Notice2024-21484
Erie Boulevard Hydropower, L.P.; Notice of Application Tendered for Filing With the Commission and Establishing Procedural Schedule for Licensing and Deadline for Submission of Final Amendments
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
September 20, 2024
Issuing agencies
Energy DepartmentFederal Energy Regulatory Commission
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 183 (Friday, September 20, 2024)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 183 (Friday, September 20, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77134-77136]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-21484]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 2569-169]
Erie Boulevard Hydropower, L.P.; Notice of Application Tendered
for Filing With the Commission and Establishing Procedural Schedule for
Licensing and Deadline for Submission of Final Amendments
Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been
filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection.
a. Type of Application: New Major License.
b. Project No.: 2569-169.
c. Date Filed: August 30, 2024.
d. Applicant: Erie Boulevard Hydropower, L.P. (Erie).
e. Name of Project: Black River Hydroelectric Project (project).
f. Location: On the Black River in Jefferson County, New York.
g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791(a)-825(r).
h. Applicant Contact: Mr. Steven P. Murphy, Director--U.S.
Licensing, Brookfield Renewable, 33 West 1st Street South, Fulton, NY
13069; telephone at (315) 598-6130; email at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#17446372677f7279395a6265677f6e57756578787c717e727b73657279726076757b723974787a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="62311607120a070c4c2f1710120a1b2200100d0d09040b070e0610070c071503000e074c010d0f">[email protected]</span></a>.
i. FERC Contact: Nicholas Ettema, Project Coordinator, Great Lakes
Branch, Division of Hydropower Licensing; telephone at (312) 596-4447;
email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#147a7d777c7b7875673a71606071797554727166773a737b62"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b8d6d1dbd0d7d4d9cb96ddccccddd5d9f8deddcadb96dfd7ce">[email protected]</span></a>.
j. The application is not ready for environmental analysis at this
time.
k. Project Description: The project consists of the following five
developments from upstream to downstream: the 5.0625-megawatt (MW)
Herrings Development, the 10.8-MW Deferiet Development, the 5.4-MW
Kamargo Development, the 6-MW Black River Development, and the 1.875-MW
Sewalls Development.
Project Facilities
Herrings Development
The Herrings Development consists of a concrete dam (Herrings Dam)
that includes the following sections: (1) a 536-foot-long section that
includes a 512-foot-long ogee spillway with 1-foot-high flashboards
that have a crest elevation of 680.1 feet North American Vertical Datum
of 1988 (NAVD 88) and a 9-foot-long stoplog gate; and (2) a 137-foot-
long, 33-foot-wide powerhouse that includes: (a) a 110-foot-long intake
structure with nine sluice gates, a skimmer equipped with a stoplog
gate, and a trashrack with 2-inch clear bar spacing; and (b) three
1.6875-MW vertical propeller turbine-generators, for a total installed
capacity of 5.0625-MW. The dam creates an impoundment that has a
surface area of 140 acres at 680.1 feet NAVD 88. From the impoundment,
water flows through the powerhouse to an approximately 110-foot-long
tailrace.
The project recreation facilities include: (1) a hand-carry boat
access site on the north shoreline of the impoundment, approximately
300 feet upstream of the dam, including a picnic area and parking area;
(2) an 800-foot-long portage trail that extends from the hand-carry
boat access area to a put-in site on the north shoreline of the Black
River, 140 feet downstream of the powerhouse; (3) a fishing access area
on the north shoreline of the impoundment, approximately 100 feet
upstream of the dam; and (4) a fishing access area on the north
shoreline of the Black River, which is co-located with the boat put-in
site downstream of the powerhouse.
The generators are connected to the regional electric grid by two
100-foot-long, 2.3-kilovolt (kV) overhead generator lead lines and a
2.3/23-kV step-up transformer. The minimum and maximum hydraulic
capacities of the powerhouse are 220 and 3,435 cfs, respectively. The
average annual energy production of the development from 2010 through
2020, was 55,708 megawatt-hours (MWh).
Deferiet Development
The Deferiet Development consists of a concrete dam (Deferiet Dam)
that includes the following sections: (1) a 503.9-foot-long spillway
with a 3-foot-high inflatable rubber crest gate with a maximum crest
elevation of 659.53 feet NAVD 88; (2) a 192-foot-long section with
eleven 14-foot-long stoplog gates; (3) a 52.3-foot-long non-overflow
section; and (4) a headgate structure with ten sluice gates. The dam
creates an impoundment that has a surface area of 70 acres at 659.53
feet NAVD 88.
