Notice2026-11606
Boott Hydropower, LLC; Notice of Application Accepted for Filing, Soliciting Motions To Intervene and Protests, Ready for Environmental Analysis, and Soliciting Comments, Recommendations, Preliminary Terms and Conditions, and Preliminary Fishway Prescriptions
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Published
June 10, 2026
Issuing agencies
Energy DepartmentFederal Energy Regulatory Commission
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 111 (Wednesday, June 10, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 111 (Wednesday, June 10, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35199-35201]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-11606]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 2790-074]
Boott Hydropower, LLC; Notice of Application Accepted for Filing,
Soliciting Motions To Intervene and Protests, Ready for Environmental
Analysis, and Soliciting Comments, Recommendations, Preliminary Terms
and Conditions, and Preliminary Fishway Prescriptions
Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been
filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection.
a. Type of Application: Major License.
b. Project No.: 2790-074.
c. Date Filed: April 30, 2021.
d. Applicant: Boott Hydropower, LLC (Boott).
e. Name of Project: Lowell Hydroelectric Project (project).
f. Location: The existing project is located on the Merrimack River
in Middlesex County, Massachusetts and Hillsborough County, New
Hampshire. The project does not occupy any federal land but is located
within the administrative boundary of the Lowell National Historical
Park.
g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791(a)-825(r).
h. Applicant Contact: Jillian Lawrence, Boott Hydropower, LLC, 4747
Bethesda Avenue, Suite 1220, Bethesda, MD 20814; (856) 906-0180 or
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f59f99948287909b9690b59d809999868187909081909b9087928cdb969a98"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8ce6e0edfbfee9e2efe9cce4f9e0e0fff8fee9e9f8e9e2e9feebf5a2efe3e1">[email protected]</span></a>.
i. FERC Contact: Bill Connelly at (202) 502-8597 or
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#186f717474717975367b7776767d747461587e7d6a7b367f776e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="22554b4e4e4b434f0c414d4c4c474e4e5b62444750410c454d54">[email protected]</span></a>.
j. Deadline for filing motions to intervene and protests, comments,
recommendations, terms and conditions, and prescriptions: August 4,
2026, by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time; reply comments are due September 18,
2026.
The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file
motions to intervene, protests, comments, recommendations, preliminary
terms and conditions, and preliminary fishway prescriptions 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 10,000
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
[[Page 35200]]
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#99dfdccbdad6f7f5f0f7fccaece9e9f6ebedd9fffcebfab7fef6ef"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="45030017060a2b292c2b20163035352a373105232037266b222a33">[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. The first page of any filing should include
docket number P-2790-074.
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 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. This application has been accepted and is now ready for
environmental analysis.
l. The Lowell Project consists of: (1) the 1,093-foot-long, 15-
foot-high Pawtucket Dam and spillway, equipped with a 5-foot-high
pneumatic crest gate with a crest elevation of 92.2 feet National
Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD 29) at the top of the gate; (2) a
1,236-acre impoundment with a normal maximum water surface elevation of
92.2 feet NGVD 29; (3) a 5.5-mile-long, two-tiered canal system that
includes the 4,300 foot-long Northern Canal and the 9,000-foot-long
Pawtucket Canal (canal system), along with a series of connected water
ways, small dams, gatehouses, and generating facilities; (4) a 125-
foot-long, 55-foot-high gatehouse that controls flow from the
impoundment to the Northern Canal (Pawtucket Gatehouse); (5) a 70-foot-
