Notice2026-16168
Erie Boulevard Hydropower, L.P.; 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
August 7, 2026
Issuing agencies
Energy DepartmentFederal Energy Regulatory Commission
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 151 (Friday, August 7, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 151 (Friday, August 7, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51165-51168]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-16168]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 2645-176]
Erie Boulevard Hydropower, L.P.; 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: New Major License.
b. Project No.: 2645-176.
c. Date Filed: July 30, 2024.
d. Applicant: Erie Boulevard Hydropower, L.P. (Erie).
e. Name of Project: Beaver River Hydroelectric Project (project).
f. Location: On the Beaver River in Lewis and Herkimer Counties,
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#83d0f7e6f3ebe6edadcef6f1f3ebfac3e1f1ecece8e5eae6efe7f1e6ede6f4e2e1efe6ade0ecee"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="77240312071f1219593a0205071f0e37150518181c111e121b13051219120016151b125914181a">[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#d9b7b0bab1b6b5b8aaf7bcadadbcb4b899bfbcabbaf7beb6af"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="157b7c767d7a7974663b70616170787455737067763b727a63">[email protected]</span></a>.
j. Deadline for filing motions to intervene and protests, comments,
recommendations, preliminary terms and conditions, and preliminary
fishway prescriptions: October 5, 2026, by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
Deadline for filing reply comments: November 17, 2026, by 5:00 p.m.
Eastern Time.
The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file
motions to
[[Page 51166]]
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 <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c88e8d9a8b87a6a4a1a6ad9bbdb8b8a7babc88aeadbaabe6afa7be"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b5f3f0e7f6fadbd9dcdbd0e6c0c5c5dac7c1f5d3d0c7d69bd2dac3">[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, MD 20852. The
first page of any filing should include docket number P-2645-176.
The Commission's Rules of Practice 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 for filing and is now ready
for environmental analysis.
l. Project Description: The project consists of the following eight
developments from upstream to downstream: the 8-megawatt (MW) Moshier
Development, the 5.81-MW Eagle Development, the 12.145-MW Soft Maple
Development, the 2.8-MW Effley Development, the 1.5-MW Elmer
Development, the 4.645-MW Taylorville Development, the 2.21-MW Belfort
Development, and the 4.8-MW High Falls Development.
Project Facilities
Moshier Development
The Moshier Development consists of an approximately 1,132-foot-
long, 93-foot-high dam (Moshier dam) that includes an intake structure
with two slide gates and two trashracks with 1-inch clear bar spacing,
a sluice gate, and a 200-foot-long ogee spillway with 2-foot-high
flashboards that have a crest elevation of 1,641.48 feet North American
Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88). The dam creates an impoundment that
has a surface area of 340 acres at 1,641.48 feet NAVD 88. From the
impoundment, water flows through the intake structure to an
approximately 1.9-mile-long penstock. The penstock bifurcates into two
70-foot-long penstocks that convey water to a powerhouse that includes
two 4-MW vertical Francis turbine-generators. From the powerhouse,
water flows to the tailrace and discharges into the Beaver River. Water
also flows through the sluice gate to provide minimum flows to a 2.1-
mile-long bypassed reach of the Beaver River. The generators are
connected to the regional electric grid by two overhead generator lead
lines and a transformer. The project recreation facilities include an
impoundment take-out site, a portage trail, a hand-carry boat put-in
site downstream of the powerhouse, 2 parking areas, and a whitewater
boating put-in site in the bypassed reach.
Eagle Development
The Eagle Development consists of a 369.5-foot-long, 21-foot-high
dam (Eagle dam) that includes a headgate structure that includes four
stoplog gates and four trashracks with 1-inch clear bar spacing, a
sluice gate, a 183-foot-long ogee spillway with 1-foot-high flashboards
that have a crest elevation of 1,426.65 feet NAVD 88, and two low-level
needle beam gates. The dam creates an impoundment that has a surface
area of 138 acres at 1,426.65 feet NAVD 88.
