In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (Commission or FERC) regulations, 18 CFR part 380, Commission staff reviewed Erie Boulevard Hydropower, L.P.'s, application for its Beebee Island Project No. 2538 proposing to remove the remaining conventional wooden flashboard system and replace it with a pneumatic flashboard system, and for a temporary variance from the requirements of license Articles 401, 411, and 414 for 12 weeks to allow for a 1.0-foot reservoir drawdown, reduced fish attraction flows, and a suspension of veiling flow requirements, respectively, and have prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the project.^[1] The project is located on the Black River in the town of Watertown, in Jefferson County, New York. The project does not occupy federal lands.

The EA contains Commission staff's analysis of the potential environmental effects of the proposed replacement of the conventional wooden flashboard system with a pneumatic flashboard system and alternatives to the proposed action, and concludes that the proposed action would not constitute a major federal action that would significantly affect the quality of the human environment.

The EA may be viewed on the Commission's website at www.ferc.gov using the “eLibrary Search Form” link. Enter the docket number (P-2538-106) in the docket number field to access the document. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll-free at 1-866-208-3676, or for TTY, (202) 502-8659.

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, contact FERC Online Support.

All comments must be filed by December 2, 2026, 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file comments 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. 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 docket numbers P-2538-106.

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.

For further information, contact Mark Mattozzi at (202) 502-8087 or Mark.Mattozzi@ferc.gov.

(Authority: 18 CFR 2.1)