long, 20-foot-high, five-bay gatehouse that control flows from the
impoundment to the Pawtucket Canal as part of the Guard Lock and Gates
Facility, which also includes a boat navigation lock and a Francis Gate
facility with a 25-foot-wide, 25-foot-high flood gate; (6) generating
facilities, including: (a) the Eldred L. (E.L.) Field Power Station,
which is located on the mainstem of the Merrimack River and consists
of: (i) a 109-foot-long, 96-foot-wide concrete powerhouse with two
turbine-generator units with a total installed capacity of 15,012
kilowatts (kW); (ii) a 200-foot-long. 80-foot-wide forebay; (iii) a
100-foot-long, 26-foot-wide, 22.25-foot-high canal control structure
that maintains water levels in the forebay as part of a Hydro Locks
Facility, which also includes a boat navigation lock; (iv) a 440-foot-
long tailrace with a 10- to-16-foot high concrete training wall; (v)
two 4.16-kilovolt (kV) generator leads; (vi) a 4.16/13.8-kV step-up
transformer; and (vi) appurtenant facilities; (b) the Hamilton Power
Station, which is located on the canal system and consists of: (i) five
turbine-generator units with a total installed capacity of 1,180 kW;
(ii) five 0.6-kV generator leads; and (iii) appurtenant facilities; (c)
the Assets Power Station, which is located on the canal system and
consists of: (i) three turbine-generator units with a total installed
capacity of 792 kW; (ii) three 0.6-kV generator leads; and (iii)
appurtenant facilities; (d) the Bridge Street Power Station, which is
located on the canal system and consists of: (i) three turbine-
generator units with a total installed capacity of 1,080 kW; (ii) three
0.6-kV generator leads; and (iii) appurtenant facilities; and (e) the
John Street Power Station, which is located on the canal system and
consists of: (i) four turbine-generator units with a total installed
capacity of 2,100 kW; (ii) four 0.6-kV generator leads; and (iii)
appurtenant facilities; (7) a 4.5-mile-long, 13.8-kV submarine cable
that connects the project generating facilities to the regional
electric grid; (8) upstream and downstream fish passage facilities; and
(9) a visitor center.
The project bypasses approximately 2 miles of the Merrimack River,
including a 0.7-mile-long bypassed reach from Pawtucket Dam to the E.L.
Field Powerhouse tailrace, and an approximately 1.3-mile-long bypassed
reach from the E.L. Field Powerhouse tailrace to the confluence of the
Merrimack and Concord Rivers.
Fish passage facilities include a fish elevator and downstream fish
bypass at the E.L. Field Powerhouse, and a fish ladder at Pawtucket
Dam.
The fish elevator at the E.L. Field Powerhouse has a design
discharge capacity of 200 cubic feet per second (cfs). Fish migrating
upstream through the tailrace channel enter a collection gallery, where
they are attracted to a crowding pool and then into the elevator. Once
in the elevator, fish are lifted in a hopper to the exit channel. Fish
then pass from the exit channel to the Northern Canal, where they swim
upstream until they rejoin the Merrimack River upstream of Pawtucket
Dam. The fish elevator system includes areas where fish can be counted
or trapped before swimming from the exit channel to the Northern Canal.
The downstream fishway at the E.L. Field Powerhouse consists of an
adjustable-flow sluiceway and bypass adjacent to the powerhouse intake.
Downstream migrating fish entering the bypass are sluiced into a plunge
pool located in the bypassed reach, next to the powerhouse.
The fish ladder at Pawtucket Dam is designed for river flows up to
25,000 cfs and has an operating flow of 500 cfs (including fish
attraction flow). The fish ladder is a vertical-slot design with 13-
foot-wide by 10-foot-long pools. A counting station and fish trap area
are also provided at the fish ladder.
Recreation facilities at the project consist of a visitor center at
the E.L. Field Powerhouse. The visitor center offers a view of the
turbines and an interpretive display providing information about the
project and the area.
The current license requires Boott to operate in run-of-river mode.
The minimum and maximum hydraulic capacities of the project are 500 cfs
and 8,600 cfs, respectively. The average annual generation of the
project was approximately 84,501 megawatt-hours from 2008 through 2017.
