[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 188 (Friday, September 27, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79290-79291]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-22226]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 8377-030]


Isabella Partners; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental 
Assessment

    On February 20, 2024, Isabella Partners (licensee) filed an 
application for a capacity amendment for the Isabella Hydroelectric 
Project No. 8377. The project is located on the Kern River in Kern 
County, California at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps)' 
Isabella Dam on lands administered by the Corps.
    Isabella Partners proposes to construct and operate a new 5-
megawatt (MW) generating unit which would be located in a new 40-foot-
by-45-foot concrete structure adjacent to the existing powerhouse, 
resulting in an increase of the project's total installed capacity from 
12.8 MW to 17.8 MW. Currently, flows greater than the 100 cubic feet 
per second (cfs) capacity of Unit 3 and less than the 500 cfs minimum 
operating range of Units 1 and 2 are discharged through the existing 
bypass channel. The proposed 5-MW addition (Unit 4) would allow 
Isabella Partners to generate power at flows between 100 and 500 cfs. 
Water released from the proposed unit would be discharged through the 
existing tailrace. Isabella Partners would continue to operate the 
project under the 1993 Corps Memorandum of Agreement and there would be 
no changes in water releases to the Kern River as a result of the 
proposed action.
    On June 18, 2024, the Commission issued a public notice for the 
proposed amendment. On July 17, 2024, the California State Water 
Resources Control Board filed a motion to intervene.
    This notice identifies Commission staff's intention to prepare an 
environmental assessment (EA) for the project.\1\ The planned schedule 
for the completion of the EA is June 9, 2025. Revisions to the schedule 
may be made as appropriate. The EA will be issued and made available 
for review by all

[[Page 79291]]

interested parties and a 30-day public comment period. All comments 
filed on the EA will be reviewed by staff and considered in the 
Commission's final decision on the proceeding.
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    \1\ In accordance with the Council on Environmental Quality's 
regulations, the unique identification number for documents relating 
to this environmental review is EAXX-019-20-000-1725634364. 40 CFR 
1501.5(c)(4) (2024).
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    The Commission's Office of Public Participation (OPP) supports 
meaningful public engagement and participation in Commission 
proceedings. OPP can help members of the public, including landowners, 
environmental justice communities, Tribal members, and others to access 
publicly available information and navigate Commission processes. For 
public inquiries and assistance with making filings such as 
interventions, comments, or requests for rehearing, the public is 
encouraged to contact OPP at (202) 502-6595 or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3a756a6a7a5c5f4859145d554c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="216e717161474453420f464e57">[email protected]</span></a>.
    Any questions regarding this notice may be directed to Zeena 
Aljibury at 202-502-6065 or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5a203f3f343b743b363033382f28231a3c3f2839743d352c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d6acb3b3b8b7f8b7babcbfb4a3a4af96b0b3a4b5f8b1b9a0">[email protected]</span></a>.

    Dated: September 23, 2024.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-22226 Filed 9-26-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


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