Notice2024-20768
Black Canyon Hydro, LLC; Notice of Application Accepted for Filing, Scoping Meetings, and Environmental Site Review; Soliciting Motions To Intervene and Protests; and Soliciting Scoping Comments
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Published
September 12, 2024
Issuing agencies
Energy DepartmentFederal Energy Regulatory Commission
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 177 (Thursday, September 12, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 177 (Thursday, September 12, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74270-74272]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-20768]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 14787-004]
Black Canyon Hydro, LLC; Notice of Application Accepted for
Filing, Scoping Meetings, and Environmental Site Review; Soliciting
Motions To Intervene and Protests; and Soliciting Scoping Comments
Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been
filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection.
a. Type of Application: Original major license.
b. Project No.: 14787-004.
c. Date Filed: January 18, 2023.
d. Applicant: rPlus Hydro, LLLP, on behalf of Black Canyon Hydro,
LLC (BCH).
e. Name of Project: Seminoe Pumped Storage Project (Seminoe Project
or project).
f. Location: The proposed project would be located at the U.S.
Bureau of Reclamation's (Reclamation) Seminoe Reservoir on the North
Platte River in Carbon County, Wyoming, approximately 35 miles
northeast of Rawlins, Wyoming. The project would occupy 1,025.94 acres
of land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and 77.00 acres
managed by Reclamation.
g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act 16 U.S.C. 791(a)-825(r).
h. Applicant Contact: Lars Dorr, Program Manager for rPlus Hydro,
LLLP. Address: Black Canyon Hydro, LLC c/o rPlus Hydro, LLLP 201 S.
Main St. Suite 2100 Salt Lake City, Utah 84111. Phone: (858) 925-3743.
Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#91fdf5fee3e3d1e3e1fde4e2f4fff4e3f6f8f4e2bff2fefc"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="412d252e33330133312d3432242f2433262824326f222e2c">[email protected]</span></a>.
i. FERC Contact: Michael Tust at (202) 502-6522; or email at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#117c78727970747d3f6564626551777463723f767e67"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d9b4b0bab1b8bcb5f7adacaaad99bfbcabbaf7beb6af">[email protected]</span></a>.
j. Deadline for filing scoping comments and motions to intervene
and protests: November 5, 2024.
The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file
scoping comments and motions to intervene and protests using the
Commission's eFiling system at <a href="https://ferconline.ferc.gov/FERCOnline.aspx">https://ferconline.ferc.gov/FERCOnline.aspx</a>. Commenters can submit brief comments up to 6,000
characters, without prior registration, using the eComment system at
<a href="https://ferconline.ferc.gov/QuickComment.aspx">https://ferconline.ferc.gov/QuickComment.aspx</a>. For assistance, please
contact FERC Online Support at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#10565542535f7e7c797e75436560607f626450767562733e777f66"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="83c5c6d1c0ccedefeaede6d0f6f3f3ecf1f7c3e5e6f1e0ade4ecf5">[email protected]</span></a>, (866) 208-
3676 (toll free), or (202) 502-8659 (TTY). In lieu of electronic
filing, you may submit a paper copy. Submissions sent via the U.S.
Postal Service must be addressed to: Debbie-Anne A. Reese, Acting
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE,
Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426. Submissions sent via any other carrier
must be addressed to: Debbie-Anne A. Reese, Acting Secretary, Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland
20852. All filings must clearly identify the project name and docket
number on the first page: Seminoe Pumped Storage Project (P-14787-004).
