81 FR 45462 - Swan Lake North Hydro LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and Notice of Scoping Meetings and Environmental Site Review and Soliciting Scoping Comments

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 135 (July 14, 2016)

Page Range		45462-45464
FR Document		2016-16651

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 135 (Thursday, July 14, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 135 (Thursday, July 14, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45462-45464]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-16651]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 13318-003]


Swan Lake North Hydro LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement and Notice of Scoping Meetings and 
Environmental Site Review and Soliciting Scoping Comments

    Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been 
filed with Commission and is available for public inspection:
    a. Type of Application: Original Major License.
    b. Project No.: 13318-003.

[[Page 45463]]

    c. Date filed: October 28, 2015.
    d. Applicant: Swan Lake North Hydro LLC.
    e. Name of Project: Swan Lake North Pumped Storage Hydroelectric 
Project.
    f. Location: Approximately 11 miles northeast of the city of 
Klamath Falls, Klamath County, Oregon. The proposed project would 
include about 730 acres of federal land managed by the U.S. Bureau of 
Land Management and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791(a)-825(r).
    h. Applicant Contact: Joe Eberhardt, EDF-Renewable Energy, 1000 SW 
Broadway Ave., Ste. 1800, Portland, OR 97205; phone: (503) 889-3838.
    i. FERC Contact: Dianne Rodman, [email protected], (202) 502-
6077.
    j. Deadline for filing scoping comments: September 9, 2016.
    The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file 
scoping comments using the Commission's eFiling system at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp. 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, please 
send a paper copy to: Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 
888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426. The first page of any 
filing should include docket number P-13318-003.
    The Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure 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 is not ready for environmental analysis at this 
time.
    l. The proposed project would be a closed-loop system using 
groundwater for initial fill and consist of the following new 
facilities: (1) A 7,972-foot-long earthen embankment forming a 
geomembrane-lined upper reservoir with a surface area of 64.21 acres 
and a storage capacity of 2,568 acre-feet at a maximum surface 
elevation of 6,135 feet above mean sea level (msl); (2) a 8,003-foot-
long earthen embankment forming a geomembrane-lined lower reservoir 
with a surface area of 60.14 acres and a storage capacity of 3,206 
acre-feet at a maximum surface elevation of 4,457 feet msl; (3) a 500-
foot-long, rip-rap lined trapezoidal spillway built into the crest of 
each embankment; (4) a 0.5-percent slope perforated polyvinyl chloride 
tube of varying diameter and accompanying optical fiber drainage system 
designed to detect, collect, and monitor water leakage from the 
reservoirs; (5) a 25-inch-diameter bottom outlet with manual valve for 
gravitational dewatering of the lower reservoir; (6) an upper intake 
consisting of a bell mouth, 38.6-foot-wide by 29.8-foot-long inclined 
screen, head gate, and 13.8-foot-diameter foundational steel pipe; (7) 
a 36.5-foot-diameter, 9,655-foot-long steel high-pressure penstock from 
the upper reservoir to the powerhouse that is predominantly above 
ground with a 14-foot-long buried segment; (8) three 9.8-foot-diameter, 
1,430-foot-long steel low-pressure penstocks from the lower reservoir 
to the powerhouse that are predominantly above ground with a 78-foot-
long buried segment; (9) a partially-buried powerhouse with three 
131.1-megawatt (MW) reversible pump-turbine units with a total 
installed capacity of 393.3 MW; (10) a fenced substation next to the 
powerhouse; (11) 32.8 mile, 230-kilovolt above-ground transmission line 
interconnecting to an existing non-project substation; (12) 
approximately 10.7 miles of improved project access road; (13) 
approximately 3.4 miles of new permanent project access road; (14) 
approximately 8.3 miles of temporary project access road; and (15) 
appurtenant facilities. The project would generate about 1,187 
gigawatt-hours annually.
    m. A copy of the application is available for review at the 
Commission in the Public Reference Room or may be viewed on the 
Commission's Web site 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. For assistance, contact 
FERC Online Support. A copy is also available for inspection and 
reproduction at the address in item h above.
    You may also register online at http://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. Scoping Process. The Commission intends to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the project in accordance with 
the National Environmental Policy Act. The EIS will consider both site-
specific and cumulative environmental impacts and reasonable 
alternatives to the proposed action.

