Source: https://openei.org/wiki/RAPID/Hydropower/New_York
Timestamp: 2019-08-24 19:26:10
Document Index: 425925726

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1251', '§ 1342', '§ 803', '§ 803', '§ 823', '§19', '§20', '§284', '§ 7', '§ 1451', '§ 930', '§2', '§ 52', '§ 15', '§ 68', '§121', '§ 3', '§ 3']

RAPID/Hydropower/New York
RAPID / Hydropower / New York
New York Hydropower Permitting Process (NY)
In 2015, New York produced approximately 26,015 thousand megawatt hours (MWh) of utility-scale hydroelectric energy, more than any other state east of the Rocky Mountains. Table 3.14 – Net Generation From Hydroelectric (Conventional) Power By State By Sector; U.S. Energy Information Administration – New York State Energy Profile. Currently, New York has 161 hydroelectric facilities producing approximately 19 percent of the electricity generated in the state. U.S. Energy Information Administration - Annual Electric Generator Data, Form EIA-860 Detailed Data Generator Data (Operable Units Only); Table 3.14 – Utility Scale Net Generation From Hydroelectric (Conventional) Power By State By Sector; Table 3.7 – Utility Scale Facility Net Generation By State By Sector. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has identified an additional 295 MW at over 25 non-powered dams in New York. . U.S Department of Energy – An Assessment of Energy Potential at Non-Powered Dams in the United States Report. DOE has also identified an additional 1,900 MW of potential at new stream-reaches in New York. Department of Energy, New Stream-reach Development: A Comprehensive Assessment of Hydropower Energy Potential in the United States.
Hydroelectric facilities in New York include run-of-river, dam, and pumped storage facilities. Public and private utilities, electric co-ops, companies and individuals own hydroelectric generation facilities distributed throughout the state. Many of the hydroelectric facilities are located in the western and northern borders of the state on the Hudson, Oswego, and Black Rivers. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission - Complete List of Active Licenses and Exemptions.
New York state agencies play a role in a number of federal permitting and review processes for hydropower development. For instances, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Division of Water Resources regulates water quality and issues Section 401 Water Quality Certifications (33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq.) and permits for stormwater discharges (33 U.S.C. § 1342) pursuant to the Clean Water Act. In addition, Sections 10(j) and 30(c) of the Federal Power Act requires FERC to consult with state agencies responsible for the oversight and protection of fish, wildlife, and botanical resources. 16 USC § 803(j); 16 USC 823a(c). In New York, DEC’s Division of Fish, Wildlife, and Marine Resources (DFWMR) oversees the protection of fish, wildlife, and botanical resources. Based upon review of the hydropower project and analysis of any study results, the DFWMR develops Section 10(j) recommendations for FERC-licensed projects. 16 USC § 803(j). The FPA also authorizes DFWMR to issue mandatory terms and conditions for hydropower projects that are exempt from FERC licensing under Section 30(c). 16 USC § 823a(c).
New York State agencies and local commissions work together to regulate state lands, state highway access, water access and water rights, coastal zones and wetlands. New York’s municipalities and regional planning commissions regulate development through land use plans in accordance with statewide goals and policies. N.Y. Gen. Muni. L. §§19-o and119-u; N.Y. Gen. City L. §20-g; N.Y. Twn. L. §284(1); N.Y. Village L. § 7-741(1). The New York Department of State regulates developments located within New York’s coastal areas to ensure compliance with the national Coastal Zone Management Act and the State Coastal Zone Management Program. 16 U.S.C. §§ 1451 et seq., Coastal Zone Management; 15 C.F.R. §§ 930 et seq., Federal Consistency with Approved Coastal Management Programs. The New York State Office of General Services requires a developer to obtain either a lease or right-of-way to access state-owned lands, including aquatic lands. New York Public Lands Law §2; 9 CRR-NY 271-1.1; New York State Office of General Services: Lands Underwater. The New York State Department of Transportation and the New York State Thruway Authority regulate State highway encroachments. N.Y. Highway L. § 52; New York State Thruway Authority - Occupancy and Work Permit Accommodation Guidelines.
In New York, the system of riparian rights governs all surface and groundwater. All surface waters, in the State, are held in public trust. Both riparian and littoral owners are subject to the rule of reasonable use. Bromberg v. Ellish, Inc., 64 A.D.2d 684, 685 (N.Y. App. Div. 1978); Barkley v. Wilcox, 86 N.Y. 140, 146-47 (N.Y. 1881). The DEC regulates New York’s lakes, rivers, streams, and ponds from potentially harmful development. N.Y. Env. Cons. L. § 15-0501 et seq.; New York – Protection of Waters Program.
New York’s State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR) governs the protection of environmental and natural resources. SEQR requires all state and local government agencies to consider the environmental impact of their actions and to balance these environmental impacts with social and economic factors. New York - State Environmental Quality Review Act.
In New York, a developer may need a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity from the New York Public Service Commission (Commission) for transmission line extension projects outside the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) license boundary. N.Y. Pub. Serv. Law § 68, Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. New York also requires that a developer obtain a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need from the Commission to construct or operate transmission lines outside of a FERC license boundary or for transmission lines associated with a qualifying conduit hydropower facility with a nameplate capacity of 5MW or less. N.Y. Pub. Serv. Law §121(1), Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need. A developer must also file an Interconnection Request with the New York Independent System Operator in order to connect a new generating facility, or merchant transmission facility to the New York State Transmission System. NYISO Transmission Expansion and Interconnection Manual, at § 3.1; NYISO Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT) §§ 3.9, 4.5.8, 3.11, 4.5.9.
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This page was last modified on 27 February 2019, at 13:49.