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 on the official service list for the
project. Further, if an intervener 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. This application has been accepted for filing, but is not ready
for environmental analysis at this time.
l. Project Description: The Seminoe Project would utilize
Reclamation's existing 1,017,280 acre-feet Seminoe reservoir on the
North Platte River as the lower reservoir and would include the
following new facilities: (1) a 8,498-foot-long circumference, 20-foot
wide, 65 to 180-foot-high, roller-compacted concrete dam impounding a
10,800-acre-foot upper reservoir at a crest elevation of 7,445 feet;
(2) the dam would have a 200-foot-long concrete, ungated, ogee crest
emergency spillway with a crest elevation of 7,446 feet; (3) a 75-foot-
diameter, covered bell-mouth intake set near the southwestern edge of
the upper reservoir at elevation of 7,295 feet; (4) an approximately
680-foot-long, 32-foot-diameter concrete lined-headrace tunnel
connecting to a 615-foot-long, 24-foot-diameter aboveground steel
conduit which would extend underground for an additional 2,470 feet
before discharging to a 30-foot-diameter vertical, concrete-lined
shaft; (5) the vertical shaft then connects to a 165-foot-long, 17-
foot-diameter concrete, steel-lined penstock and then to the pump-
turbines; (6) three pump-turbines each rated at 324 megawatts (MW) for
a combined total generating capacity of 972 MW located in the
underground powerhouse (machine hall); (7) an approximately 4,350 foot-
long, concrete tailrace channel discharging water to a lower intake
structure within the existing Seminoe Reservoir at normal maximum water
surface elevation of 6,357 feet; (8) a transformer cavern containing 18
kilovolt (kV) generator step-up transformers for each unit, and a gas-
insulated switchgear switchyard; (9) power would be transmitted from
the transformer gallery via 765-foot-long horizontal tunnel to a
vertical cable shaft up to a take-off structure at the surface, and
then via two separate, 500 kV, overhead primary transmission lines
extending to the 500 kV interconnection at Aeolus Substation,
approximately 30 miles to the southeast of Seminoe Reservoir; (10) an
approximately 32-foot-diameter main access tunnel would provide access
to the machine hall; (11) a 15-foot-wide, 16-foot-high surge chamber
access tunnel lined with shotcrete; (12) an approximately 2.6-mile-long
access road around the reservoir; (13) a 40-foot-wide road to the main
access tunnel portal, including a new bridge over the tailrace of
Seminoe Dam; and (14) appurtenant facilities. In addition, portions of
Western Area Power Administration's Miracle Mile-Snowy Range 1 115 kV
and Miracle Mile-Snowy Range 2 230 kV transmission lines would be
relocated around the upper reservoir. Additionally, the existing
Bennett Mountain Road (also called Dry Lake Road) for accessing the
proposed upper reservoir site and a section of an
[[Page 74271]]
existing powerline road for accessing the proposed lower intake
structure at Seminoe Reservoir would be upgraded (i.e., widened to 24
feet and realigned in places to reduce steep grades) to accommodate
two-way traffic and heavy equipment.
BCH would draw 13,400 acre-feet of water from Seminoe Reservoir to
initially fill the new upper reservoir and would need 672 acre-feet of
water each year to replenish water lost through evaporation. BCH states
it would either make contractual arrangements or potentially purchase
an additional water right for the annual refill water. BCH states that
generation would depend on grid conditions and market demands but that
the project is designed to generate for up to approximately 10 hours
each day at maximum generating capacity of 972 MW, or for longer
durations at reduced generating output. In generating mode, the project
would have an estimated maximum operating flow rate of 12,600 cubic
feet per second (cfs) at maximum hydraulic capacity with all three
turbine units operating. In pumping mode, the project would have an
estimated maximum pumping flow rate of 10,500 cfs with all three pumps
operating against an upper reservoir minimum operating elevation of
7,350 feet. The pumping capacity decreases to 8,298 cfs at the upper
reservoir maximum operating elevation of 7,445 feet. The full pumping
cycle to recharge the upper reservoir is estimated at approximately
14.6 hours and the maximum generation is 13 hours.
m. A copy of the application can be viewed on the Commission's
website at <a href="https://www.ferc.gov">https://www.ferc.gov</a> using the ``eLibrary'' link. Enter the
docket number excluding the last three digits in the docket number
field to access the document. For assistance, contact FERC Online
Support (see item j above).