Scoping Meetings

    FERC staff will conduct one agency scoping meeting and one public 
meeting. The agency scoping meeting will focus on resource agency and 
non-governmental organization (NGO) concerns, while the public scoping 
meeting is primarily for public input. All interested individuals, 
organizations, and agencies are invited to attend one or both of the 
meetings, and to assist the staff in identifying the scope of the 
environmental issues that should be analyzed in the EIS. The times and 
locations of these meetings are as follows:

Agency Scoping Meeting

    DATE: Wednesday, August 10, 2016.
    TIME: 9:00 a.m.
    PLACE: Mt. Scott Room.
    ADDRESS: College Union, Oregon Institute of Technology, 3201 Campus 
Drive, Klamath Falls, OR 97601.

Public Scoping Meeting

    DATE: Tuesday, August 9, 2016.
    TIME: 7:00 p.m.
    PLACE: Mt. Mazama Room.
    ADDRESS: College Union, Oregon Institute of Technology, 3201 Campus 
Drive, Klamath Falls, OR 97601.
    Copies of the Scoping Document (SD1) outlining the subject areas to 
be addressed in the EIS were distributed to the parties on the 
Commission's mailing list. Copies of the SD1 will be available at the 
scoping meeting or may be viewed on the web at http://www.ferc.gov 
using the ``eLibrary'' link (see item m above).

Environmental Site Review

    The Applicant and FERC staff will conduct a project Environmental 
Site Review beginning at 9:00 a.m. on August 9, 2016. All interested 
individuals, organizations, and agencies are invited to attend. All 
participants should meet at the Edgewood Ranch, 12501 Swan Falls Road, 
Klamath Falls, Oregon. To reach the ranch from Main Street in Klamath 
Falls, follow Oregon 39 South/Crater Lake east and south of town. 
Follow signs for a slight left turn onto Oregon 140 East and follow it 
for 9.4 miles to Swan Lake Road. Follow Swan Lake Road for 9.4 miles. 
Edgewood Ranch is located off a driveway at the corner of a 90-degree 
left-land turn in Swan Lake Road. The main office building is located 
immediately on the right. Parking is available at the entry driveway 
before the main office building. Anyone with questions about the 
Environmental Site Review should contact Joe Eberhardt of EDF-Renewable 
Energy at (503) 889-3838.

[[Page 45464]]

Objectives

    At the scoping meetings, the staff will: (1) Summarize the 
environmental issues tentatively identified for analysis in the EIS; 
(2) solicit from the meeting participants all available information, 
especially quantifiable data, on the resources at issue; (3) encourage 
statements from experts and the public on issues that should be 
analyzed in the EIS, including viewpoints in opposition to, or in 
support of, the staff's preliminary views; (4) determine the resource 
issues to be addressed in the EIS; and (5) identify those issues that 
require a detailed analysis, as well as those issues that do not 
require a detailed analysis.

Procedures

    The meetings will be recorded by a stenographer and become part of 
the formal record of the Commission proceeding on the project.
    Individuals, organizations, and agencies with environmental 
expertise and concerns are encouraged to attend the meeting and to 
assist the staff in defining and clarifying the issues to be addressed 
in the EIS.

