81 FR 79468 - Moriah Hydro Corporation; Notice of Scoping Meetings and Environmental Site Review and Soliciting Scoping Comments
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 219 (November 14, 2016)
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 219 (November 14, 2016)
| Page Range | 79468-79469 | |
| FR Document | 2016-27253 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 219 (Monday, November 14, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 79468-79469] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-27253] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Project No. 12635-002] Moriah Hydro Corporation; Notice of Scoping Meetings and Environmental Site Review and Soliciting Scoping Comments Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection: a. Type of Application: Original Major License. b. Project No.: P-12635-002. c. Date filed: February 13, 2015. d. Applicant: Moriah Hydro Corporation. e. Name of Project: Mineville Energy Storage Project. f. Location: The project would be located in an abandoned subterranean mine complex \1\ in the town of Moriah, Essex County, New York. No federal lands are occupied by project works or located within the project boundary. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ The existing mine complex is composed of the interconnected Old Bed, Bonanza open pit, and Harmony mines. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791(a)-825(r). h. Applicant Contact: James A. Besha, President, Moriah Hydro Corporation, c/o Albany Engineering Corporation, 5 Washington Square, Albany, New York 12205, (518) 456-7712. i. FERC Contact: Chris Millard (202) 502-8256 or [email protected]. j. Deadline for filing scoping comments: January 7, 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. 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. The first page of any filing should include docket number P-12635-002. The Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedures 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 for filing, but is not ready for environmental analysis at this time. l. The proposed project consists of: (1) An upper reservoir located within the upper portion of the mine between elevations 495 and 1,095 feet above mean seal level (msl), with a surface area of 4 acres and a storage capacity of 2,448 acre-feet; (2) a lower reservoir in the lower portion of the mine between elevations -1,075 and -1,555 feet msl, with a surface area of 5.1 acres and a storage capacity of 2,448 acre-feet; (3) a 14-foot-diameter and 2,955-foot-long upper reservoir shaft connecting the upper reservoir to the high-pressure penstock located below the powerhouse chamber floor; (4) a 14-foot-diameter and 2,955- foot-long lower reservoir shaft connecting the lower reservoir and the lower reservoir ventilation tunnel; (5) two 6-foot-diameter emergency evacuation shafts located between the powerhouse chamber and the electrical equipment chamber; (6) a 25-foot-diameter main shaft extending 2,955 feet from the surface down to the powerhouse chamber; (7) 15-foot-diameter high- and low-pressure steel penstocks embedded beneath the powerhouse chamber floor; (8) a 320-foot-long by 80-foot- wide powerhouse chamber, containing 100 reversible pump-turbine units, each with a nameplate generating capacity of 2.4 megawatts; (9) a 274- foot-long by 36-foot-wide underground electrical equipment chamber adjacent to the powerhouse chamber; (10) an inclined electrical tunnel connecting the electrical equipment chamber to a new 115-kilovolt (kV) substation constructed adjacent to an existing single circuit 115-kV transmission line located about one horizontal mile from the underground powerhouse chamber; and (11) appurtenant facilities. The project would operate as a closed-loop system to meet energy demands and grid control requirements. The project would have an average annual generation of 421 gigawatt-hours (GWh). The average pumping power used by the project would be 554 GWh. 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. 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 Assessment (EA) on the project in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act. The EA will consider both site-specific and cumulative environmental impacts and reasonable alternatives to the proposed action. [[Page 79469]] 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 EA. The times and locations of these meetings are as follows: Agency Scoping Meeting Date: Wednesday, December 7, 2016 Time: 10:00 a.m. Place: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Region 5 Sub-Office, Conference Room A Address: 232 Golf Course Road, Warrensburg, New York 12885 Public Scoping Meeting Date: Thursday, December 8, 2016 Time: 7:00 p.m. Place: Moriah Central School Auditorium Address: Moriah Central School, 39 Viking Lane, Port Henry, New York 12974 Copies of the Scoping Document (SD1) outlining the subject areas to be addressed in the EA 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 2:00 p.m. on December 8, 2016. All interested individuals, organizations, and agencies are invited to attend. All participants should meet at the informal parking area of the Moriah Highway Department at 30 Joyce Rd, Mineville, New York. Anyone with questions about the Environmental Site Review should contact Wendy Carey, consultant for Moriah Hydro Corporation at (518) 456-7712. Objectives At the scoping meetings, the staff will: (1) Summarize the environmental issues tentatively identified for analysis in the EA; (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 EA, including viewpoints in opposition to, or in support of, the staff's preliminary views; (4) determine the resource issues to be addressed in the EA; 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 EA. Dated: November 4, 2016. Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr., Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2016-27253 Filed 11-10-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
![79468 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 219 / Monday, November 14, 2016 / Notices
not serve to make protestants parties to mine complex 1 in the town of Moriah, upper reservoir to the high-pressure
the proceeding. Any person wishing to Essex County, New York. No federal penstock located below the powerhouse
become a party must file a notice of lands are occupied by project works or chamber floor; (4) a 14-foot-diameter
intervention or motion to intervene, as located within the project boundary. and 2,955-foot-long lower reservoir shaft
appropriate. Such notices, motions, or g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power connecting the lower reservoir and the
protests must be filed on or before the Act, 16 U.S.C. 791(a)–825(r). lower reservoir ventilation tunnel; (5)
comment date. On or before the h. Applicant Contact: James A. Besha, two 6-foot-diameter emergency
comment date, it is not necessary to President, Moriah Hydro Corporation, c/ evacuation shafts located between the
serve motions to intervene or protests o Albany Engineering Corporation, 5 powerhouse chamber and the electrical
on persons other than the Applicant. Washington Square, Albany, New York equipment chamber; (6) a 25-foot-
The Commission encourages 12205, (518) 456–7712. diameter main shaft extending 2,955
electronic submission of protests and i. FERC Contact: Chris Millard (202) feet from the surface down to the
interventions in lieu of paper using the 502–8256 or christopher.millard@ powerhouse chamber; (7) 15-foot-
‘‘eFiling’’ link at http://www.ferc.gov. ferc.gov. diameter high- and low-pressure steel
Persons unable to file electronically j. Deadline for filing scoping penstocks embedded beneath the
should submit an original and 5 copies comments: January 7, 2016. powerhouse chamber floor; (8) a 320-
of the protest or intervention to the The Commission strongly encourages foot-long by 80-foot-wide powerhouse
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, electronic filing. Please file scoping chamber, containing 100 reversible
888 First Street NE., Washington, DC comments using the Commission’s pump-turbine units, each with a
20426. eFiling system at http://www.ferc.gov/ nameplate generating capacity of 2.4
This filing is accessible on-line at docs-filing/efiling.asp. Commenters can megawatts; (9) a 274-foot-long by 36-
http://www.ferc.gov, using the submit brief comments up to 6,000 foot-wide underground electrical
‘‘eLibrary’’ link and is available for characters, without prior registration, equipment chamber adjacent to the
electronic review in the Commission’s using the eComment system at http:// powerhouse chamber; (10) an inclined
Public Reference Room in Washington, www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ electrical tunnel connecting the
DC There is an ‘‘eSubscription’’ link on ecomment.asp. You must include your electrical equipment chamber to a new
the Web site that enables subscribers to name and contact information at the end 115-kilovolt (kV) substation constructed
receive email notification when a of your comments. For assistance, adjacent to an existing single circuit
document is added to a subscribed please contact FERC Online Support at 115-kV transmission line located about
docket(s). For assistance with any FERC FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, (866) one horizontal mile from the
Online service, please email 208–3676 (toll free), or (202) 502–8659 underground powerhouse chamber; and
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, or call (TTY). In lieu of electronic filing, please (11) appurtenant facilities. The project
(866) 208–3676 (toll free). For TTY, call send a paper copy to: Secretary, Federal would operate as a closed-loop system
(202) 502–8659. Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 to meet energy demands and grid
Comment Date: 5:00 p.m. Eastern First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426. control requirements. The project would
Time on November 21, 2016. The first page of any filing should have an average annual generation of
include docket number P–12635–002. 421 gigawatt-hours (GWh). The average
Dated: November 4, 2016.
The Commission’s Rules of Practice pumping power used by the project
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr., and Procedures require all intervenors would be 554 GWh.
