82 FR 61560 - Alpine Pacific Utilities Hydro, LLC; Notice of Application Accepted for Filing With the Commission, Soliciting Motions To Intervene and Protests, Ready for Environmental Analysis, Intent To Waive Scoping, Soliciting Comments, Terms and Conditions, Recommendations, and Prescriptions

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 248 (December 28, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 248 (Thursday, December 28, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61560-61562]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-28093]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 14751-002]


Alpine Pacific Utilities Hydro, LLC; Notice of Application 
Accepted for Filing With the Commission, Soliciting Motions To 
Intervene and Protests, Ready for Environmental Analysis, Intent To 
Waive Scoping, Soliciting Comments, Terms and Conditions, 
Recommendations, and Prescriptions

    Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been 
filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection.
    a. Type of Application: Original Minor License.
    b. Project No.: 14751-002.
    c. Date filed: February 1, 2017.
    d. Applicant: Alpine Pacific Utilities Hydro, LLC.
    e. Name of Project: Fresno Dam Site Water Power Project.
    f. Location: On the Milk River in Hill County, Montana near the 
town of Kremlin at the existing Bureau of Reclamation Fresno Dam.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act 16 U.S.C. 791(a)-825(r).
    h. Applicant Contact: Mr. Justin Ahmann, Alpine Pacific Utilities 
Hydro, LLC, 75 Somers Road, Somers, Montana 59932, (406) 755-1333.
    i. FERC Contact: John Matkowski, (202) 502-8576 or 
[email protected].
    j. Deadline for filing motions to intervene and protests, comments, 
terms and conditions, recommendations, and prescriptions: 60 days from 
the issuance date of this notice; reply comments are due 105 days from 
the issuance date of this notice.
    The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file 
motions to

[[Page 61561]]

intervene and protests, comments, terms and conditions, 
recommendations, and prescriptions 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-14751-002.
    The Commission's Rules of Practice 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 and is now ready 
for environmental analysis.
    l. The proposed project would use the existing Fresno Dam, intake 
with trashrack, and outlet structure owned and operated by the Bureau 
of Reclamation and consist of the following new facilities: (1) Two 
penstock adapters consisting of (i) a 72-inch diameter circular section 
transitioning to (ii) a 72-inch-high by 60-inch wide rectangular 
section that connects the existing outlet works to (2) a series of 
rectangular concrete adapter boxes that apportion flow into either the 
proposed turbines or to the existing gate house; (3) an underground 
powerhouse containing one 875-kilowatt (kW) and one 625-kW Natel Energy 
turbine with a total rated capacity of 1.5 megawatts; (4) two 5-foot-
wide by 6-foot-high, 85-foot-long concrete tailraces; (5) a 400-square-
foot switchyard; (6) an approximately 3.35-mile-long, 12.74-kilovolt 
underground transmission line; and (7) appurtenant facilities. The 
proposed project would have an average annual generation of 6,251 
megawatt-hours.
    m. Due to the applicant's close coordination with state and federal 
agencies during the preparation of the application and the lack of any 
study requests submitted during pre-filing consultation and in response 
to the Commission's tendering notice, we intend to waive scoping. Based 
on a review of the application, resource agency consultation letters, 
and comments filed to date, Commission staff intends to prepare a 
single environmental assessment (EA). The issues that need to be 
addressed in the EA have been adequately identified during the pre-
filing period, which included a public meeting and site visit, and no 
new issues are likely to be identified through additional scoping. The 
EA will assess the potential effects of project construction and 
operation on geology and soils, aquatic, terrestrial, threatened and 
endangered species, recreation and land use, aesthetic, and cultural 
and historic resources.
    n. 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 website 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.
    o. Any qualified applicant desiring to file a competing application 
must submit to the Commission, on or before the specified intervention 
deadline date, a competing development application, or a notice of 
intent to file such an application. Submission of a timely notice of 
intent allows an interested person to file the competing development 
application no later than 120 days after the specified intervention 
deadline date. Applications for preliminary permits will not be 
accepted in response to this notice.
    A notice of intent must specify the exact name, business address, 
and telephone number of the prospective applicant, and must include an 
unequivocal statement of intent to submit a development application. A 
notice of intent must be served on the applicant(s) named in this 
public notice.
    Anyone may submit comments, a protest, or a motion to intervene in 
accordance with the requirements of Rules of Practice and Procedure, 18 
CFR 385.210, .211, and .214. In determining the appropriate action to 
take, the Commission will consider all protests or other comments 
filed, but only those who file a motion to intervene in accordance with 
the Commission's Rules may become a party to the proceeding. Any 
comments, protests, or motions to intervene must be received on or 
before the specified comment date for the particular application.
    All filings must (1) bear in all capital letters the title PROTEST, 
MOTION TO INTERVENE, NOTICE OF INTENT TO FILE COMPETING APPLICATION, 
COMPETING APPLICATION, COMMENTS, REPLY COMMENTS, RECOMMENDATIONS, TERMS 
AND CONDITIONS, or PRESCRIPTIONS; (2) set forth in the heading the name 
of the applicant and the project number of the application to which the 
filing responds; (3) furnish the name, address, and telephone number of 
the person protesting or intervening; and (4) otherwise comply with the 
requirements of 18 CFR 385.2001 through 385.2005. All comments, 
recommendations, terms and conditions or prescriptions must set forth 
their evidentiary basis and otherwise comply with the requirements of 
18 CFR 4.34(b). Agencies may obtain copies of the application directly 
from the applicant. A copy of any protest or motion to intervene must 
be served upon each representative of the applicant specified in the 
particular application. 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.
    p. A license applicant must file no later than 60 days following 
the date of issuance of this notice: (1) A copy of the water quality 
certification; (2) a copy of the request for certification, including 
proof of the date on which the certifying agency received the request; 
or (3) evidence of waiver of water quality certification.
    q. Procedural schedule: We intend to accept the consultation that 
has occurred on this project during the pre-filing period as satisfying 
our requirements for the standard 3-stage consultation process under 18 
CFR 4.38 and for National Environmental Policy Act scoping and the 
application will be processed according to the following procedural 
schedule. Revisions to the schedule may be made as appropriate.

[[Page 61562]]



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               Milestone                           Target date
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Comments, recommendations, and terms     60 days from issuance of this
 and conditions due.                      notice.
Reply comments due.....................  105 days from issuance of this
                                          notice.
Notice of the availability of the EA...  August 2018.
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    Dated: December 21, 2017.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-28093 Filed 12-27-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P