```

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 204 (Tuesday, October 22, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 84347-84348]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-24379]

[[Page 84347]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 2458-273]

Great Lakes Hydro America, LLC; Notice of Application Tendered 
for Filing With the Commission and Establishing Procedural Schedule for 
Licensing and Deadline for Submission of Final Amendments

    Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been 
filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection.
    a. Type of Application: New Major License.
    b. Project No.: 2458-273.
    c. Date Filed: September 30, 2024.
    d. Applicant: Great Lakes Hydro American, LLC (GLHA).
    e. Name of Project: Penobscot Mills Hydroelectric Project 
(project).
    f. Location: On the West Branch of the Penobscot River (West 
Branch) and Millinocket Stream in Piscataquis and Penobscot Counties, 
Maine.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791(a)-825(r).
    h. Applicant Contact: Michael Scarzello, Licensing Manager, 
Brookfield Renewable U.S., 399 Big Bay Road, Queensbury, NY 12804; 
(315) 566-0197; [email protected].
    i. FERC Contact: Allan Creamer, Project Coordinator; telephone at 
(202) 502-8365; email at [email protected].
    j. The application is not ready for environmental analysis at this 
time.
    k. Project Description: The Penobscot Mills Project consists of: 
(1) four hydropower developments (North Twin, Millinocket, Dolby, and 
East Millinocket; located between river mile 15 and river mile 2 on the 
West Branch) that include (a) water retaining features (e.g., dam/
spillway, flashboards/rubber dam, and dikes), (b) water conduits/canals 
and penstocks, (c) intake structures equipped with trashracks, (d) four 
powerhouses, and (e) transmission equipment (e.g., transmission lines); 
(2) a pool-and-weir fish passage facility at North Twin; and (3) one 
storage development (Millinocket Lake Storage Development; located on 
Millinocket Stream). The total rated capacity of the project is 67.9 
megawatts. The North Twin impoundment is at the upstream end of the 
Penobscot Mills Project and receives flow from the Ripogenus Project. 
Releases from the North Twin Development pass through three other 
developments (i.e., Millinocket, Dolby, and East Millinocket). The 
Millinocket Lake Storage Development includes a pumping station through 
which water can be pumped to Ambajejus Lake (within the North Twin 
impoundment). Water not pumped to Ambajejus Lake is discharged to 
Millinocket Stream, which enters the West Branch at Shad Pond, 
downstream from the Millinocket Development, then passes through the 
Dolby and East Millinocket Developments. In addition to these 
developments, the project includes two battery energy sites that 
operate as a single Battery Energy Storage System to enhance system 
reliability.
    The five developments that compose the Penobscot Mills Project are 
operated as an integrated system, along with upstream storage projects, 
including the Ripogenus Project No. 2572, to manage water levels and 
flows downstream from the project. GLHA operates the North Twin 
Development as a store-and-release facility, and uses storage in the 
Millinocket Lake Storage impoundment, as necessary, to maintain North 
Twin Lake levels. The two storage developments (North Twin and 
Millinocket Lake Storage) are located upstream of the run-of-release 
developments (Millinocket, Dolby, and East Millinocket). GLHA releases 
minimum flows from Millinocket Lake into Millinocket Stream, as well as 
a continuous minimum flow in the West Branch downstream from the North 
Twin Development. Additional details regarding the Penobscot Mills 
Project facilities and operations can be found in Exhibit A (Penobscot 
Mills Project) and Exhibit B of the license application, and can be 
access by following the instructions in paragraph l.
    GLHA proposes to continue to operate: (1) the North Twin 
Development for generation and seasonal storage, with target 
impoundment elevations of 490.42 feet National Geodetic Vertical Datum 
of 1929 (NGVD 29) from May 1 through August 21 and 488.42 feet NGVD 29 
from August 22 through October 15, as well as to provide flows 
necessary to meet the 2,000-cfs flow requirement in the West Branch 
downstream from Shad Pond; (2) the Millinocket Lake Storage Development 
to (a) maintain impoundment elevations between 470 feet and 480 feet 
NGVD 29, and (b) provide a minimum flow of 60 cubic feet per second 
(cfs), or inflow (seasonally), to Millinocket Stream; and (3) the 
Millinocket, Dolby, and East Millinocket Developments as run-of-release 
facilities. GLHA also proposes to continue to operate and maintain the 
upstream pool-and-weir fish passage structure at North Twin Dam, post 
lake level (for North Twin and Millinocket Lake Storage) and flow 
information on Brookfield's existing SafeWaters website, maintain the 
200-foot conservation buffer and 100-foot vegetation buffer around the 
Millinocket Lake Storage, North Twin, Millinocket, and Dolby 
impoundments, and maintain Umbazooksus Lake as wetland and wildlife 
habitat. GLHA also proposes to release a year-round 200-cfs minimum 
flow from Stone Dam; provide American eel passage, conduct eel studies, 
and develop a fishway operations and maintenance plan; provide seasonal 
whitewater boating flows of 600 cfs in Millinocket Stream; and develop 
an updated wildlife management area plan, a recreation plan, a 
shoreline management plan, and a historic properties management plan.
    l. In addition to publishing this notice in the Federal Register, 
the Commission provides all interested persons an opportunity to view 
and/or print the contents of this notice, as well as other documents in 
the proceeding (e.g., license application) via the internet through the 
Commission's Home Page (http://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 (P-2458). For assistance, 
contact FERC at [email protected], (866) 208-3676 (toll free), 
or (202) 502-8659 (TTY).
    You may also register online at https://ferconline.ferc.gov/FERCOnline.aspx to be notified via email of new filings and issuances 
related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC 
Online Support.
    m. 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, 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 [email protected].
    n. Procedural Schedule: The application will be processed according 
to the following preliminary schedule. Revisions to the schedule will 
be made as appropriate.

Deficiency Letter (if necessary) October 2024
Additional Information Request November 2024
Notice of Acceptance March 2025

[[Page 84348]]

Issue Notice of Ready for Environmental Analysis March 2025

    o. Final amendments to the application must be filed with the 
Commission no later than 30 days from the issuance date of the notice 
of ready for environmental analysis.

    Dated: October 15, 2024.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-24379 Filed 10-21-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
```