Deputy Secretary. filing documents with the Commission
[FR Doc. 2016–27255 Filed 11–10–16; 8:45 am] to serve a copy of that document on m. A copy of the application is
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P each person on the official service list available for review at the Commission
for the project. Further, if an intervenor in the Public Reference Room or may be
files comments or documents with the viewed on the Commission’s Web site at
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Commission relating to the merits of an http://www.ferc.gov using the
issue that may affect the responsibilities ‘‘eLibrary’’ link. Enter the docket
Federal Energy Regulatory of a particular resource agency, they number excluding the last three digits in
Commission must also serve a copy of the document the docket number field to access the
on that resource agency. document. For assistance, contact FERC
[Project No. 12635–002]
k. This application has been accepted Online Support. A copy is also available
Moriah Hydro Corporation; Notice of for filing, but is not ready for for inspection and reproduction at the
Scoping Meetings and Environmental environmental analysis at this time. address in item h above.
Site Review and Soliciting Scoping l. The proposed project consists of: (1) Register online at http://
Comments An upper reservoir located within the www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/
upper portion of the mine between esubscription.asp to be notified via
Take notice that the following elevations 495 and 1,095 feet above email of new filings and issuances
hydroelectric application has been filed mean seal level (msl), with a surface related to this or other pending projects.
with the Commission and is available area of 4 acres and a storage capacity of For assistance, contact FERC Online
for public inspection: 2,448 acre-feet; (2) a lower reservoir in Support.
a. Type of Application: Original Major the lower portion of the mine between
License. n. Scoping Process
elevations ¥1,075 and ¥1,555 feet msl,
b. Project No.: P–12635–002. The Commission intends to prepare
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
with a surface area of 5.1 acres and a
c. Date filed: February 13, 2015. an Environmental Assessment (EA) on
storage capacity of 2,448 acre-feet; (3) a
d. Applicant: Moriah Hydro the project in accordance with the
14-foot-diameter and 2,955-foot-long
Corporation. National Environmental Policy Act. The
upper reservoir shaft connecting the
e. Name of Project: Mineville Energy EA will consider both site-specific and
Storage Project. 1 The existing mine complex is composed of the cumulative environmental impacts and
f. Location: The project would be interconnected Old Bed, Bonanza open pit, and reasonable alternatives to the proposed
located in an abandoned subterranean Harmony mines. action.
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![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 219 / Monday, November 14, 2016 / Notices 79469
Scoping Meetings statements from experts and the public the technical conference will be
FERC staff will conduct one agency on issues that should be analyzed in the available for a fee from Ace-Federal
scoping meeting and one public EA, including viewpoints in opposition Reporters, Inc. at (202) 347–3700. A free
meeting. The agency scoping meeting to, or in support of, the staff’s webcast of this event will be available
will focus on resource agency and non- preliminary views; (4) determine the through www.ferc.gov. Anyone with
resource issues to be addressed in the internet access who wants to view this
governmental organization (NGO)
EA; and (5) identify those issues that event can do so by navigating to the
concerns, while the public scoping
require a detailed analysis, as well as Calendar of Events at www.ferc.gov and
meeting is primarily for public input.
those issues that do not require a locating this event in the Calendar. The
All interested individuals,
detailed analysis. event will contain a link to its webcast.
organizations, and agencies are invited
to attend one or both of the meetings, Procedures The Capitol Connection provides
and to assist the staff in identifying the technical support for webcasts and
The meetings will be recorded by a offers the option of listening to the
scope of the environmental issues that stenographer and become part of the
should be analyzed in the EA. The times workshop via phone-bridge for a fee. If
formal record of the Commission you have any questions, visit
and locations of these meetings are as proceeding on the project.
follows: www.CapitolConnection.org or call (703)
Individuals, organizations, and 993–3100.
Agency Scoping Meeting agencies with environmental expertise Those interested in attending the
and concerns are encouraged to attend technical conference or viewing the
Date: Wednesday, December 7, 2016 the meeting and to assist the staff in
Time: 10:00 a.m. webcast are encouraged to register at
defining and clarifying the issues to be https://www.ferc.gov/whats-new/
Place: New York State Department of addressed in the EA.