Boott proposes to: (1) continue to operate the project in a run-of-
river mode; (2) release 500 cfs into the bypassed reach from the
existing Pawtucket Dam fish ladder during the upstream migratory fish
passage season, defined annually in consultation with the Merrimack
River Technical Committee, and release 100 cfs, or inflow, whichever is
less, to the bypassed reach from Pawtucket Dam during the rest of the
year; (3) suspend generation and operation of the canal system power
stations during the downstream migration period for alosines (May
through July) and American eel (August through November); (4) continue
to implement the Crest Gate Operation Plan; \1\ (5) develop an
operation and compliance monitoring plan; (6) replace the existing fish
elevator with a short fish ladder to pass migratory fish from the E.L.
Field Powerhouse tailrace upstream to the bypassed reach within three
years of license issuance; (7) cease operation of the fish elevator
after the installation of the proposed tailrace fish ladder; (8)
conduct a 1-year ``shakedown'' period of the proposed fish ladder after
installation; (9) evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed tailrace
fish ladder after installation; (10) modify the existing Pawtucket Dam
fish ladder to enhance upstream fish passage; (11)
[[Page 35201]]
modify the bypassed reach to enhance upstream fish passage; (12)
install a new ``fish exclusion facility'' at the E.L. Field Powerhouse
that would consist of a 0.75-inch clear-spaced trashrack overlay,
modifications to the existing downstream fish bypass, and an American
eel sampling device; (13) implement nightly shutdowns of the E.L. Field
Powerhouse from August 15 through November 15 until the proposed ``fish
exclusion facility'' is installed; (14) develop an upstream American
eel passage assessment study plan; (15) develop a fishway operation and
management plan; (16) develop an historic properties management plan;
(17) maintain an operating agreement with the National Park Service to
allow tour boat operations to navigate the canal system; (18) develop a
recreation access and facilities management plan; (19) within 1 year of
license issuance, file with the Commission a decommissioning plan for
the Assets Power Station; and (20) implement a canal operation and
management plan to describe the management of canal water elevations,
flows, trash management, and vegetation management. Boott also proposes
that the project boundary under the new license not include a 7.4-mile
section from the upstream extent of the impoundment that is included in
the project boundary under the current license.
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\1\ The Commission approved the Crest Gate Operation Plan on
March 30, 2015.
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m. A copy of the application can be viewed on the Commission's
website at <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. For assistance, contact FERC Online
Support. A copy is also available for inspection and reproduction at
the address in item h above.
Register online at <a href="http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp">http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp</a> to be notified via email of new filings and issuances
related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC
Online Support.
n. 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, and .214. 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.
All filings must (1) bear in all capital letters the title
``PROTEST'', ``MOTION TO INTERVENE'', ``COMMENTS,'' ``REPLY COMMENTS,''
``RECOMMENDATIONS,'' ``PRELIMINARY TERMS AND CONDITIONS,'' or
``PRELIMINARY PRESCRIPTIONS''; (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 of the person protesting or
intervening; and (4) otherwise comply with the requirements of 18 CFR
385.2001 through 385.2005. All comments, recommendations, terms and
conditions, or prescriptions must set forth their evidentiary basis and
otherwise comply with the requirements of 18 CFR 4.34(b). 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. A copy of all other filings in reference to this
application 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 4.34(b) and 385.2010.
For public inquiries and assistance with making filings such as
interventions, comments, or requests for rehearing, contact the Office
of Public Participation at (202)502-6595 or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e7a8b7b7a781829584c9808891"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="145b444454727166773a737b62">[email protected]</span></a>.
o. Final amendments to the application must be filed with the
Commission on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time July 7, 2026.
p. A license applicant must file no later than 60 days following
the date of issuance of the notice of acceptance and ready for
environmental analysis provided for in 5.22: (1) a copy of the water
quality certification; (2) a copy of the request for certification,
including proof of the date on which the certifying agency received the
request; or (3) evidence of waiver of water quality certification.
(Authority: 18 CFR 2.1)
Dated: June 5, 2026.
Carlos D. Clay,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2026-11606 Filed 6-9-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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