[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 89 (Thursday, May 7, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27217-27218]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-09750]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 13-039]
Green Island Power Authority and Albany Engineering Corporation;
Notice of Application Accepted for Filing, Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Assessment and Soliciting Comments, Motions To Intervene,
and Protests
Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been
filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection:
a. Application Type: Amendment of license.
b. Project No: 13-039.
c. Date Filed: April 8, 2020.
d. Applicant: Green Island Power Authority and Albany Engineering
Corp.
e. Name of Project: Green Island Project.
f. Location: The project is located on the Hudson River in Albany
County, New York.
g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791a-825r.
h. Applicant Contact: Wendy Jo Carey, P.E., 5 Washington Square,
Albany, NY 12205, (518) 456-7712 email: wendy@albanyengineering.com.
i. FERC Contact: Joseph Enrico, (212) 273-5917,
joseph.enrico@ferc.gov.
j. Deadline for filing comments, motions to intervene, and
protests: June 15, 2020.
The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file
comments, motions to intervene, and protests 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
send a paper copy to: Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426. The first page of any filing
should include docket number P-13-039. Comments emailed to Commission
staff are not considered part of the Commission record.
The Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure require all
intervenors filing documents with the Commission to serve a copy of
that document on each person whose name appears 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. Description of Request: The licensee proposes to amend the
project license to remove the expansion of the forebay and existing
powerhouse expansion on its east and west sides to accommodate four new
6.0 megawatt (MW) generating units; remove from the project license
four new replacement 6.0 MW generating units in the existing
powerhouse; remove from the project license construction of new
hydraulically operated crest gates along the top of the main spillway
and maintain the existing fixed crest of the main spillway at the
existing 14.33 feet MSL; remove from the project license construction
of a new bulkhead structure and reconfiguration of the auxiliary
spillway; construct the new downstream fish exclusion screen, new
downstream fish passage facility, and new plunge pool in and adjacent
to the existing forebay; relocate construction of a new trash boom
extending across and upstream of the forebay; install new pneumatic
flashboards, four feet in height, on the main spillway and relocate the
existing pneumatic flashboards, two feet in height, to the auxiliary
spillway to maintain the authorized operating level of 18.33 feet MSL;
remove from the project license construction of two new Denil fishways
and replace with two fish lifts for upstream fish passage. The licensee
does not propose any changes to the project's existing operating
regime. In addition, recreation improvements in Article 412 were to be
constructed in conjunction with the full expansion of the project;
these improvements are not applicable for the proposed amendment. The
request proposes amending Article 412 to require improvements to the
shoreline from the tailrace to River Park for fishing and other river
access activities, construction of an informational kiosk in River
Park, and specific improvements to Paine Street Park. These
enhancements were requested by the Town and Village of Green Island and
the licensee included them as part of its proposal.
l. This application has been accepted for filing and is now ready
for environmental analysis. Based on a review of the application and
resource agency consultation letters including comments filed to date,
Commission staff intends to prepare a single environmental assessment
(EA). Commission staff determined that the issues that need to be
addressed in its EA have been adequately identified during the pre-
filing period, and no new issues are likely to be identified through
additional scoping. The EA will consider assessing the potential
effects of project operation on aquatic, terrestrial, threatened and
endangered species, water quality and quantity, recreation, and
cultural and historic resources.
m. In addition to publishing the full text of this document in the
Federal Register, the Commission provides all interested persons an
opportunity to view and/or print the contents of this document via the
internet through the Commission's Home Page (http://ferc.gov) using the
eLibrary link. Enter the docket number excluding the last three digits
in the docket number field to access the document. At this time, the
Commission has suspended access to the Commission's Public Reference
Room, due to the proclamation declaring a National Emergency concerning
the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), issued by the President on
March 13, 2020. For assistance, contact FERC at
FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or call toll-free, (886) 208-3676 or TYY,
(202) 502-8659.
n. The Commission strongly encourages electronic filings of
comments, protests and interventions in lieu of paper using the eFiling
link at http://www.ferc.gov. Persons unable to file electronically may
mail similar pleadings to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888
First Street
[[Page 27218]]
NE, Washington, DC 20426. Hand delivered submissions in docketed
proceedings should be delivered to Health and Human Services, 12225
Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
o. Comments, Protests, or Motions to Intervene: 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, respectively. 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.
p. Filing and Service of Documents: Any filing must (1) bear in all
capital letters the title COMMENTS, PROTEST, or MOTION TO INTERVENE as
applicable; (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
commenting, protesting or intervening; and (4) otherwise comply with
the requirements of 18 CFR 385.2001 through 385.2005. All comments,
motions to intervene, or protests must set forth their evidentiary
basis. Any filing made by an intervenor 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 385.2010.
Dated: May 1, 2020.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-09750 Filed 5-6-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P