    Dated: July 8, 2016.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-16651 Filed 7-13-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P

45462 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 135 / Thursday, July 14, 2016 / Notices

linda.stewart@ferc.gov; or B. Peter the current rule curve. Between o. Filing and Service of Responsive
Yarrington, telephone (202) 502–6129, September 16 and September 30, the Documents: All filings must (1) bear in
email peter.yarrington@ferc.gov. elevation would be lowered from 743 to all capital letters the title
j. Deadline for filing comments, 742 feet PD. Between October 1 and ‘‘COMMENTS’’, ‘‘PROTEST’’, or
motions to intervene, and protests is 14 October 31, the reservoir would be ‘‘MOTION TO INTERVENE’’ as
days from the issuance date of this maintained at elevation 742 feet PD, applicable; (2) set forth in the heading
notice by the Commission. which is up to one foot higher than the the name of the applicant and the
All documents may be filed current rule curve. After October 31, project number of the application to
electronically via the Internet. See 18 reservoir elevations would follow the which the filing responds; (3) furnish
CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the project’s current rule curve. With its the name, address, and telephone
instructions on the Commission’s Web application, GRDA includes a Storm number of the person protesting or
site at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ Adaptive Management Plan that would intervening; and (4) otherwise comply
efiling.asp. Commenters can submit be followed to address high water with the requirements of 18 CFR
brief comments up to 6,000 characters, conditions upstream and downstream of 385.2001 through 385.2005. All
without prior registration, using the Grand Lake during major precipitation comments, motions to intervene, or
eComment system at http:// events in the river basin. GRDA also protests must set forth their evidentiary
www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ includes a Drought Adaptive basis and otherwise comply with the
ecomment.asp. You must include your Management Plan that would be requirements of 18 CFR 4.34(b). All
name and contact information at the end followed to determine project operation, comments, motions to intervene, or
of your comments. For assistance, including deviations from the rule curve protests should relate to project works
please contact FERC Online Support at elevations, to allow releases for which are the subject of the amendment
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll maintenance of downstream water application. Agencies may obtain copies
free at 1–866–208–3676, or for TTY, quality and reliable operation of GRDA’s of the application directly from the
(202) 502–8659. Although the downstream Salina Pumped Storage applicant. A copy of any protest or
Commission strongly encourages Project if certain drought conditions motion to intervene must be served
electronic filing, documents may also be occur. upon each representative of the
paper-filed. To paper-file, mail a copy l. Locations of the Application: A applicant specified in the particular
to: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal copy of the application is available for application. If an intervener files
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 inspection and reproduction at the comments or documents with the
First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426. Commission’s Public Reference Room, Commission relating to the merits of an
Please include the project number (P– located at 888 First Street NE., Room issue that may affect the responsibilities
1494–433) on any comments or motions 2A, Washington, DC 20426, or by calling of a particular resource agency, they
filed. (202) 502–8371. This filing may also be must also serve a copy of the document
k. Description of Request: In its viewed on the Commission’s Web site at on that resource agency. A copy of all
application, GRDA requests a http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/
permanent amendment of the project’s other filings in reference to this
elibrary.asp. Enter the docket number application must be accompanied by
Article 401 reservoir elevation rule excluding the last three digits in the
curve to go into effect August 16, 2016, proof of service on all persons listed in
docket number field to access the the service list prepared by the
and remain in effect through the document. A copy is also available for
remaining term of the project license. Commission in this proceeding, in
inspection and reproduction at the
GRDA requests, if a permanent accordance with 18 CFR 4.34(b) and
address in item (h) above.
amendment cannot be reviewed by the 385.2010.
You may also register online at http://
Commission by August 16, 2016, that a www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ Dated: July 8, 2016.
temporary variance for August 16 esubscription.asp to be notified via Kimberly D. Bose,
through October 31, 2016 only be email of new filings and issuances Secretary.
considered while the Commission related to this or other pending projects. [FR Doc. 2016–16652 Filed 7–13–16; 8:45 am]
continues to process its request for a For assistance, contact FERC Online BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
permanent amendment. This notice Support.
only seeks comments, motions to m. Individuals desiring to be included
intervene, and protests on GRDA’s on the Commission’s mailing list should DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
request for a temporary variance for the so indicate by writing to the Secretary
period from August 16 through October of the Commission. Federal Energy Regulatory
31, 2016. n. Comments, Protests, or Motions to Commission
GRDA indicates that it seeks the rule Intervene: Anyone may submit
comments, a protest, or a motion to [Project No. 13318–003]
curve change to reduce the risk of vessel
groundings at Grand Lake in late intervene in accordance with the Swan Lake North Hydro LLC; Notice of
summer, improve recreation during a requirements of Rules of Practice and Intent To Prepare an Environmental
peak recreation season, better balance Procedure, 18 CFR 385.210, .211, .214. Impact Statement and Notice of
competing stakeholder interests, and In determining the appropriate action to Scoping Meetings and Environmental
provide additional water storage so that, take, the Commission will consider all Site Review and Soliciting Scoping
in the event of drought, water would be protests or other comments filed, but
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

