Notice2025-06435
Orcas Power & Light Cooperative; Notice of Intent To File License Application, Filing of Draft Application, Request for Waivers of Integrated Licensing Process Regulations Necessary for Expedited Processing of a Hydrokinetic Pilot Project License Application, and Soliciting Comments
Primary source
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Published
April 16, 2025
Issuing agencies
Energy DepartmentFederal Energy Regulatory Commission
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 72 (Wednesday, April 16, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 72 (Wednesday, April 16, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15984-15985]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-06435]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. Project No. 15368-001]
Orcas Power & Light Cooperative; Notice of Intent To File License
Application, Filing of Draft Application, Request for Waivers of
Integrated Licensing Process Regulations Necessary for Expedited
Processing of a Hydrokinetic Pilot Project License Application, and
Soliciting Comments
a. Type of Filing: Notice of Intent to File a License Application
for an Original License for a Hydrokinetic Pilot Project.
b. Project No.: 15368-001.
c. Date Filed: March 26, 2025.
d. Submitted By: Orcas Power & Light Cooperative (OPALCO).
e. Name of Project: Rosario Strait Tidal Energy Project.
f. Location: On Rosario Strait in the Salish Sea, east of Blakely
Island (approximately 48.5611[deg] N, 122.7679[deg] W) in San Juan
County, Washington.
g. Filed Pursuant to: 18 CFR 5.3 of the Commission's regulations.
h. Applicant Contact: Russell Guerry, Orcas Power & Light
Cooperative (OPALCO), 183 Mount Baker Road, Eastsound, Washington
98245; (360) 376-3500; <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5103362434232328113e21303d323e7f323e3c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f8aa9f8d9d8a8a81b8978899949b97d69b9795">[email protected]</span></a>.
i. FERC Contact: Golbahar Mirhosseini at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#99fef6f5fbf8f1f8ebb7f4f0ebf1f6eaeafcf0f7f0d9fffcebfab7fef6ef"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a3c4cccfc1c2cbc2d18dcecad1cbccd0d0c6cacdcae3c5c6d1c08dc4ccd5">[email protected]</span></a>.
j. OPALCO has filed with the Commission: (1) a notice of intent
(NOI) to file an application for an original license for a hydrokinetic
pilot project and a draft license application with monitoring plans;
(2) a request for waivers of the integrated licensing process
regulations necessary for expedited processing of a hydrokinetic pilot
project license application; (3) a proposed process plan and schedule;
(4) a request to be designated as the non-federal representative for
section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) consultation; and (5) a
request to be designated as the non-federal representative for section
106 consultation under the National Historic Preservation Act
(collectively the pre-filing materials).
k. With this notice, we are soliciting comments on the pre-filing
materials listed in paragraph j above, including the draft license
application and monitoring plans. All comments should be sent to the
address above in paragraph h. In addition, all comments must be filed
with the Commission. The Commission strongly encourages electronic
filing. Please file comments 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>. You must include your name and contact information
at the end of your comments. For assistance, please contact FERC Online
Support at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#692f2c3b2a26070500070c3a1c1919061b1d290f0c1b0a470e061f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b6f0f3e4f5f9d8dadfd8d3e5c3c6c6d9c4c2f6d0d3c4d598d1d9c0">[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, 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, 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:
Rosario Strait Tidal Energy Project (P-15368-001). Any individual or
entity interested in submitting comments on the pre-filing materials
must do so by September 30, 2025.
l. With this notice, we are approving OPALCO's request to be
designated as the non-federal representative for section 7 of the ESA
and its request to initiate consultation under section 106 of the
National Historic Preservation Act; and recommending that it begin
informal consultation with: (a) the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and
NOAA Fisheries as required by section 7 of ESA; and (b) the Alaska
State Historic Preservation Officer, as required by section 106 of the
National Historic Preservation Act, and the implementing regulations of
the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation at 36 CFR 800.2.
m. With this notice, we also are asking federal, state, local, and
tribal agencies with jurisdiction and/or expertise with respect to
environmental issues to cooperate with us in the preparation of the
environmental document. Agencies who would like to request cooperating
status should follow the instructions for filing comments described in
paragraph ``k'' above.
n. This notice does not constitute the Commission's approval of
OPALCO's request to use the Pilot Project Licensing Procedures. Upon
its review of the project's overall characteristics relative to the
pilot project criteria, the draft license application contents, and any
comments filed, the Commission will determine whether there is adequate
information to conclude the pre-filing process.
o. The Rosario Strait Tidal Energy Project would consist of: (1)
one Orbital Marine O2-X Floating Tidal device (Orbital O2-X) with two
turbine rotors for a total rated capacity of 2.4 megawatts (MW); (2)
one mooring and anchor system with four mooring lines and four anchors;
(3) one new 3.3-mile subsea cable from the Orbital O2-X to an existing
shoreline conduit and facility on Blakely Island; (4) a shore station
containing all needed supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA)
and electrical interconnection equipment; and (6) appurtenant
facilities. The project would have a total estimated average annual
generation of 4,200,000 kilowatt hours per year.
p. A copy of the draft license application and all pre-filing
materials are available for review on the Commission's website (<a href="http://www.ferc.gov">http://www.ferc.gov</a>), using the ``eLibrary'' link. Enter the docket number,
excluding the last three digits of the sub-docket in the docket number
field, to access documents. For assistance, contact FERC Online
Support. A copy is also available via the contact in paragraph h.
q. Pre-filing Process Schedule. The pre-filing process will be
conducted pursuant to the following tentative schedule. Revisions to
the schedule below may be made based on staff's review of the draft
application and any comments received.
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Milestone Date
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Comments on pre-filing materials due.... September 30, 2025.
Issuance of meeting notice (if needed).. October 15, 2025.
Public meeting/technical conference (if November 14, 2025.
needed).
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r. 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.
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,
community organizations, Tribal members and others, access publicly
available information and navigate Commission processes. For public
inquiries and assistance with
[[Page 15985]]
making filings such as interventions, comments, or requests for
rehearing, the public is encouraged to contact OPP at (202) 502-6595,
or at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#440b141404222136276a232b32"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bff0efefffd9dacddc91d8d0c9">[email protected]</span></a>.
Dated: April 10, 2025.
Carlos D. Clay,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2025-06435 Filed 4-15-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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