You may also register at <a href="https://ferconline.ferc.gov/FERCOnline.aspx">https://ferconline.ferc.gov/FERCOnline.aspx</a> to be notified via email of new filings and issuances
related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, please
contact FERC Online Support (see item j above).
n. Anyone may submit a protest or a motion to intervene in
accordance with the requirements of Rules of Practice and Procedure, 18
CFR 385.210, 385.211, and 385.214. In determining the appropriate
action to take, the Commission will consider all protests 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 protests
or motions to intervene must be received on or before the specified
deadline date for the particular application.
When the application is ready for environmental analysis, the
Commission will issue a public notice requesting comments,
recommendations, terms and conditions, or prescriptions.
All filings must (1) bear in all capital letters the title
``PROTEST'' or ``MOTION TO INTERVENE;'' (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.
Agencies may obtain copies of the application directly from the
applicant. A copy of any protest or motion to intervene must be served
upon each representative of the applicant specified in the particular
application.
o. The Commission's Office of Public Participation (OPP) supports
meaningful public engagement and participation in Commission
proceedings. OPP can help members of the public, including landowners,
environmental justice communities, Tribal members and others, access
publicly available information and navigate Commission processes. For
public inquiries and assistance with making filings such as
interventions, comments, or requests for rehearing, the public is
encouraged to contact OPP at (202) 502-6595 or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e0afb0b0a086859283ce878f96"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="da958a8a9abcbfa8b9f4bdb5ac">[email protected]</span></a>.
p. The Commission's scoping process will help determine the
required level of analysis and satisfy the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) scoping requirements, irrespective of whether the
Commission issues an environmental assessment or an environmental
impact statement.
Scoping Meetings
In addition to written comments solicited by this notice,
Commission staff will hold three public scoping meetings at the times
and locations noted below. All interested individuals, resource
agencies, Native American Tribes, and NGOs are invited to attend any of
the meetings to assist Commission staff in identifying the scope of
environmental issues that should be analyzed in the NEPA document. The
times and locations of these meetings are as follows:
Daytime Scoping Meeting
Date: Tuesday, September 24, 2024.
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. MDT.
Location: Hilton Garden Inn Casper.
Address: 1150 N Poplar Street, Casper, Wyoming 82601.
Evening Scoping Meeting
Date: Tuesday, September 24, 2024.
Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. MDT.
Location: Hilton Garden Inn Casper.
Address: 1150 N Poplar Street, Casper, Wyoming 82601.
Evening Scoping Meeting
Date: Wednesday, September 25, 2024.
Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. MDT.
Location: Jeffrey Memorial Community Center.
Address: 315 W Pine Street, Rawlins, Wyoming 82301.
Scoping Document 1 (SD1), which outlines the subject areas to be
addressed in the environmental document, was mailed to the individuals
and entities on the Commission's mailing list. Copies of SD1 will be
available at the scoping meetings, or may be viewed on the web at
<a href="http://www.ferc.gov">http://www.ferc.gov</a>, using the ``eLibrary'' link. Follow the directions
for accessing information in paragraph m.
Environmental Site Review
BCH and Commission staff will conduct an environmental site review
of the project beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 25, 2024.
All interested individuals, resource agencies, Native American Tribes,
and NGOs are invited to attend the site review. Participants will
initially meet in the lobby at the Hilton Garden Inn at 1150 N Poplar
Street, Casper, Wyoming 82601 before traveling to the site. The
applicant will provide a detailed site visit agenda that includes
approximately 7 stops, and will take up to 8 hours to complete.
Attendees are responsible for their own vehicle transport and should
wear appropriate outdoor clothing. The existing road to the upper
reservoir site is steep and rocky; therefore, attendees wishing to see
the upper reservoir site should plan on driving their own 4x4, high
clearance, off-road capable vehicle to access that particular site.
Please contact Lars Dorr, Program Manager at rPlus at (858) 925-3743 or
via email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f39f979c8181b381839f8680969d9681949a9680dd909c9e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e08c848f9292a092908c9593858e859287898593ce838f8d">[email protected]</span></a> no later than Friday September 20,
2024, to register for the environmental site review.
