Pontook Operating Limited Partnership & New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services; Notice of Intent To File License Application, Filing of Pre-Application Document (Pad), Commencement of Pre-Filing Process, and Scoping; Request for Comments on the Pad and Scoping Document, and Identification of Issues and Associated Study Requests

a. Type of Filing: Notice of Intent to File License Application for a New License and Commencing Pre-filing Process.

b. Project No.: 2861-056.

c. Date Filed: July 17, 2026.

d. Submitted By: Pontook Operating Limited Partnership (Pontook Partnership).

e. Name of Project: Pontook Hydroelectric Project.

f. Location: The project is located on the Androscoggin River, in the Town of Dummer, Coos County, New Hampshire.

g. Filed Pursuant to:18 CFR part 5 of the Commission's Regulations.

h. Potential Applicant Contact: Sean McDermott, Licensing Manager, Pontook Limited Operating Partnership, 472 Main St., Berlin, NH 03570.

i. FERC Contact: Tamika Ali-Yerima at (202) 502-6391; or email tamika.ali-yerima@ferc.gov.

j. Cooperating agencies: Federal, state, local, and Tribal agencies with jurisdiction and/or special expertise with respect to environmental issues that wish to cooperate in the preparation of the environmental document should follow the instructions for filing such requests described in item (o) below. Cooperating agencies should note the Commission's policy that agencies that cooperate in the preparation of the environmental document cannot also intervene. See 94 FERC ¶ 61,076 (2001).

k. With this notice, we are initiating informal consultation with: (a) the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and/or NOAA Fisheries under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act and the joint agency regulations thereunder at 50 CFR, Part 402 and (b) the State Historic Preservation Officer, as required by section 106, National Historic Preservation Act, and the implementing regulations of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation at 36 CFR 800.2.

l. With this notice, we are designating Pontook Partnership as the Commission's non-federal representative for carrying out informal consultation, pursuant to section 7 of the Endangered Species Act and section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.

m. Pontook Partnership filed with the Commission a Pre-Application Document (PAD; including a proposed process plan and schedule), pursuant to 18 CFR 5.6 of the Commission's regulations.

n. A copy of the PAD is available for review on the Commission's website ( 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 at fercolinesupport@ferc.gov, (866) 208-3676 (toll free), or (202) 502-8659 (TTY). A copy is also available via the contact in item (h) above.

Register online at www.ferc.gov/​docs-filing/​esubscription.asp to be notified via email of new filing and issuances related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support.

o. With this notice, we are soliciting comments on the PAD and Commission's staff Scoping Document 1 (SD1), as well as study requests. All comments on the PAD and SD1, and study requests, should be sent to the address above in item (h). In addition, all comments on the PAD and SD1, study requests, requests for cooperating agency status, and all communications to and from Commission staff related to the merits of the potential application must be filed with the Commission.

The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file all documents using the Commission's eFiling system at www.ferc.gov/​docs-filing/​efiling.asp. Commenters can submit brief comments up to 10,000 characters, without prior registration, using the eComment system at ferconline.ferc.gov/​FERCOnline.aspx. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. 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, M.D. 20852. The first page of any filing must clearly identify the project name and docket number: Pontook Hydroelectric Project (P-2861-056).

All filings with the Commission must bear the appropriate heading: “Comments on Pre-Application Document,” “Study Requests,” “Comments on Scoping Document 1,” “Request for Cooperating Agency Status,” or “Communications to and from Commission Staff.” Any individual or entity interested in submitting study requests, commenting on the PAD or SD1, and any agency requesting cooperating status must do so on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on November 16, 2026.

p. Scoping Process

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Commission staff will prepare either an environmental assessment (EA) or an environmental impact statement (EIS) (collectively referred to as the “NEPA document”). The primary goal of the scoping process is to identify the specific environmental issues and concerns that should be considered in the NEPA document. The Commission's scoping process will help determine the required level of analysis and satisfy NEPA scoping requirements, irrespective of whether the Commission prepares an EA or EIS.

Scoping Sessions

Commission staff will hold two scoping sessions in the vicinity of the project. We invite all interested agencies, Indian Tribes, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and individuals to attend one or both of the meetings and assist staff in defining and clarifying the issues to be addressed. The dates, times, and locations of the scoping sessions will be provided in a future notice.

Scoping Document 1 (SD1), which outlines the subject areas to be ( printed page 59119) addressed in the NEPA document, was mailed to the individuals and entities on the Commission's mailing list and Pontook Partnership's PAD distribution list. Scoping session participants should come prepared to describe their issues and/or concerns. Please review the PAD and SD1 in preparation for the scoping sessions. Copies of SD1 will be available at the scoping meetings, or may be viewed on the web at www.ferc.gov, using the “eLibrary” link. Directions on how to obtain a copy of the PAD and SD1 are included above in item (n).

Based on all oral and written comments, a Scoping Document 2 (SD2) may be issued. SD2 may include a revised process plan and schedule, as well as a list of issues, identified through the scoping process.

Meeting Procedures

The scoping sessions will begin promptly at their respective start times listed above. There will not be a formal presentation by Commission staff when the session opens, and you may arrive any time after the scheduled start time. Individual oral comments will be taken on a one-on-one basis with a court reporter. This format is designed to receive the maximum number of oral comments in a convenient way during the timeframe allotted. If you wish to speak, Commission staff will hand out numbers in the order of your arrival. If a significant number of people are interested in providing oral comments in the one-on-one setting, a time limit may be implemented for each commentor. If all individuals who wish to provide comments have had an opportunity to do so, staff may conclude the session half an hour earlier than the scheduled time.

Your oral comments will be recorded by the court reporter and become part of the public record for this proceeding. Transcripts will be publicly available on FERC's eLibrary system [see item (n) above for instructions on using eLibrary].

Although there will not be a formal presentation, Commission staff will be available throughout the scoping session to answer your questions about the environmental review process. Representatives from Pontook Partnership will also be present to answer project-specific questions.

Proper conduct will help the sessions maintain a respectful atmosphere for attendees to provide comments effectively. Loudspeakers, lighting, oversized visual aids, other visual or audible disturbances, and disruptive video and photographic equipment are not permitted. Recorded interviews are also not permitted within the session space. FERC reserves the right to end the session if disruptions interfere with the opportunity for individuals to provide oral comments or if there is a safety or security risk. Please see Appendix C of the SD1 for additional information on the session format and conduct.

It is important to note that the Commission provides equal consideration to all comments received, whether filed in written form or provided orally at a scoping session.

q. Environmental Site Review: The applicant and Commission staff will conduct an environmental site review of the project. The date, time, and location of the environmental site review will be provided in a future notice.

r. 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)