target impoundment elevations of 490.42 feet National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD 29) from May 1 through August 21 and 488.42 feet NGVD 29 from August 22 through October 15, as well as to provide flows necessary to meet the 2,000-cfs flow requirement in the West Branch downstream from Shad Pond; (2) the Millinocket Lake Storage Development to (a) maintain impoundment elevations between 470 feet and 480 feet NGVD 29, and (b) provide a minimum flow of 60 cubic feet per second (cfs), or inflow (seasonally), to Millinocket Stream; and (3) the Millinocket, Dolby, and East Millinocket Developments as run-ofrelease facilities. GLHA also proposes to continue to operate and maintain the upstream pool-and-weir fish passage structure at North Twin Dam, post lake level (for North Twin and Millinocket PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 84347 Lake Storage) and flow information on Brookfield’s existing SafeWaters website, maintain the 200-foot conservation buffer and 100-foot vegetation buffer around the Millinocket Lake Storage, North Twin, Millinocket, and Dolby impoundments, and maintain Umbazooksus Lake as wetland and wildlife habitat. GLHA also proposes to release a year-round 200-cfs minimum flow from Stone Dam; provide American eel passage, conduct eel studies, and develop a fishway operations and maintenance plan; provide seasonal whitewater boating flows of 600 cfs in Millinocket Stream; and develop an updated wildlife management area plan, a recreation plan, a shoreline management plan, and a historic properties management plan. l. In addition to publishing this notice in the Federal Register, the Commission provides all interested persons an opportunity to view and/or print the contents of this notice, as well as other documents in the proceeding (e.g., license application) via the internet through the Commission’s Home Page (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 (P–2458). For assistance, contact FERC at FERCOnlineSupport@ ferc.gov, (866) 208–3676 (toll free), or (202) 502–8659 (TTY). You may also register online at https://ferconline.ferc.gov/FERC Online.aspx to be notified via email of new filings and issuances related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support. m. 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. n. Procedural Schedule: The application will be processed according to the following preliminary schedule. Revisions to the schedule will be made as appropriate. Deficiency Letter (if necessary) October 2024 Additional Information Request November 2024 Notice of Acceptance March 2025 E:\FR\FM\22OCN1.SGM 22OCN1 84348 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 204 / Tuesday, October 22, 2024 / Notices Issue Notice of Ready for Environmental Analysis March 2025 o. Final amendments to the application must be filed with the Commission no later than 30 days from the issuance date of the notice of ready for environmental analysis. Dated: October 15, 2024. Debbie-Anne A. Reese, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2024–24379 Filed 10–21–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA–HQ–OAR–2024–0309; FRL–12263–01– OAR] Planned Change Request for Waste Isolation Pilot Plant Replacement Panels 11 and 12; Reopening of Public Comment Period Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of availability with request for public comment; reopening of public comment period. AGENCY: On July 16, 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) announced for public comment the availability of a Planned Change Request (PCR) recently submitted by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to modify the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). The proposed change will involve adding two additional waste panels west of the current repository to replace lost disposal capacity resulting from the 2014 radiological incident and resulting ground control issues. A 60-day comment period was provided for the PCR that expired on September 16, 2024. A request for an extension to the comment period was received from several stakeholders, most recently at the Agency’s informal public meetings held in New Mexico in late August. EPA is reopening the comment period to seek public input on both DOE’s application and on what EPA should consider in its evaluation. DATES: The public comment period for the notice published July 16, 2024 at 89 FR 57887, has reopened on October 22, 2024. It will remain open until the Agency publishes a future notice in the Federal Register that specifies the end of the public comment period. ADDRESSES: You may send comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ– OAR–2024–0309, by any of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov (our ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:10 Oct 21, 2024 Jkt 265001 preferred method). Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. • Email: a-and-r-Docket@epa.gov. Include Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR– 2024–0309 in the subject line of the message. • U.S. Postal Service Mail: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket Center, Air and Radiation Docket, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460. • Hand Delivery/Courier: EPA Docket Center, WJC West Building, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004. The Docket Center’s hours of operations are 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday–Friday (except Federal Holidays). Instructions: All submissions received must include the Docket ID No. EPA– HQ–OAR–2024–0309. Comments received may be posted without change to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. For detailed instructions on sending comments, see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document. A copy of the DOE’s 2024 PCR is linked on EPA’s WIPP website (https://www.epa.gov/system/ files/documents/2024-03/24-0168-wipppcr-panels-letter-enclosures.pdf). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ray Lee, Radiation Protection Division, Office of Radiation and Indoor Air, Mail Code 6608T, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 343–9463; email address: lee.raymond@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2024–0309, at https://www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), or the other methods identified in the ADDRESSES section. Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or removed from the docket. EPA may publish any comment received to its public docket. Do not submit electronically any information you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. The written comment is considered the official comment and should include discussion of all points you wish to make. EPA will generally not consider comments or comment contents located outside of the primary submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or other file sharing system). For additional submission methods, the full EPA public comment policy, information about CBI or multimedia submissions, and general guidance on making effective comments, please visit https:// PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epadockets. Tips for preparing your comments. When submitting comments, remember to: • Identify the document by docket number, subject heading, Federal Register date, and page number. • Provide a brief description of yourself and your role or organization. • Explain why you agree or disagree; suggest alternatives and substitute language for your requested changes. • Describe any assumptions and provide any technical information and/ or data that you used. • Illustrate your concerns with specific examples and suggest alternatives. • Explain your views as clearly as possible, avoiding the use of profanity or personal threats. • Make sure to submit your comments by the comment period deadline identified. I. Background The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) is a transuranic (TRU) radioactive waste disposal system developed by the DOE that is located near Carlsbad in southeastern New Mexico. TRU radioactive waste is emplaced about 650 meters (2,150 feet) underground in an ancient layer of salt that will eventually ‘‘creep,’’ encapsulate, and isolate the waste from the surrounding environment. The 1992 WIPP Land Withdrawal Act (Pub. L. 102–579) (LWA) limits radioactive waste disposal in the WIPP to TRU radioactive wastes generated by defense-related activities.1 The WIPP LWA provides EPA with authority to oversee and regulate the WIPP. The WIPP must meet EPA’s generic radioactive waste disposal standards at 40 CFR part 191, subparts B and C. These standards limit releases of radioactive materials from disposal systems for radioactive waste and require implementation of measures to provide confidence for compliance with the radiation release limits. Additionally, the regulations limit radiation doses to members of the public and protect ground water resources by establishing maximum concentrations for radionuclides in ground water. In 1996, the Agency issued the WIPP Compliance Criteria, which are located at 40 CFR part 194, as mandated by WIPP LWA, section 8(c).2 DOE submitted the initial WIPP Compliance 1 TRU waste is defined as waste containing more than 100 nano-curies per gram of alpha-emitting radioactive isotopes, with half-lives greater than twenty years and atomic numbers greater than 92. 2 61 FR 5224–5245 (February 9, 1996). E:\FR\FM\22OCN1.SGM 22OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 204 (Tuesday, October 22, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 84347-84348]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-24379]