From the impoundment, water flows through the headgate structure to
a forebay canal with a stoplog gate. From the forebay canal, water
enters an intake structure with three slide gates and a trashrack with
1.25-inch clear bar spacing. From the intake structure, water enters a
2,725-foot-long penstock that conveys water to a powerhouse that
includes three 1.35-MW horizontal Francis turbine-generators and a
1.79-MW horizontal Francis turbine-generator. Water is discharged from
the turbines to a tailrace. Water also flows through the sluice gate to
provide minimum flows to the 0.73-mile-long bypassed reach. The
generators are connected to the regional electric grid by a generator
lead line and a step-up transformer. The project recreation facilities
include: (1) a hand-carry boat portage route with an impoundment take-
out site, a portage trail, and a put-in site downstream of the
powerhouse; (2) a fishing access trail to the bypassed reach; and (3) a
boat put-in site downstream of the dam for whitewater flow release
events.
Soft Maple Development
The Soft Maple Development includes: (1) a 307-foot-long, 40-foot-
high earthen dam with an intake structure with six slide gates and
three trashracks with 1-inch clear bar spacing; (2) a 720-foot-long,
124-foot-high earthen dam (Terminal dam); (3) a 173-foot-long, 20-foot-
high concrete dam with two sluice gates and a 144-foot-long ogee
spillway with 1.5-foot-high flashboards that have a crest elevation of
1,289.9 feet NAVD 88; (4) a 910-foot-long, 67-foot-high earthen dam
(Diversion dam) that includes an intake structure with a butterfly gate
and a trashrack with 5-inch clear spacing; and (5) five earthen dikes.
The dams and dikes create an impoundment that has a surface area of 400
acres at 1,289.9 feet NAVD 88.
From the impoundment, water flows through the intake structure to
two 530-foot-long penstocks that provide water to a powerhouse that
includes a 6.045-MW and a 6.1-MW vertical Francis turbine-generator.
Water is discharged from the turbines to a tailrace. Minimum flows are
provided from the impoundment through: (1) the two sluice gates; and
(2) a 263.9-foot-long pipe equipped with a screen with 0.5-inch
openings housed in a diversion tunnel that extends from the Diversion
dam's intake structure. The generators are connected to the regional
electric grid by two generator lead lines and a step-up transformer.
The project recreation facilities include: (1) a hand-carry boat
portage route with an impoundment take-out site, a portage trail, and a
put-in site downstream of the powerhouse, with a parking area; (2) a
campground adjacent to the impoundment, with 10 tent sites, an access
road, a parking area, a car-top boat launch, and four restrooms; (3)
seven primitive campsites on islands within the impoundment; (4) a
picnic area; and (5) a trail to a scenic overlook with a view of the
bypassed reach and a parking area.
Effley Development
The Effley Development consists of a 1,370.8-foot-long, 30-foot-
high dam (Effley dam) that includes a south intake structure with a
slide gate and a trashrack with 1-inch clear bar spacing, a north
intake structure with three slide gates and a trashrack with 1-inch
clear bar spacing, and a section that includes: (1) a 69.7-foot-long
south ogee spillway with a crest elevation of 1,162.95 feet NAVD 88;
(2) a stoplog gate and two low-level outlet gates; and (3) a 360.5-
foot-long north ogee spillway with a crest elevation of 1,162.95 feet
NAVD 88
[[Page 51167]]
and a sluice gate. The dam creates an impoundment that has a surface
area of 340 acres at 1,162.95 feet NAVD 88.
From the impoundment, water enters through the south intake
structure to a 148-foot-long penstock that provides water to a south
powerhouse that includes a 1.44-MW vertical Francis turbine-generator.
Water enters through the north intake structure to: (1) a 109.7-foot-
long penstock that provides water to a 0.56-MW horizontal Francis
turbine-generator; and (2) two 87-foot-long penstocks that each
provides water to a 0.4-MW horizontal Francis turbine-generator,
located in a north powerhouse. Water is discharged from the powerhouses
to a tailrace. Water also flows through sluice gate at the north
spillway to provide minimum flows to the 0.11-mile-long bypassed reach.
