Source: https://openei.org/wiki/RAPID/Roadmap/7-FD-h
Timestamp: 2019-01-23 19:43:12
Document Index: 382311008

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 385', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4']

FERC Preliminary Permit (7-FD-h)
Developers must submit an application to FERC for a Preliminary Permit. Any application must identify every person, citizen, association of citizens, domestic corporation, municipality, or state that has or intends to obtain and will maintain any proprietary right necessary to construct, operate, or maintain the project. 18 CFR § 4.32(a)(1).
Each application for a Preliminary Permit must:
18 CFR § 4.32(a)(2).
An application for a Preliminary Permit must contain the following three exhibits:
Exhibit 1 must contain a description of the proposed project, specifying and including:
All lands of the United States that are enclosed within the proposed project boundary.
18 CFR § 4.81(b).
Exhibit 2 is a description of studies conducted or to be conducted with respect to the proposed project, including field studies. Exhibit 2 must contain the following information:
A description of any studies, investigations, tests, or surveys that are proposed to be carried out, and any that have already taken place, for the purposes of determining the technical, economic, and financial feasibility of the proposed project, taking into consideration its environmental impacts, and of preparing an application for a license for the project; and the approximate locations and nature of any new roads that would be built for the purpose of conducting the studies;
A description, including approximate location, of any field study, test, or other activity that may alter or disturb lands or waters in the vicinity of the proposed project, including floodplains and wetlands; measures that would be taken to minimize any such disturbance; and measures that would be taken to restore the altered or disturbed areas;
A proposed schedule, the total duration of which does not exceed the proposed term of the permit, showing the intervals at which the studies, investigations, tests, and surveys, identified are proposed to be completed; and
The expected sources and extent of financing available to the developer to carry out or prepare the studies, investigations, tests, surveys, maps, plans, or specifications.
18 CFR § 4.81(c).
Exhibit 3 must include a map or series of maps, to be prepared on United States Geological Survey topographic quadrangle sheets or similar topographic maps of a State agency, if available. The maps must show:
All principal project features identified, including but not limited to any dam, reservoir, water conveyance facilities, power plant, transmission lines, and other appurtenances; if the project is located at an existing federal dam, the federal dam and impoundment must be shown, but may not be included within the project boundary;
Any non-federal lands and any public lands or reservations of the United States necessary for the purposes of the project.
18 CFR § 4.81(d).
7-FD-h.2 – Provide Notice of Application for a Preliminary Permit
FERC will provide public notice of any application for a Preliminary Permit.
7-FD-h.3 to 7-FD-h.5 – Review Application Materials for Completeness
FERC reviews the application materials to ensure that all necessary information is present. The developer may be required to submit additional information, or provide reasons why specific information was not included.
7-FD-h.6 – Technical Review of Application
FERC reviews the application materials to determine whether it should be accepted or rejected. FERC Handbook for Hydroelectric Filings other than Licenses and Exemptions, page 2-2.
7-FD-h.7 – Is the Application Accepted?
FERC may approve or deny any request for a Preliminary Permit. If the application is accepted, then FERC will issue a Letter of Acceptance to the developer.
FERC will not accept an application for a Preliminary Permit for project works that:
Would interfere with a licensed project in a manner that would be precluded by Section 6 of the Federal Power Act;
Would develop, conserve, and utilize, in whole or in part, the same water resources that would be developed, conserved, and utilized by a project for which an initial development application has been filed unless the preliminary application is filed within the time allowed under 18 CFR § 4.36(a) for the filing of application in competition against an initial application for a preliminary permit that would develop, conserve, and utilize, in whole or in part, the same resources.
18 CFR § 4.33(a).
7-FD-h.8 to 7-FD-h.10 – Is the Application Patently Deficient?
FERC may determine that the application should be rejected either because it is deficient or patently deficient. If FERC determines that the application is deficient, but not patently deficient, then a Deficiency Letter will be issued to the developer. The developer is allowed up to 45 days from the date of the letter to correct any deficiencies. FERC Handbook for Hydroelectric Filings other than Licenses and Exemptions, page 2-3. FERC may determine that the application must be rejected as patently deficient if it substantially fails to comply with the requirements of application content or if the proposed project is precluded by law. FERC Handbook for Hydroelectric Filings other than Licenses and Exemptions, page 2-3.
7-FD-h.11 to 7-FD-h.13 – Submit a Request for Rehearing (Optional)
The developer may request rehearing on FERC’s determination that the application is patently deficient. The developer must submit the request no later than 30 days after denial of the application for a Preliminary Permit. 18 CFR 385.713(b). The request should outline the alleged error in the final decision. 18 CFR § 385.713(c)(1). FERC may approve or deny any rehearing request.
7-FD-h.14 to 7-FD-h.15 – Is the Application Accepted?
If the application is accepted, then FERC will send the developer a Letter of Acceptance. FERC Handbook for Hydroelectric Filings other than Licenses and Exemptions, page 2-3.
7-FD-h.17 – Provide Notice of Acceptance of Application
Mailing notice directly to the project mailing list, which includes resource agencies and affected Indian tribes.
18 CFR § 4.32(d).
7-FD-h.18 – Comment on Approval
The public and any participating agencies may file comments within 60 days following the issuance of the notice of the preliminary permit application. FERC Handbook for Hydroelectric Filings other than Licenses and Exemptions, page 2-3.
7-FD-h.19 – Final Order
A developer with a Preliminary Permit may seek to amend or voluntarily surrender the permit. (FERC Handbook for Hydroelectric Filings other than Licenses and Exemptions, page 2-5); (18 CFR §§ 4.82, 4.84).
If the developer wishes to extend the term of its preliminary permit, the developer must submit an application to FERC, specifying the requested term of the extension and describing how the developer has carried out activities under its initial preliminary permit in good faith and with reasonable diligence. FERC may extend the term of the preliminary permit once, for a period not to exceed two additional years beyond the three year term of the initial preliminary permit. 18 CFR §§ 4.82.
Retrieved from "https://openei.org/w/index.php?title=RAPID/Roadmap/7-FD-h&oldid=917694"