[[Page 84347]]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 2458-273]


Great Lakes Hydro America, LLC; Notice of Application Tendered 
for Filing With the Commission and Establishing Procedural Schedule for 
Licensing and Deadline for Submission of Final Amendments

    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.: 2458-273.
    c. Date Filed: September 30, 2024.
    d. Applicant: Great Lakes Hydro American, LLC (GLHA).
    e. Name of Project: Penobscot Mills Hydroelectric Project 
(project).
    f. Location: On the West Branch of the Penobscot River (West 
Branch) and Millinocket Stream in Piscataquis and Penobscot Counties, 
Maine.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791(a)-825(r).
    h. Applicant Contact: Michael Scarzello, Licensing Manager, 
Brookfield Renewable U.S., 399 Big Bay Road, Queensbury, NY 12804; 
(315) 566-0197; [email protected].
    i. FERC Contact: Allan Creamer, Project Coordinator; telephone at 
(202) 502-8365; email at [email protected].
    j. The application is not ready for environmental analysis at this 
time.
    k. Project Description: The Penobscot Mills Project consists of: 
(1) four hydropower developments (North Twin, Millinocket, Dolby, and 
East Millinocket; located between river mile 15 and river mile 2 on the 
West Branch) that include (a) water retaining features (e.g., dam/
spillway, flashboards/rubber dam, and dikes), (b) water conduits/canals 
and penstocks, (c) intake structures equipped with trashracks, (d) four 
powerhouses, and (e) transmission equipment (e.g., transmission lines); 
(2) a pool-and-weir fish passage facility at North Twin; and (3) one 
storage development (Millinocket Lake Storage Development; located on 
Millinocket Stream). The total rated capacity of the project is 67.9 
megawatts. The North Twin impoundment is at the upstream end of the 
Penobscot Mills Project and receives flow from the Ripogenus Project. 
Releases from the North Twin Development pass through three other 
developments (i.e., Millinocket, Dolby, and East Millinocket). The 
Millinocket Lake Storage Development includes a pumping station through 
which water can be pumped to Ambajejus Lake (within the North Twin 
impoundment). Water not pumped to Ambajejus Lake is discharged to 
Millinocket Stream, which enters the West Branch at Shad Pond, 
downstream from the Millinocket Development, then passes through the 
Dolby and East Millinocket Developments. In addition to these 
developments, the project includes two battery energy sites that 
operate as a single Battery Energy Storage System to enhance system 
reliability.
    The five developments that compose the Penobscot Mills Project are 
operated as an integrated system, along with upstream storage projects, 
including the Ripogenus Project No. 2572, to manage water levels and 
flows downstream from the project. GLHA operates the North Twin 
Development as a store-and-release facility, and uses storage in the 
Millinocket Lake Storage impoundment, as necessary, to maintain North 
Twin Lake levels. The two storage developments (North Twin and 
Millinocket Lake Storage) are located upstream of the run-of-release 
developments (Millinocket, Dolby, and East Millinocket). GLHA releases 
minimum flows from Millinocket Lake into Millinocket Stream, as well as 
a continuous minimum flow in the West Branch downstream from the North 
Twin Development. Additional details regarding the Penobscot Mills 
Project facilities and operations can be found in Exhibit A (Penobscot 
Mills Project) and Exhibit B of the license application, and can be 
access by following the instructions in paragraph l.
    GLHA proposes to continue to operate: (1) the North Twin 
Development for generation and seasonal storage, with target 
impoundment elevations of 490.42 feet National Geodetic Vertical Datum 
of 1929 (NGVD 29) from May 1 through August 21 and 488.42 feet NGVD 29 
from August 22 through October 15, as well as to provide flows 
necessary to meet the 2,000-cfs flow requirement in the West Branch 
downstream from Shad Pond; (2) the Millinocket Lake Storage Development 
to (a) maintain impoundment elevations between 470 feet and 480 feet 
NGVD 29, and (b) provide a minimum flow of 60 cubic feet per second 
(cfs), or inflow (seasonally), to Millinocket Stream; and (3) the 
Millinocket, Dolby, and East Millinocket Developments as run-of-release 
facilities. GLHA also proposes to continue to operate and maintain the 
upstream pool-and-weir fish passage structure at North Twin Dam, post 
lake level (for North Twin and Millinocket Lake Storage) and flow 
information on Brookfield's existing SafeWaters website, maintain the 
200-foot conservation buffer and 100-foot vegetation buffer around the 
Millinocket Lake Storage, North Twin, Millinocket, and Dolby 
impoundments, and maintain Umbazooksus Lake as wetland and wildlife 
habitat. GLHA also proposes to release a year-round 200-cfs minimum 
flow from Stone Dam; provide American eel passage, conduct eel studies, 
and develop a fishway operations and maintenance plan; provide seasonal 
whitewater boating flows of 600 cfs in Millinocket Stream; and develop 
an updated wildlife management area plan, a recreation plan, a 
shoreline management plan, and a historic properties management plan.
    l. In addition to publishing this notice in the Federal Register, 
the Commission provides all interested persons an opportunity to view 
and/or print the contents of this notice, as well as other documents in 
the proceeding (e.g., license application) via the internet through the 
Commission's Home Page (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 (P-2458). For assistance, 
contact FERC at [email protected], (866) 208-3676 (toll free), 
or (202) 502-8659 (TTY).
    You may also register online at https://ferconline.ferc.gov/FERCOnline.aspx to be notified via email of new filings and issuances 
related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC 
Online Support.
    m. 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].
    n. Procedural Schedule: The application will be processed according 
to the following preliminary schedule. Revisions to the schedule will 
be made as appropriate.

Deficiency Letter (if necessary) October 2024
Additional Information Request November 2024
Notice of Acceptance March 2025

[[Page 84348]]

Issue Notice of Ready for Environmental Analysis March 2025

    o. Final amendments to the application must be filed with the 
Commission no later than 30 days from the issuance date of the notice 
of ready for environmental analysis.

    Dated: October 15, 2024.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-24379 Filed 10-21-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P

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