Comments
available for release to aid in only those who file a motion to
maintaining water quality in the river intervene in accordance with the Take notice that the following
downstream. Commission’s Rules may become a hydroelectric application has been filed
Under GRDA’s proposal, between party to the proceeding. Any comments, with Commission and is available for
August 16 and September 15, the protests, or motions to intervene must public inspection:
reservoir would be maintained at be received on or before the specified a. Type of Application: Original Major
elevation 743 feet Pensacola Datum comment date for the particular License.
(PD), which is up to two feet higher than application. b. Project No.: 13318–003.

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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 135 / Thursday, July 14, 2016 / Notices 45463

c. Date filed: October 28, 2015. slope perforated polyvinyl chloride tube Scoping Meetings
d. Applicant: Swan Lake North Hydro of varying diameter and accompanying FERC staff will conduct one agency
LLC. optical fiber drainage system designed scoping meeting and one public
e. Name of Project: Swan Lake North to detect, collect, and monitor water meeting. The agency scoping meeting
Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project. leakage from the reservoirs; (5) a 25- will focus on resource agency and non-
f. Location: Approximately 11 miles inch-diameter bottom outlet with governmental organization (NGO)
northeast of the city of Klamath Falls, manual valve for gravitational concerns, while the public scoping
Klamath County, Oregon. The proposed dewatering of the lower reservoir; (6) an meeting is primarily for public input.
project would include about 730 acres upper intake consisting of a bell mouth, All interested individuals,
of federal land managed by the U.S. 38.6-foot-wide by 29.8-foot-long organizations, and agencies are invited
Bureau of Land Management and the inclined screen, head gate, and 13.8- to attend one or both of the meetings,
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. foot-diameter foundational steel pipe;
g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power and to assist the staff in identifying the
(7) a 36.5-foot-diameter, 9,655-foot-long scope of the environmental issues that
Act, 16 U.S.C. 791(a)–825(r).
h. Applicant Contact: Joe Eberhardt, steel high-pressure penstock from the should be analyzed in the EIS. The
EDF–Renewable Energy, 1000 SW upper reservoir to the powerhouse that times and locations of these meetings
Broadway Ave., Ste. 1800, Portland, OR is predominantly above ground with a are as follows:
97205; phone: (503) 889–3838. 14-foot-long buried segment; (8) three
Agency Scoping Meeting
i. FERC Contact: Dianne Rodman, 9.8-foot-diameter, 1,430-foot-long steel
dianne.rodman@ferc.gov, (202) 502– low-pressure penstocks from the lower DATE: Wednesday, August 10, 2016.
reservoir to the powerhouse that are TIME: 9:00 a.m.
6077. PLACE: Mt. Scott Room.
j. Deadline for filing scoping predominantly above ground with a 78-
ADDRESS: College Union, Oregon
comments: September 9, 2016. foot-long buried segment; (9) a partially-
Institute of Technology, 3201 Campus
The Commission strongly encourages buried powerhouse with three 131.1- Drive, Klamath Falls, OR 97601.
electronic filing. Please file scoping megawatt (MW) reversible pump-
comments using the Commission’s turbine units with a total installed Public Scoping Meeting
eFiling system at http://www.ferc.gov/ capacity of 393.3 MW; (10) a fenced DATE: Tuesday, August 9, 2016.
docs-filing/efiling.asp. For assistance, substation next to the powerhouse; (11) TIME: 7:00 p.m.
please contact FERC Online Support at 32.8 mile, 230-kilovolt above-ground PLACE: Mt. Mazama Room.
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, (866) transmission line interconnecting to an ADDRESS: College Union, Oregon
208–3676 (toll free), or (202) 502–8659 existing non-project substation; (12) Institute of Technology, 3201 Campus
(TTY). In lieu of electronic filing, please approximately 10.7 miles of improved Drive, Klamath Falls, OR 97601.
send a paper copy to: Secretary, Federal project access road; (13) approximately Copies of the Scoping Document
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 3.4 miles of new permanent project (SD1) outlining the subject areas to be