From the impoundment, water flows through the headgate structure to
a 4,200-foot-long power canal. From the power canal, water enters a
145.4-foot-long, 92.5-foot-wide powerhouse that includes: (1) a 107.8-
foot-long intake structure that includes three sluice gates and a
trashrack with 2-inch clear bar spacing; and (2) three 3.6-MW vertical
Francis turbine-generators, for a total installed capacity of 10.8 MW.
Water is discharged from the powerhouse to an approximately 1,400-foot-
long tailrace. The development creates an approximately 1.73-mile-long
bypassed reach of the Black River.
The development also includes a stoplog gate adjacent to the intake
structure that conveys water to an ice chute that discharges downstream
of the powerhouse.
The project recreation facilities include: (1) a hand-carry boat
access site and parking area immediately east of the headgate
structure; (2) a hand-carry boat portage route with a take-out site at
the hand-carry boat access site, a 960-foot-long portage trail, and a
put-in site on the north shoreline of the Black River, approximately
200 feet downstream of the dam; (3) a boat access site and parking area
on the shoreline of an island, at the confluence of the tailrace and
bypassed reach; (4) a hand-carry boat access site on the south
shoreline of the impoundment, approximately 0.5 mile upstream of the
dam, that includes a 170-foot-long access path and parking area; and
(5) a 0.68-mile-long hiking trail that follows the northern shoreline
of the Black River downstream of the dam.
The generators are connected to the regional electric grid by three
65-foot-long, 2.3-kV overhead generator lead
[[Page 77135]]
lines and a 2.3/23-kV step-up transformer. The minimum and maximum
hydraulic capacities of the powerhouse are 85 and 571 cfs,
respectively. The average annual energy production of the development
from 2010 through 2020, was 32,298 MWh.
Kamargo Development
The Kamargo Development consists of a concrete dam (Kamargo Dam)
that includes the following sections: (1) a 188-foot-long headgate
structure that includes a 131.7-foot-long section with fourteen 8-foot-
long sluice gates; (2) a 168-foot-long non-overflow section; and (3) a
718-foot-long section that includes a 647-foot-long ogee spillway with
2-foot-high flashboards that have a crest elevation of 565.48 feet NAVD
88 and a 5.7-foot-long notch. The dam creates an impoundment that has a
surface area of 40 acres at 565.48 feet NAVD 88.
From the impoundment, water flows through the headgate structure to
a 3,850-foot-long power canal with an approximately 700-foot-long
section that includes: (1) a bulkhead with flashboards that have a
crest elevation of 565.48 feet NAVD 88; (2) a 190-foot-long section
with a crest elevation of 566.68 NAVD 88 (3) a 230-foot-long section
with 1-foot-high flashboards that have a crest elevation of 565.48 feet
NAVD 88; and (4) a 160.8-foot-long ogee spillway with twelve stoplog
gates. From the power canal, water enters a 97.5-foot-long, 37-foot-
wide powerhouse that includes: (1) a 66-foot-long intake structure with
nine sluice gates and a trashrack with 2-inch clear bar spacing; and
(2) three 1.8-MW vertical Francis turbine-generators, for a total
installed capacity of 5.4 MW. Water is discharged from the powerhouse
to an approximately 385-foot-long tailrace. The development creates an
approximately 0.69-mile-long bypassed reach of the Black River.
The project includes the Poors Island Recreation Area that includes
two portage trails, fishing access areas, a picnic area, a bicycle
rack, a hiking trail, and parking area.
The generators are connected to the regional electric grid by four
25-foot-long, 2.3-kV underground generator lead lines and a 2.3/23-kV
step-up transformer. The minimum and maximum hydraulic capacities of
the powerhouse are 450 and 3,300 cfs, respectively. The average annual
energy production of the development from 2010 through 2020, was 21,512
MWh.
Black River Development
The Black River Development consists of a dam (Black River Dam)
that includes the following sections: (1) a 30-foot-long retaining
wall; (2) a 36.5-foot-long non-overflow section with two sluice gates;
(3) a 296-foot-long section that includes a 291-foot-long ogee spillway
with 2-foot-high flashboards that have a crest elevation of 535.68 feet
NAVD 88, a notch and a 5-foot-long stoplog gate; and (4) a 99.6-foot-
long headgate structure that includes a 79.6-foot-long section with
twelve sluice gates. The dam creates an impoundment that has a surface
area of 25 acres at 535.68 feet NAVD 88.
