Document ID: FERC-2013-1326-0001
Agency: ferc
Document Type: Notice
Title: QualifyingConduit Hydropower Facilities: Astoria, OR
Posted Date: 2013-10-09T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 196 (Wednesday, October 9, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61985-61986]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-24408]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CD13-6-000]

City of Astoria, Oregon; Notice of Preliminary Determination of a 
Qualifying Conduit Hydropower Facility and Soliciting Comments and 
Motions To Intervene

    On September 24, 2013, City of Astoria, Oregon (Astoria) filed a 
notice of intent to construct a qualifying conduit hydropower facility, 
pursuant to section 30 of the Federal Power Act, as amended by section 
4 of the Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act of 2013 (HREA). The 60 kW 
Bear Creek Watershed Hydroelectric Project would utilize the city of 
Astoria's water distribution system, and it would be located in Clatsop 
County, Oregon.
    Applicant Contact: Paul Benoit, City of Astoria, Oregon, 1095 Duane 
Street, Astoria, OR 97103, Phone No. (503) 325-5824.
    FERC Contact: Robert Bell, Phone No. (202) 502-6062, email: 
robert.bell@ferc.gov.
    Qualifying Conduit Hydropower Facility Description: The proposed 
project would consist of the following two developments:
    Site one would consist of: (1) A new intake pipeline receiving 
water from an existing 26-inch conduit pipeline; (2) a new powerhouse 
containing one new 30-kilowatt generating unit; (3) a new, small 
pipeline discharging water into an existing 21-inch pipeline; and (4) 
appurtenant facilities.
    Site two would consist of: (1) A new intake pipeline receiving 
water from an existing 21-inch conduit pipeline; (2) an existing 
powerhouse containing one new 30-kilowatt generating unit; (3) a new, 
small pipeline discharging water into an existing 21-inch pipeline; and 
(4) appurtenant facilities.
    The proposed project would have an estimated annual generating 
capacity of 175.25 megawatt-hours.
    A qualifying conduit hydropower facility is one that is determined 
or deemed to meet all of the criteria shown in the table below.

                          Table 1--Criteria for Qualifying Conduit Hydropower Facility
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                                                                                                      Satisfies
            Statutory provision                                   Description                           (Y/N)
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FPA 30(a)(3)(A), as amended by HREA.......  The conduit the facility uses is a tunnel, canal,                 Y
                                             pipeline, aqueduct, flume, ditch, or similar manmade
                                             water conveyance that is operated for the
                                             distribution of water for agricultural, municipal, or
                                             industrial consumption and not primarily for the
                                             generation of electricity.
FPA 30(a)(3)(C)(i), as amended by HREA....  The facility is constructed, operated, or maintained              Y
                                             for the generation of electric power and uses for
                                             such generation only the hydroelectric potential of a
                                             non-federally owned conduit.
FPA 30(a)(3)(C)(ii), as amended by HREA...  The facility has an installed capacity that does not              Y
                                             exceed 5 megawatts.
FPA 30(a)(3)(C)(iii), as amended by HREA..  On or before August 9, 2013, the facility is not                  Y
                                             licensed, or exempted from the licensing requirements
                                             of Part I of the FPA.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Preliminary Determination: Based upon the above criteria, 
Commission staff preliminarily determines that the proposal satisfies 
the requirements for a qualifying conduit hydropower facility not 
required to be licensed or exempted from licensing.
    Comments and Motions To Intervene: Deadline for filing comments 
contesting whether the facility meets the qualifying criteria is 45 
days from the issuance date of this notice.
    Deadline for filing motions to intervene is 30 days from the 
issuance date of this notice.
    Anyone may submit comments or a motion to intervene in accordance 
with the requirements of Rules of Practice and Procedure, 18 CFR 
385.210 and 385.214. Any motions to intervene must be received on or 
before the specified deadline date for the particular proceeding.
    Filing and Service of Responsive Documents: All filings must (1) 
bear in all capital letters the ``COMMENTS CONTESTING QUALIFICATION FOR 
A CONDUIT HYDROPOWER FACILITY'' or ``MOTION TO INTERVENE,'' as 
applicable; (2) state in the heading the name of the applicant and the 
project number of the application to which the filing responds; (3) 
state the name, address, and telephone number of the person filing; and 
(4) otherwise comply with the requirements of sections 385.2001 through 
385.2005 of the Commission's regulations.\1\ All comments contesting 
Commission staff's preliminary determination that the facility meets 
the qualifying criteria must set forth their evidentiary basis.
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    \1\ 18 CFR 385.2001-385.2005 (2013).
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    The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file 
motions to intervene and comments using the Commission's eFiling system 
at http://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 http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ecomment.asp. You must include your name and contact information at the 
end of your comments. For assistance, please contact FERC Online 
Support at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, (866) 208-3676 (toll free), or 
(202) 502-8659 (TTY). In lieu of electronic filing, please

[[Page 61986]]

send a paper copy to: Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 
888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426. A copy of all other filings 
in reference to this application must be accompanied by proof of 
service on all persons listed in the service list prepared by the 
Commission in this proceeding, in accordance with 18 CFR 4.34(b) and 
385.2010.
    Locations of Notice of Intent: Copies of the notice of intent can 
be obtained directly from the applicant or such copies can be viewed 
and reproduced at the Commission in its Public Reference Room, Room 2A, 
888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426. The filing may also be 
viewed on the Web at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/elibrary.asp using 
the ``eLibrary'' link. Enter the docket number (e.g., CD13-6-000) in 
the docket number field to access the document. For assistance, call 
toll-free 1-866-208-3676 or email FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov. For TTY, 
call (202) 502-8659.

    Dated: October 2, 2013.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013-24408 Filed 10-8-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P