81 FR 59992 - Amador Water Agency; Notice of Preliminary Determination of a Qualifying Conduit Hydropower Facility and Soliciting Comments and Motions To Intervene

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 169 (August 31, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 169 (Wednesday, August 31, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 59992]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-20981]



[[Page 59992]]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No., CD16-19-000]


Amador Water Agency; Notice of Preliminary Determination of a 
Qualifying Conduit Hydropower Facility and Soliciting Comments and 
Motions To Intervene

    On August 15, 2016, the Amador Water Agency filed a notice of 
intent to construct a qualifying conduit hydropower facility, pursuant 
to section 30 of the Federal Power Act (FPA), as amended by section 4 
of the Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act of 2013 (HREA). The 
proposed Ione Hydroelectric Station Project would have an installed 
capacity of 447.6 kilowatts (kW) and would be located on an existing 
16-inch-diameter gravity fed raw water transmission pipe. The project 
would be located near the City of Ione in Amador County, California.
    Applicant Contact: Gene Mancebo, Amador Water Agency, 12800 Ridge 
Road, Sutter Creek, CA 95685, Phone No. (209) 257-5245.
    FERC Contact: Robert Bell, Phone No. (202) 502-6062, email: 
[email protected].
    Qualifying Conduit Hydropower Facility Description: The proposed 
project would consist of: (1) A proposed 90-foot long, 12-inch-diameter 
intake pipe, (2) a proposed 447.6-kW turbine parallel to and replacing 
the existing pressure reducing valve, (3) a proposed 260-foot-long 12-
inch diameter outlet pipe emptying into the supply reservoir, and (4) 
appurtenant facilities. The proposed project would have an estimated 
annual generating capacity of 1,400 megawatt-hours.
    A qualifying conduit hydropower facility is one that is determined 
or deemed to meet all of the criteria shown in the table below.

      Table 1--Criteria for Qualifying Conduit Hydropower Facility
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Satisfies
       Statutory provision                Description            (Y/N)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
FPA 30(a)(3)(A), as amended by     The conduit is a tunnel,           Y
 HREA.                              canal, pipeline,
                                    aqueduct, flume, ditch,
                                    or similar manmade water
                                    conveyance that is
                                    operated for the
                                    distribution of water
                                    for agricultural,
                                    municipal, or industrial
                                    consumption and not
                                    primarily for the
                                    generation of
                                    electricity.
FPA 30(a)(3)(C)(i), as amended by  The facility is                    Y
 HREA.                              constructed, operated,
                                    or maintained for the
                                    generation of electric
                                    power and uses for such
                                    generation only the
                                    hydroelectric potential
                                    of a non-federally owned
                                    conduit.
FPA 30(a)(3)(C)(ii), as amended    The facility has an                Y
 by HREA.                           installed capacity that
                                    does not exceed 5
                                    megawatts.
FPA 30(a)(3)(C)(iii), as amended   On or before August 9,             Y
 by HREA.                           2013, the facility is
                                    not licensed, or
                                    exempted from the
                                    licensing requirements
                                    of Part I of the FPA.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Preliminary Determination: Based upon the above criteria, 
Commission staff has preliminarily determined that the proposal 
satisfies the requirements for a qualifying conduit hydropower facility 
under 16 U.S.C. 823a, and is exempted from the licensing requirements 
of the FPA.
    Comments and Motions to Intervene: The deadline for filing comments 
contesting whether the facility meets the qualifying criteria is 45 
days from the issuance date of this notice.
    The deadline for filing motions to intervene is 30 days from the 
issuance date of this notice.
    Anyone may submit comments or a motion to intervene in accordance 
with the requirements of Rules of Practice and Procedure, 18 CFR 
385.210 and 385.214. Any motions to intervene must be received on or 
before the specified deadline date for the particular proceeding.
    Filing and Service of Responsive Documents: All filings must (1) 
bear in all capital letters the ``COMMENTS CONTESTING QUALIFICATION FOR 
A CONDUIT HYDROPOWER FACILITY'' or ``MOTION TO INTERVENE,'' as 
applicable; (2) state in the heading the name of the applicant and the 
project number of the application to which the filing responds; (3) 
state the name, address, and telephone number of the person filing; and 
(4) otherwise comply with the requirements of sections 385.2001 through 
385.2005 of the Commission's regulations.\1\ All comments contesting 
Commission staff's preliminary determination that the facility meets 
the qualifying criteria must set forth their evidentiary basis.
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    \1\ 18 CFR 385.2001-2005 (2015).
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    The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file 
motions to intervene and comments using the Commission's eFiling system 
at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp. Commenters can submit 
brief comments up to 6,000 characters, without prior registration, 
using the eComment system at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ecomment.asp. 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, please send a paper 
copy to: Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First 
Street NE., Washington, DC 20426. 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.
    Locations of Notice of Intent: Copies of the notice of intent can 
be obtained directly from the applicant or such copies can be viewed 
and reproduced at the Commission in its Public Reference Room, Room 2A, 
888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426. The filing may also be 
viewed on the web at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/elibrary.asp using 
the ``eLibrary'' link. Enter the docket number (e.g., CD16-19-000) in 
the docket number field to access the document. For assistance, call 
toll-free 1-866-208-3676 or email [email protected]. For TTY, 
call (202) 502-8659.

    Dated: August 25, 2016.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-20981 Filed 8-30-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P