From the impoundment, water flows through the headgate structure to
a 2,250-foot-long power canal that includes: (1) a 250-foot-long waste
weir with a crest elevation of 537.68 NAVD 88; and (2) a 134-foot-long
waste weir with 2-foot-high flashboards and a low-level outlet gate.
From the power canal, water enters a 117.8-foot-long, 66.3-foot-wide
powerhouse that includes: (1) an 81.8-foot-long intake structure that
includes nine sluice gates, a skimmer equipped with two sluice gates,
and a trashrack with 2-inch clear bar spacing; (2) three 2-MW vertical
Francis turbine-generators, for a total installed capacity of 6 MW.
Water is discharged from the powerhouse to an approximately 100-foot-
long tailrace. The development creates an approximately 0.6-mile-long
bypassed reach of the Black River.
The project recreation facilities include: (1) a parking area,
picnic area, and fishing platform, referred to as the ``Stone Drive
Recreation Area,'' located on the north shoreline of the impoundment,
approximately 110 feet upstream of the dam; (2) a hand-carry boat
portage route with an impoundment take-out site at the Stone Drive
Recreation Area, a 0.3-mile-long portage trail, and a put-in site on
the east shoreline of the Black River, approximately 550 feet
downstream of the dam; and (3) a picnic and parking area located
approximately 500 feet southeast of the dam.
The generators are connected to the regional electric grid by two
95-foot-long, 2.3-kV underground generator lead lines and a 2.3/23-kV
step-up transformer. The minimum and maximum hydraulic capacities of
the powerhouse are 220 and 3,210 cfs, respectively. The average annual
energy production of the development from 2010 through 2020, was 32,692
MWh.
Sewalls Development
The Sewalls Development consists of a concrete dam (Sewalls Dam)
that includes the following sections: (1) a south dam section that
includes: (a) a 243-foot-long ogee spillway with a crest elevation of
463.73 feet NAVD 88; (b) an 18-foot-long section with two 7.5-foot-long
stoplog gates; and (c) a 47.5-foot-long headgate structure two 15-foot-
long sluice gates; and (2) a north dam section that includes a 95.9-
foot-long spillway with a crest elevation of 463.73 feet NAVD 88 and a
3.61-foot-long notch. The dam creates an impoundment that has a surface
area of 4 acres at 463.73 feet NAVD 88.
From the impoundment, water flows through the sluice gates of the
headgate structure to a 400-foot-long power canal that includes 2-foot-
high flashboards along its entire length, a sluice gate, and a low-
level outlet gate. From the power canal, water enters a 81-foot-long,
32-foot-wide powerhouse that includes: (1) a 69-foot-long intake
structure with four sluice gates and a trashrack with 2-inch clear bar
spacing; and (2) two 0.9375-MW vertical propeller turbine-generators,
for a total installed capacity of 1.875 MW. Water is discharged from
the powerhouse to an approximately 129-foot-long tailrace. The
development creates an approximately 400-foot-long bypassed reach of
the Black River downstream of the south dam (south channel bypassed
reach); and an approximately 528-foot-long bypassed reach downstream of
the north dam (north channel bypassed reach).
The project recreation facilities include: (1) a parking area and
scenic overlook on the south shoreline of the impoundment, immediately
upstream of the spillway; and (2) a hand-carry boat portage route that
includes a portage trail with an impoundment take-out site on the south
shoreline of the impoundment, approximately 50 feet upstream of the
spillway.
The generators are connected to the regional electric grid by two
50-foot-long, 2.3-kV underground generator lead lines and a 2.3/23-kV
step-up transformer. The minimum and maximum hydraulic capacities of
the powerhouse are 450 and 1,800 cfs, respectively. The average annual
energy production of the development from 2010 through 2020, was 11,394
MWh.