Meeting Procedures
Individuals, NGOs, Native American Tribes, and agencies with
environmental expertise and concerns are encouraged to attend the
meetings and to assist the staff in defining and clarifying the issues
to be addressed in the NEPA document. At the start of each meeting,
Commission staff will provide a brief overview of the meeting format
[[Page 74272]]
and objectives. Individual oral comments will be taken on a one-on-one
basis with a court reporter (with Commission staff present). This
format is designed to receive the maximum number of oral comments in a
convenient way during the timeframe allotted. If you wish to speak,
Commission staff will hand out numbers in the order of your arrival. If
all individuals who wish to provide comments have had an opportunity to
do so, Commission staff may conclude the meeting a half hour earlier
than the scheduled time. Please see appendix 1 for additional
information on the session format and conduct.\1\
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\1\ The appendix referenced in this notice will not appear in
the Federal Register. Copies of the appendix were sent to all those
receiving this notice in the mail and are available at <a href="http://www.ferc.gov">www.ferc.gov</a>
using the ``eLibrary'' link. For assistance, contact FERC at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#773132253438191b1e191224020707180503371112051459101801"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bbfdfee9f8f4d5d7d2d5dee8cecbcbd4c9cffbdddec9d895dcd4cd">[email protected]</span></a> or call toll free, (886) 208-3676 or TTY
(202) 502-8659.
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Scoping comments will be recorded by the court reporter and become
part of the public record for this proceeding. Transcripts will be
publicly available on FERC's eLibrary system. If a significant number
of people are interested in providing oral comments in the one-on-one
settings, a time limit of 5 minutes may be implemented for each
commentor.
It is important to note that the Commission provides equal
consideration to all comments received, whether filed in writing or
provided orally at a scoping session. Although there will not be a
formal presentation, Commission staff will be available throughout the
scoping session to answer your questions about the environmental review
process. Representatives from BCH will also be present to answer
project-specific questions.
q. Procedural Schedule: The application will be processed according
to the following anticipated processing schedule. Revisions to the
schedule will be made as appropriate. The schedule for issuing draft
and final NEPA documents is consistent with the Commission's Notice of
Revised Schedule issued January 10, 2024:
Scoping Document 1 Issued--September 2024
Acceptance and Scoping Notice Issued--September 2024
Scoping Document 1 Comments Due--November 2024
Issue Scoping Document 2 (if needed)--December 2024
Issue Notice of Ready for Environmental Analysis--December 2024
Comments, Recommendations and Agency Terms and Conditions/Prescriptions
Due--February 2025
Applicant's Reply Comments Due--March 2025
Commission Issues Draft NEPA Document--August 2025
Commission Issues Final NEPA Document--March 2026
Dated: September 6, 2024.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Acting Secretary.
Appendix 1
FERC Session Format and Conduct
Session Format
FERC is conducting the session to solicit your scoping comments.
There will not be a formal presentation by Commission staff;
however, FERC staff is available to answer questions about the
environmental review process. The session format is as follows:
<bullet> Tickets are handed out on a ``first come, first serve''
basis starting at the time listed in the Notice.
<bullet> Individuals are called in ticket number order to
provide oral comments to be transcribed by a court reporter for the
public record.
<bullet> Time limits on oral comments may be enforced to ensure
that all those wishing to comment have the opportunity to do so
within the designated session time.
<bullet> Additional materials about FERC and the environmental
review process are available at information stations at the session.
Session Conduct
Proper conduct will help the sessions maintain a respectful
atmosphere for attendees to learn about the FERC Environmental
Review Process and to be able to provide comments effectively.
<bullet> Loudspeakers, lighting, oversized visual aids, or other
visual or audible disturbances are not permitted.
<bullet> Disruptive video and photographic equipment may not be
used.
<bullet> Conversations should be kept to a reasonable volume.
Attendees should be respectful of those providing oral comments to
the court reporters.
<bullet> Recorded interviews are not permitted within the
session space.
<bullet> FERC reserves the right end the session if disruptions
interfere with the opportunity for individuals to provide oral
comments or if there is a safety or security risk.
[FR Doc. 2024-20768 Filed 9-11-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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