81 FR 70106 - California American Water, Southern Division; 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 196 (October 11, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 196 (Tuesday, October 11, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 70106]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-24472]



[[Page 70106]]

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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CD16-23-000]


California American Water, Southern Division; Notice of 
Preliminary Determination of a Qualifying Conduit Hydropower Facility 
and Soliciting Comments and Motions To Intervene

    On September 28, 2016, the California American Water, Southern 
Division 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 Highland Tank Pressure Reducing Valve 
Modernization Project would have an installed capacity of 177 kilowatts 
(kW) and would be located in the Highland Tank Pressure Reducing 
Station on an existing 24-inch-diameter water supply pipe. The project 
would be located near the City of San Diego in San Diego County, 
California.
    Applicant Contact: Mark Reifer, California American Water, Southern 
Division, 8657 Grand Avenue, Rosemead, CA 91770, Phone No. (626) 614-
2517.
    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 10-foot long, 14-inch-diameter 
intake pipe off the 24-inch main pipeline, (2) a proposed powerhouse 
bypassing the existing pressure reducing valve station, containing two 
generating units with a total installed capacity of 177-kW, (3) a 
proposed 350-foot-long 14-inch diameter outlet pipe returning to the 
24-inch main pipeline, and (4) appurtenant facilities. The proposed 
project would have an estimated annual generating capacity of 916.650 
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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Statutory provision                                 Description                    Satisfies (Y/N)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FPA 30(a)(3)(A), as amended by HREA...........  The conduit is a tunnel, canal, pipeline,                     Y
                                                 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 HREA........  The facility is constructed, operated, or                     Y
                                                 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 by HREA.......  The facility has an installed capacity that                   Y
                                                 does not exceed 5 megawatts.
FPA 30(a)(3)(C)(iii), as amended by HREA......  On or before August 9, 2013, the facility is                  Y
                                                 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 18 CFR 385.2001-2005 (2015).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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., CD16-23-000) 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: October 4, 2016.
Kimberly Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-24472 Filed 10-7-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P