80 FR 70192 - Notice of Public Meeting to Provide Comments on Draft Materials to Improve FERC-USACE Coordinated Regulatory Processes for Non-Federal Development of Hydropower at USACE Non-Hydropower Dams

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 219 (November 13, 2015)

This notice announces a meeting to obtain individual public input on new ideas developed collaboratively by the Department of Energy (DOE), Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) aimed at improving coordination of FERC and USACE regulatory processes regarding non-federal development of hydropower at USACE non-powered dams. DOE estimates that there is a potential for 12 gigawatts of new hydropower capacity in the U.S. by adding power at non-powered dams.\1\ Adding power at USACE non-powered dams requires federal authorizations, potentially including authorizations via: The FERC licensing process \2\, the USACE 408 process \3\, and the USACE regulatory 404 process \4\ (impacts to waters of the U.S. pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act). All three of these processes require project proposal identification, information gathering, and environmental and engineering analyses to support licensing, permitting, or agency decisions. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 219 (Friday, November 13, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 70192]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-28875]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Notice of Public Meeting to Provide Comments on Draft Materials 
to Improve FERC-USACE Coordinated Regulatory Processes for Non-Federal 
Development of Hydropower at USACE Non-Hydropower Dams

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of 
Energy.

ACTION: Announcement of meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces a meeting to obtain individual public 
input on new ideas developed collaboratively by the Department of 
Energy (DOE), Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers (USACE) aimed at improving coordination of FERC and 
USACE regulatory processes regarding non-federal development of 
hydropower at USACE non-powered dams. DOE estimates that there is a 
potential for 12 gigawatts of new hydropower capacity in the U.S. by 
adding power at non-powered dams.\1\ Adding power at USACE non-powered 
dams requires federal authorizations, potentially including 
authorizations via: The FERC licensing process \2\, the USACE 408 
process \3\, and the USACE regulatory 404 process \4\ (impacts to 
waters of the U.S. pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act). All 
three of these processes require project proposal identification, 
information gathering, and environmental and engineering analyses to 
support licensing, permitting, or agency decisions.
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    \1\ National Hydropower Asset Assessment Program, Non-Powered 
Dam Resource Assessment can be found at http://nhaap.ornl.gov/content/non-powered-dam-potential.
    \2\ 18 U.S.C. 4, 5, and 16.
    \3\ Section 14 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 U.S.C. 
408).
    \4\ Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344).

DATES: The meeting will be held on Thursday, December 10th, 2015, from 
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1:00-5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission (FERC), 888 First Street NE., Hearing Room 1, Washington, DC 
20426.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patrick Gilman, Department of Energy 
at (720) 356-1420 or [email protected], or Hoyt Battey, 
Department of Energy, at (202) 586-0143 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DOE with the assistance of Oak Ridge 
National Laboratory convened a collaborative process with FERC and 
USACE staff to develop ideas on how FERC and USACE permitting efforts 
can be more efficiently coordinated to decrease overall process time 
and avoid duplication of efforts.
    The focus of the public meeting will be for agencies to receive 
public input, questions, and recommendations for areas of potential 
improvement in the coordination of FERC and USACE regulatory processes 
regarding non-federal development of hydropower at USACE non-powered 
dams and provide a forum to exchange information. Attendees will be 
asked to provide these recommendations and information based on their 
personal experience, individual advice, information, or facts regarding 
this topic. The object of the meeting is not to obtain any group 
position or consensus; rather, the agencies are seeking as many 
recommendations as possible from all individuals at this meeting. Draft 
documents outlining preliminary ideas for improving processes can be 
viewed at the meeting Web site: http://hydropower.ornl.gov/npd-public-workshop/. The meeting is open to the public; project developers, those 
involved in adding power at non-power dams, environmental non-
governmental organizations, tribes, and all interested members of the 
public are encouraged to attend. Pre-registration is required as space 
is limited. Register at http://hydropower.ornl.gov/npd-public-workshop/
; or contact Kelsey Rugani at Kearns & West ([email protected], 
(415) 391-7900) to RSVP.
    If you are unable to attend and want to provide written comments, 
please do so by 11:59 p.m. EST on December 18th. Please send all 
comments to [email protected].

Jim Ahlgrimm,
Supervisory General Engineer, Wind and Water Power Program, Office of 
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 2015-28875 Filed 11-12-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6450-01-P