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                    Document headings vary by document type but may contain                    the following:                  
                -                       the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document                    
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###### Department of Energy

###### Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

          - [Project No. 3342-020]

                    a.                     *Type of Filing:*                     Notice of Intent to File License Application and Request to Use the Traditional Licensing Process.                

                    b.                     *Project No.:*                     3342-020.                

                    c.                     *Date Filed:*                     October 27, 2017.                

                    d.                     *Submitted By:*                     Briar Hydro Associates, LLC.                

                    e.                     *Name of Project:*                     Penacook Lower Falls Hydroelectric Project.                

                    f.                     *Location:*                     On the Contoocook River, in Merrimack County, New Hampshire. No federal lands are occupied by the project works or located within the project boundary.                

                    g.                     *Filed Pursuant to:*18 CFR 5.3 of the Commission's regulations.                

                    h. Potential                     *Applicant Contact:*                     Andrew J. Locke, Essex Hydro Associates, LLC, 55 Union Street, Boston, MA 02108; (617) 357-0032; or email—                    *alocke@essexhydro.com.*

                    i.                     *FERC Contact:*                     Jeanne Edwards at (202) 502-6181; or email at                     *jeanne.edwards@ferc.gov.*

j. Briar Hydro Associates, LLC filed its request to use the Traditional Licensing Process on October 27, 2017. Briar Hydro Associates, LLC provided public notice of its request on November 14, 2017. In a letter dated December 22, 2017, the Director of the Division of Hydropower Licensing approved Briar Hydro Associates, LLC's request to use the Traditional Licensing Process.

k. With this notice, we are initiating informal consultation with 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 NOAA Fisheries under section 305(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and implementing regulations at 50 CFR 600.920. We are also initiating consultation with the New Hampshire State Historic Preservation Officer, as required by section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, and the implementing regulations of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation at 36 CFR 800.2.

l. Briar Hydro Associates, LLC filed a Pre-Application Document (PAD; including a proposed process plan and schedule) with the Commission, pursuant to 18 CFR 5.6 of the Commission's regulations.

                    m. A copy of the PAD is available for review at the Commission in the Public Reference Room or may be viewed on the Commission's website (                    *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. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support at                     *FERCONlineSupport@ferc.gov,*                     (866) 208-3676 (toll free), or (202) 502-8659 (TTY). A copy is also available for inspection and reproduction at the address in paragraph h.                

n. The licensee states its unequivocal intent to submit an application for a new license for Project No. 3342. Pursuant to 18 CFR 16.8, 16.9, and 16.10 each application for a new license and any competing license applications must be filed with the Commission at least 24 months prior to the expiration of the existing license. All applications for license for this project must be filed by October 31, 2020.

                    o. Register online at                     *http://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.                

Dated: December 22, 2017.

Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,

Deputy Secretary.

[FR Doc. 2017-28324 Filed 1-2-18; 8:45 am]

 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P