On March 1, 2021, Brainerd Public Utilities filed a relicense application for the 3.5425-megawatt Brainerd Hydroelectric Project No. 2533 (project). The project is located on the Mississippi River, in the City of Brainerd, in Crow Wing County, Minnesota. The project does not occupy federal land.

In accordance with the Commission's regulations, on November 1, 2022, Commission staff issued a notice that the project was ready for environmental analysis (REA notice). Based on the information in the record, staff does not anticipate that licensing the project would constitute a major federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. Therefore, staff intends to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) on the application to relicense the project. ( printed page 6248)

The EA will be issued and circulated for review by all interested parties. All comments filed on the EA will be analyzed by staff and considered in the Commission's final licensing decision.

The application will be processed according to the following schedule. Revisions to the schedule may be made as appropriate.

Any questions regarding this notice may be directed to Patrick Ely at patrick.ely@ferc.gov or (202) 502-8570.