89 FR 124 pgs. 53611-53612 - Briar Hydro Associates; Notice of Application Ready for Environmental Analysis and Soliciting Comments, Recommendations, Terms and Conditions, and Prescriptions
Type: NOTICEVolume: 89Number: 124Pages: 53611 - 53612
Pages: 53611, 53612Docket number: [Project No. 3240-040]
FR document: [FR Doc. 2024-14047 Filed 6-26-24; 8:45 am]
Agency: Energy Department
Sub Agency: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 3240-040]
Briar Hydro Associates; Notice of Application Ready for Environmental Analysis and Soliciting Comments, Recommendations, Terms and Conditions, and 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 License.
b. Project No.: 3240-040.
c. Date Filed: November 30, 2022.
d. Applicant: Briar Hydro Associates.
e. Name of Project: Rolfe Canal Hydroelectric Project.
f. Location: On the Contoocook River, in the City of Concord, Merrimack County New Hampshire.
g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act 16 U.S.C. 791(a)-825(r).
h. Applicant Contact: Andrew J. Locke, Essex Hydro Associates, LLC, 55 Union Street, Boston, MA 02108; (617) 357-0032, or alocke@essexhydro.com.
i. FERC Contact: Jeanne Edwards at (202) 502-6181; or jeanne.edwards@ferc.gov.
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.
[top] The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file comments, recommendations, terms and conditions, and prescriptions using the Commission's eFiling system at https://ferconline.ferc.gov/FERCOnline.aspx. Commenters can submit brief comments
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 and is now ready for environmental analysis.
l. The Rolfe Canal Project diverts water from the York Dam into the Rolfe Canal and consists of the following facilities: (1) the York impoundment with a surface area of 50-acres, at elevation of 342.5 feet National Geodetic Vertical Datum 1929 (NGVD29); (2) a 300-foot-long, 10-foot-high diversion dam (York Dam); (3) a 50-foot-wide concrete gated intake structure; (4) a 7,000-foot-long, 75-foot-wide, and 9-foot-deep power canal; (5) an additional impoundment (created by York Dam at the end of the power canal), with surface area of 3-acres, at elevation of 342.5 feet NGVD29, and a negligible storage capacity; (6) a 130-foot-long, 17-foot-high granite block intake dam; (7) a 950-foot-long underground penstock; (8) a 32-foot-wide by 90-foot-long, concrete powerhouse containing one Kaplan turbine-generating unit with a capacity of 4.285 megawatts; (9) a 1,200-foot-long tailrace; (10) transmission facilities consisting of a three-phase 4.16/34.5- kilovolt (kV) transformer; and a 34.5-kV, 650-foot-long transmission line; and (11) other appurtenances. The project has a 4,000-foot-long bypassed reach.
The project operates in a run-of-river mode with a minimum flow of 338 cubic feet per second (cfs), or inflow, whichever is less, into the York impoundment, a minimum flow of 50 cfs into the York bypass, and a minimum flow of 5 cfs into a historic channel that bypasses the penstock. The project had an average annual generation of 19,585,884 kilowatt-hours between 2014 and 2018. Briar Hydro proposes to increase the minimum flow into the York bypass to 100 cfs.
m. Copies of the application may be viewed on the Commission's website at http://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-3240). For assistance, contact FERC Online Support at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or call toll-free, (866) 208-3676 or (202) 502-8659 (TTY).
All filings must (1) bear in all capital letters the title "COMMENTS," "REPLY COMMENTS," "RECOMMENDATIONS," "TERMS AND CONDITIONS," or "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 submitting the filing; 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. Each filing must be accompanied by proof of service on all persons listed on the service list prepared by the Commission in this proceeding, in accordance with 18 CFR 4.34(b) and 385.2010.
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.
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.
n. The 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.
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 Comments, Recommendations, and Agency Terms and Conditions/Prescriptions | August 2024. |
| Licensee's Reply to REA Comments | October 2024. |
Dated: June 20, 2024.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-14047 Filed 6-26-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P