Project Operation
Article 401 of the current license requires Erie to maintain the
surface elevation of each impoundment at no lower than 0.5 foot below
either the crest elevation of the dam or the crest of the flashboards,
when in place. During the period of May 1 through September 30, when
inflow is between 1,400 and 1,900 cfs, Article 402 requires Erie to
maintain the surface elevation of the impoundment at the Herrings
Development no lower than 0.2 foot below either the crest elevation of
the dam or the crest of the flashboards when in place, to the extent
possible. Article
[[Page 77136]]
402 also requires Erie to operate the Sewalls Development in a run-of-
river mode from May 1 through September 30, when inflow is below 2,000
cfs, such that outflow approximates inflow to the impoundment at any
given point in time. Article 404 requires a minimum flow of 1,000 cfs
or inflow, whichever is less, downstream of each development.
Article 403 requires Erie to install flashboards at each
development by May 1 or as soon thereafter as safely possible, and
remove the flashboards in the fall prior to ice conditions. Article 410
requires Erie to install trashrack overlays with 1-inch clear bar
spacing at the top half portion of the trashracks of each development,
except the Sewalls Development, from May 1 through October 1.
To protect aquatic habitat in the bypassed reaches and provide
downstream fish passage, Article 405 requires Erie to release the
following minimum flows: (1) for the Herrings Development, 20 cfs
through the 9-foot-long stoplog gate adjacent to the trashracks; (2)
for the Deferiet Development: (a) 45 cfs through the ice chute; and (b)
the following flows from the spillway and leakage at the dam: 800 cfs
during walleye spawning season and 245 cfs for the remainder of the
year; (3) for the Kamargo Development, 120 cfs through the notch in the
spillway; (4) for the Black River Development: (a) 80 cfs through the
notch in the flashboards; and (b) 300 cfs from the notch and stoplog
gate during walleye spawning season; and (5) for the Sewalls
Development: (a) 137 cfs of leakage ``or other mechanisms'' to the
south channel bypassed reach; and (b) 32 cfs to the north channel
bypassed reach that includes 20 cfs through the notch in the spillway
and 12 cfs of leakage ``or other mechanisms.''
The current license also requires the implementation of a Flow
Monitoring Plan to ensure compliance with the project flow requirements
and a Record Keeping Plan to maintain records of the impoundment
elevations and discharges at each of the five developments, in
compliance with Articles 408 and 409.
Article 413 requires the implementation of a Recreation Plan that
requires operation and maintenance of the project recreation
facilities. Article 416 requires the implementation of a Cultural
Resources Management Plan to protect historic properties. Article 415
requires Erie to maintain the existing woodland buffer areas along the
five developments' shorelines and provide buffers along the access road
and parking area at the Deferiet Development.
Erie is not proposing to add any new project facilities. However,
Erie proposes to revise the project boundary around the impoundments to
follow the normal maximum impoundment elevations and add/remove land
that is occupied by or adjacent to project facilities, which would
result in a net decrease of land and water in the project boundary from
773 acres under the current license to 763.7 acres under the proposed
license.
Erie proposes to continue operating the project as required under
the current license. Erie proposes to update the Recreation Plan and
Streamflow and Headpond Monitoring Plan. In addition, Erie proposes to
develop a minimum flow fish conveyance plan and a historic properties
management plan. Erie also proposes to: (1) develop the trail to the
impoundment fishing access area at the Herrings Development; (2)
enhance the staircase at the hand-carry boat put-in site at the
Deferiet Development, to improve access for whitewater boaters; and (3)
notify the public, via an online platform, of bypassed reach flows and
safety information for the Deferiet Development.
l. In addition to publishing the full text of this notice in the
Federal Register, the Commission provides all interested persons an
opportunity to view and/or print the contents of this notice, as well
as other documents in the proceeding (e.g., license application) via
the internet through the Commission's Home Page (<a href="http://www.ferc.gov">http://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 (P-
2569). For assistance, contact FERC at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#175152455458797b7e797244626767786563577172657439707861"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="571112051418393b3e393204222727382523173132253479303821">[email protected]</span></a>,
(866) 208-3676 (toll free), or (202) 502-8659 (TTY).
You may also register online 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, contact FERC
Online Support.
m. 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#f4bba4a4b492918697da939b82"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="79362929391f1c0b1a571e160f">[email protected]</span></a>.
n. Procedural Schedule: The application will be processed according
to the following preliminary schedule. Revisions to the schedule will
be made as appropriate.
Deficiency Letter and Additional Information Request--September 2024
Notice of Acceptance--February 2025
o. Final amendments to the application must be filed with the
Commission no later than 30 days from the issuance date of the notice
of ready for environmental analysis.
Dated: September 13, 2024.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-21484 Filed 9-19-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 20, 2024.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.