Document ID: FERC-2011-1078-0001
Agency: ferc
Document Type: Notice
Title: Applications: FirstLight Hydro Generating Co., City of Norwich Department of Public Utilities
Posted Date: 2011-07-21T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 140 (Thursday, July 21, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43679-43680]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-18439]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 2662-012; Project No. 12968-001]

FirstLight Hydro Generating Company; City of Norwich Department 
of Public Utilities; Notice of Applications Accepted for Filing, 
Soliciting Motions To Intervene and Protests, Ready for Environmental 
Analysis, and Soliciting Comments, Recommendations, Preliminary Terms 
and Conditions, and Preliminary Fishway Prescriptions

    Take notice that the following hydroelectric applications have been 
filed with the Commission and are available for public inspection.
    a. Type of Application: New Major License.
    b. Project Nos.: 2662-012 and 12968-001.
    c. Date filed: August 31, 2010 (P-2662) and August 27, 2010 (P-
12968).
    d. Applicants: Existing licensee--FirstLight Hydro Generating 
Company (FirstLight); and Competitor--City of Norwich Department of 
Public Utilities (Norwich Public Utilities).
    e. Name of Project: Scotland Hydroelectric Project.
    f. Location: The existing project is located on the Shetucket 
River, in Windham County, Connecticut. The project does not occupy 
Federal lands.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act 16 U.S.C. 791(a)-825(r).
    h. Applicant Contact:
    For Project No. 2662: John Whitfield, Senior Project Engineer, 
FirstLight Hydro Generating Company, 20 Church Street, Hartford, CT 
06103.
    For Project No. 12968: John F. Bilda, General Manager, Norwich 
Public Utilities, 16 South Golden Street, Norwich, CT 06360.
    i. FERC Contact: Janet Hutzel, telephone (202) 502-8675, or by e-
mail janet.hutzel@ferc.gov.
    j. Deadline for filing motions to intervene and protests, comments, 
recommendations, preliminary terms and conditions, and preliminary 
prescriptions: 60 days from the issuance date of this notice; reply 
comments are due 105 days from the issuance date of this notice.
    Motions to intervene, protests, comments, recommendations, 
preliminary terms and conditions, and preliminary fishway prescriptions 
may be filed electronically via the Internet. See 18 CFR 
385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the Commission's Web site 
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 or toll free at 1-866-208-3676, 
or for TTY, (202) 502-8659. Although the Commission strongly encourages 
electronic filing, documents may also be paper-filed. To paper-file, 
mail an original and seven copies to: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., 
Washington, DC 20426.
    The Commission's Rules of Practice require all intervenors filing 
documents with the Commission to serve a copy of that document on each 
person on the official service list for the project. Further, if an 
intervenor files comments or documents with the Commission relating to 
the merits of an issue that may affect the responsibilities of a 
particular resource agency, they must also serve a copy of the document 
on that resource agency.
    k. The applications have been accepted for filing and are now ready 
for environmental analysis (EA).
    l. Project Description: The existing project includes the following 
facilities: (1) A 480-foot-long earthen dam with a 12-inch reinforced 
concrete corewall consisting of (a) a 183-foot-long, 32.5-foot-high 
earthen dike with a top elevation 90.0 feet local datum; (b) a 119-
foot-long, 34-foot-high Tainter gate section with a sill elevation at 
64 feet local datum and a 3-foot-wide transition section, five 20-foot-
wide bays, and four 4-foot-wide gate piers; (c) an 89-foot-long, 35-
foot-high Ambursen-type ungated spillway section with a crest elevation 
of 75.38 feet local datum; (d) an 18.83-foot-long gravity-type ungated 
spillway section with a crest elevation of 75.38 feet local datum and 
30-inch wooden pin-type flashboards; and (e) a 70-foot-long powerhouse 
and intake integral with the dam containing a single 2.0-megawatt (MW) 
turbine-generator; (2) a 134-acre reservoir at an elevation of 77.9 
feet local datum with a usable storage capacity of 268 acre-feet; and 
(3) appurtenant facilities.
    The existing Scotland Project operates in a run-of-river mode 
during high flow periods and in a store-and-release mode, with ponding, 
during low-flow periods.
    Both applicants propose to increase capacity by installing an 
additional turbine and generator in the existing powerhouse. 
FirstLight's proposal would increase capacity by 1.026 MW. Norwich 
Public Utilities' proposal would increase capacity by 3.0 MW. Both 
applicants propose to operate the project as run-of-river at all times.
    m. Copies of the applications are available for review at the 
Commission in the Public Reference Room or may be viewed on the 
Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov using the ``eLibrary'' 
link. Enter the docket numbers excluding the last three digits in the 
docket number field to access the documents. For assistance, contact 
FERC Online Support. Copies are also available for inspection and 
reproduction at the addresses in item (h) above.
    Register online at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp to be notified via e-mail of new filings and 
issuances related to these or other pending projects. For assistance, 
contact FERC Online Support.
    n. Anyone may submit comments, a protest, or a motion to intervene 
in accordance with the requirements of Rules of Practice and Procedure, 
18 CFR 385.210, .211, .214. In determining the appropriate action to 
take, the Commission will consider all protests or other comments 
filed, but only those who file a motion to intervene in accordance with 
the Commission's Rules may become a party to the proceeding. Any 
comments, protests, or motions to intervene must be received on or 
before the specified comment date for the particular application.
    All filings must (1) Bear in all capital letters the title 
``PROTEST'', ``MOTION TO INTERVENE'', ``COMMENTS,'' ``REPLY COMMENTS,'' 
``RECOMMENDATIONS,''

[[Page 43680]]

``PRELIMINARY TERMS AND CONDITIONS,'' or ``PRELIMINARY FISHWAY 
PRESCRIPTIONS;'' (2) set forth in the heading the name of the applicant 
and the project number of the application to which the filing responds; 
(3) furnish the name, address, and telephone number of the person 
protesting or intervening; and (4) otherwise comply with the 
requirements of 18 CFR 385.2001 through 385.2005. All comments, 
recommendations, terms and conditions or prescriptions must set forth 
their evidentiary basis and otherwise comply with the requirements of 
18 CFR 4.34(b). Agencies may obtain copies of the applications directly 
from the applicants. A copy of any protest or motion to intervene must 
be served upon each representative of the applicant specified in the 
particular application. A copy of all other filings in reference to the 
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.
    o. Procedural Schedule:
    The applications will be processed according to the following 
revised Hydro Licensing Schedule. Revisions to the schedule may be made 
as appropriate.

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              Milestone                           Target date
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Issuance of the Better Adapted         July 15, 2011.
 Statement Request.
Filing of recommendations,             September 13, 2011.
 preliminary terms and conditions,
 and preliminary fishway
 prescriptions.
Filing of the Better Adapted           September 13, 2011.
 Statement.
Commission issues EA.................  January 11, 2012.
Comments on EA.......................  February 10, 2012.
Modified terms and conditions........  April 10, 2012.
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    p. Final amendments to the applications must be filed with the 
Commission no later than 30 days from the issuance date of this notice.
    q. A license applicant must file no later than 60 days following 
the date of issuance of the notice of acceptance and ready for 
environmental analysis provided for in 5.22: (1) A copy of the water 
quality certification; (2) a copy of the request for certification, 
including proof of the date on which the certifying agency received the 
request; or (3) evidence of waiver of water quality certification.

    Dated: July 15, 2011.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011-18439 Filed 7-20-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P