Environmental Conservation, Region registration/11-09-16-form.asp.
Dated: November 4, 2016. Commission technical conferences are
5 Sub-Office, Conference Room A
Address: 232 Golf Course Road, Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr., accessible under section 508 of the
Warrensburg, New York 12885 Deputy Secretary. Rehabilitation Act of 1973. For
[FR Doc. 2016–27253 Filed 11–10–16; 8:45 am] accessibility accommodations, please
Public Scoping Meeting BILLING CODE 6717–01–P send an email to accessibility@ferc.gov,
Date: Thursday, December 8, 2016 call (866) 208–3372 (toll free) or (202)
Time: 7:00 p.m. 208–8659 (TTY), or send a FAX to (202)
Place: Moriah Central School DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 208–2106 with the required
Auditorium accommodations.
Address: Moriah Central School, 39 Federal Energy Regulatory While this conference is not for the
Viking Lane, Port Henry, New York Commission purpose of discussing specific cases, we
12974 [Docket No. AD16–25–000] note that the discussions at the
conference may address matters at issue
Copies of the Scoping Document
Utilization in the Organized Markets of in the following Commission
(SD1) outlining the subject areas to be
Electric Storage Resources as proceedings that are either pending or
addressed in the EA were distributed to
Transmission Assets Compensated within their rehearing period:
the parties on the Commission’s mailing
Through Transmission Rates, for Grid
list. Copies of the SD1 will be available Docket Nos.
Support Services Compensated in
at the scoping meeting or may be
Other Ways, and for Multiple Services;
viewed on the web at http:// Electric Storage Participation AD16–20.
Further Supplemental Notice of
www.ferc.gov using the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link in Regions with Organized
Technical Conference
(see item m above). Wholesale Electric Markets.
As announced in the Notice of ISO New England Inc. .......... ER17–68.
Environmental Site Review Indianapolis Power & Light EL17–8.
Technical Conference issued on
The Applicant and FERC staff will September 30, 2016 and the Company v. Midcontinent
conduct a project Environmental Site Independent System Oper-
Supplemental Notice of Technical ator, Inc.
Review beginning at 2:00 p.m. on Conference issued on November 1, New York Independent Sys- ER13–102.
December 8, 2016. All interested 2016, the Federal Energy Regulatory tem Operator, Inc.
individuals, organizations, and agencies Commission (Commission) staff will New York Independent Sys- ER15–2059.
are invited to attend. All participants convene a technical conference on tem Operator, Inc.
should meet at the informal parking area November 9, 2016, at the Commission’s New York Independent Sys- ER16–120.
of the Moriah Highway Department at offices at 888 First Street NE., tem Operator, Inc.
30 Joyce Rd, Mineville, New York. Washington, DC 20426 beginning at New York Independent Sys- ER16–1404.
Anyone with questions about the approximately 10:00 a.m. and ending at tem Operator, Inc.
Environmental Site Review should approximately 3:00 p.m. (Eastern Time).
contact Wendy Carey, consultant for Commission staff will lead the For more information about this
Moriah Hydro Corporation at (518) 456– conference, and Commissioners may technical conference, please contact:
7712. attend. Rahim Amerkhail (Technical
The purpose of the technical Information)
Objectives Office of Energy Policy and Innovation
conference is to discuss the utilization
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
At the scoping meetings, the staff will: of electric storage resources as Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
(1) Summarize the environmental issues transmission assets compensated 888 First Street NE.
tentatively identified for analysis in the through transmission rates, for grid Washington, DC 20426
EA; (2) solicit from the meeting support services that are compensated (202) 502–8266
participants all available information, in other ways, and for multiple services. rahim.amerkhail@ferc.gov.
especially quantifiable data, on the This technical conference will be Sarah McKinley (Logistical Information)
resources at issue; (3) encourage transcribed and webcast. Transcripts of Office of External Affairs
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Document Created: 2018-10-24 10:49:04
Document Modified: 2018-10-24 10:49:04
| 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, December 7, 2016 Time: 10:00 a.m. Place: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Region 5 Sub-Office, Conference Room A | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 79468 |
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