First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426. access road; (14) approximately 8.3 addressed in the EIS were distributed to
The first page of any filing should miles of temporary project access road; the parties on the Commission’s mailing
include docket number P–13318–003. and (15) appurtenant facilities. The list. Copies of the SD1 will be available
The Commission’s Rules of Practice project would generate about 1,187 at the scoping meeting or may be
and Procedure require all intervenors gigawatt-hours annually. viewed on the web at http://
filing documents with the Commission www.ferc.gov using the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link
to serve a copy of that document on m. A copy of the application is (see item m above).
each person on the official service list available for review at the Commission
in the Public Reference Room or may be Environmental Site Review
for the project. Further, if an intervenor
files comments or documents with the viewed on the Commission’s Web site at The Applicant and FERC staff will
Commission relating to the merits of an http://www.ferc.gov using the conduct a project Environmental Site
issue that may affect the responsibilities ‘‘eLibrary’’ link. Enter the docket Review beginning at 9:00 a.m. on
of a particular resource agency, they number excluding the last three digits in August 9, 2016. All interested
must also serve a copy of the document the docket number field to access the individuals, organizations, and agencies
on that resource agency. document. For assistance, contact FERC are invited to attend. All participants
k. This application is not ready for Online Support. A copy is also available should meet at the Edgewood Ranch,
environmental analysis at this time. for inspection and reproduction at the 12501 Swan Falls Road, Klamath Falls,
l. The proposed project would be a address in item h above. Oregon. To reach the ranch from Main
closed-loop system using groundwater You may also register online at http:// Street in Klamath Falls, follow Oregon
for initial fill and consist of the www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ 39 South/Crater Lake east and south of
following new facilities: (1) A 7,972- esubscription.asp to be notified via town. Follow signs for a slight left turn
foot-long earthen embankment forming onto Oregon 140 East and follow it for
email of new filings and issuances
a geomembrane-lined upper reservoir 9.4 miles to Swan Lake Road. Follow
related to this or other pending projects.
with a surface area of 64.21 acres and Swan Lake Road for 9.4 miles.
For assistance, contact FERC Online
a storage capacity of 2,568 acre-feet at a Edgewood Ranch is located off a
Support.
maximum surface elevation of 6,135 feet driveway at the corner of a 90-degree
above mean sea level (msl); (2) a 8,003- n. Scoping Process. The Commission left-land turn in Swan Lake Road. The
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

foot-long earthen embankment forming intends to prepare an Environmental main office building is located
a geomembrane-lined lower reservoir Impact Statement (EIS) on the project in immediately on the right. Parking is
with a surface area of 60.14 acres and accordance with the National available at the entry driveway before
a storage capacity of 3,206 acre-feet at a Environmental Policy Act. The EIS will the main office building. Anyone with
maximum surface elevation of 4,457 feet consider both site-specific and questions about the Environmental Site
msl; (3) a 500-foot-long, rip-rap lined cumulative environmental impacts and Review should contact Joe Eberhardt of
trapezoidal spillway built into the crest reasonable alternatives to the proposed EDF–Renewable Energy at (503) 889–
of each embankment; (4) a 0.5-percent action. 3838.

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Document Created: 2016-07-14 01:55:02
Document Modified: 2016-07-14 01:55:02

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Dates		Wednesday, August 10, 2016.
FR Citation		81 FR 45462

81 FR 45462 - Swan Lake North Hydro LLC; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and Notice of Scoping Meetings and Environmental Site Review and Soliciting Scoping Comments

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGYFederal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 135 (July 14, 2016)

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission