City of Sturgis, Michigan; Notice of Application for Temporary Variance Accepted for Filing, Soliciting Comments, Motions To Intervene, and Protests

Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection:

a. Application Type: Temporary variance from impoundment elevation.

b. Project No: 2964-046.

c. Date Filed: July 31, 2026.

d. Applicant: City of Sturgis, Michigan.

e. Name of Project: Sturgis Hydroelectric Project.

f. Location: The project is located on the St. Joseph River in St. Joseph County, Michigan. The project does not occupy any federal lands.

g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791a-825r.

h. Applicant Contact: Chris McArthur, Electric Superintendent, City of Sturgis, Michigan, 206 E West Street, Sturgis, MI 49091, cmcarthur@sturgismi.gov, (269) 659-7298.

i. FERC Contact: Selina Sumi, (202) 502-6892, selina.sumi@ferc.gov.

j. Cooperating agencies: With this notice, the Commission is inviting federal, state, local, and Tribal agencies with jurisdiction and/or special expertise with respect to environmental issues affected by the proposal, that wish to cooperate in the preparation of any environmental document, if applicable, to follow the instructions for filing such requests described in item k below. Cooperating agencies should note the Commission's policy that agencies that cooperate in the preparation of any environmental document cannot also intervene. See 94 FERC ¶ 61,076 (2001).

k. Deadline for filing comments, motions to intervene, and protests: October 1, 2026 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file comments, motions to intervene, and protests using the Commission's eFiling system at 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 www.ferc.gov/​docs-filing/​ecomment.asp. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, (866) 208-3676 (toll free), or (202) 502-8659 (TTY). In lieu of electronic filing, you may submit a paper copy. Submissions sent via the U.S. Postal Service must be addressed to: Debbie-Anne A. Reese, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426. Submissions sent via any other carrier must be addressed to: Debbie-Anne A. Reese, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, MD 20852. The first page of any filing should include the docket number P-2964-046. Comments emailed to Commission staff are not considered part of the Commission record.

The Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure require all intervenors filing documents with the Commission to serve a copy of that document on each person whose name appears 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. ( printed page 56874)

l. Description of Request: The applicant requests Commission approval for a temporary variance from the impoundment elevation requirements set forth in condition 1.1 of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy's water quality certification to facilitate a scheduled drawdown of the project impoundment. The purpose of the drawdown is to mitigate risk during construction of several critical dam safety improvements. The proposed variance would allow the licensee to address ongoing seepage issues at the toe of slope of the main earthen embankment and stability issues with the downstream slope of the earthen embankment. Additional improvement works combined with the main earthen embankment repair includes raising the crest of the detached earthen embankment, raising the concrete spillway abutment wall, removing and replacing the grout mattress with riprap on the upstream earthen embankment slope, construction of an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant path to the St. Joseph River, and addressing surface drainage along the toe of the dam and access road. The licensee would lower the impoundment approximately 2.9 feet to an elevation of 822.7 National Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD 29). The drawdown of the impoundment is scheduled to begin after Labor Day ( i.e., after September 7, 2026) and would utilize a drawdown rate not to exceed one-half foot (or six inches) per 24-hour period. The drawdown is proposed to be completed no later than September 15, 2026. Proposed construction activities associated with the dam would not be complete prior to October 15, 2027, and the impoundment is proposed to remain in its lowered state until April 2028.

m. Locations of the Application: This filing may be viewed on the Commission's website at 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. You may also register online at 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, call 1-866-208-3676 or email FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, for TTY, call (202) 502-8659. Agencies may obtain copies of the application directly from the applicant.

n. Individuals desiring to be included on the Commission's mailing list should so indicate by writing to the Secretary of the Commission.

o. Comments, Protests, or Motions to Intervene: 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, .214, respectively. 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.

p. Filing and Service of Documents: Any filing must (1) bear in all capital letters the title “COMMENTS”, “PROTEST”, or “MOTION TO INTERVENE” as applicable; (2) set forth in the heading the name of the applicant and the project number of the application to which the filing responds; and (3) otherwise comply with the requirements of 18 CFR 385.2001 through 385.2005. All comments, motions to intervene, or protests must set forth their evidentiary basis. Any filing made by an intervenor 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 385.2010.

q. For public inquiries and assistance with making filings such as interventions, comments, or requests for rehearing, contact the Office of Public Participation at (202) 502-6595 or OPP@ferc.gov.

(Authority: 18 CFR 2.1)

.