The generators are connected to the regional electric grid by two
generator lead lines and a step-up transformer. The project recreation
facilities include a hand-carry boat portage route that includes an
impoundment take-out site, a portage trail, and a put-in site
downstream of the dam.
Elmer Development
The Elmer Development consists of a 326.6-foot-long, 23-foot-high
dam (Elmer dam) that includes an intake structure with four slide gates
and two trashracks with 1-inch clear bar spacing, a 122-foot-long west
ogee spillway with a crest elevation of 1,107.96 feet NAVD 88, a needle
beam gate, and a 113.8-foot-long east ogee spillway with a crest
elevation of 1,107.96 feet NAVD 88. The dam creates an impoundment that
has a surface area of 34 acres at 1,107.96 feet NAVD 88.
From the impoundment, water flows through the intake structure to a
powerhouse that includes two 0.75-MW vertical Francis turbine-generator
units. Water is discharged from the powerhouse to a tailrace. Water
also flows through an opening at the bottom of the needle beam gate
that provides minimum flows to a 260-foot-long bypassed reach of the
Beaver River. The generators are connected to the regional electric
grid by a generator lead line and a step-up transformer. The project
recreation facilities include a hand-carry boat portage route with an
impoundment take-out site, a portage trail, and a put-in site
downstream of the dam.
Taylorville Development
The Taylorville Development consists of a 23-foot-high concrete dam
(Taylorville dam) that includes a 348-foot-long ogee spillway with 0.8-
foot-high flashboards that have a crest elevation of 1,070.46 feet NAVD
88 and a section that includes two sluice gates and two low-level
stoplog gates, a 119.5-foot-long ogee spillway with 0.8-foot-high
flashboards that have a crest elevation of 1,070.46 feet NAVD 88, a
sluice gate, and an intake structure with three slide gates and a
trashrack with 1-inch clear bar spacing. The development also includes
two earthen dikes. The dam and dikes create an impoundment that has a
surface area of 170 acres at 1,070.46 feet NAVD 88.
From the impoundment, water flows through the intake structure to a
2,725-foot-long penstock. The penstock conveys water to a powerhouse
that includes two 1.1-MW, one 1.245-MW, and one 1.2-MW horizontal
Francis turbine-generator. Water is discharged from the powerhouse to a
tailrace. Water also flows through the sluice gates to provide minimum
flows to a 0.86-mile-long bypassed reach of the Beaver River. The
generators are connected to the regional electric grid by a generator
lead line, a step-up transformer, and a 200-foot-long transmission
line. The project recreation facilities include: (1) a hand-carry boat
portage route that includes an impoundment access site, a portage
trail, and a put-in site downstream of the powerhouse; (2) a walking
trail that begins near the impoundment access site; (3) a picnic area
near the boat take-out site with picnic tables, grills, and a parking;
and (4) a picnic area near the boat put-in site.
Belfort Development
The Belfort Development consists of a 600.5-foot-long, 17-foot-high
dam (Belfort dam) that includes a 161.1-foot-long ogee spillway with 2-
foot-high flashboards that have a crest elevation of 965.64 feet NAVD
88, a sluice gate, a low-level outlet gate, and an intake structure
with two slide gates and two trashracks with 1-inch clear bar spacing.
The dam creates an impoundment that has a surface area of 50 acres at
965.64 feet NAVD 88.
From the impoundment, water flows through the intake structure to a
52-foot-long penstock that provides water to a 0.4-MW horizontal
Francis turbine-generator and a 0.64-MW double horizontal Francis
turbine-generator, and a 52-foot-long penstock that provides water to a
1.17-MW double Francis turbine-generator. The turbine-generators are
located in a powerhouse. Water is discharged from the powerhouse to a
tailrace. Water also flows through the sluice gate at the spillway to
provide minimum flows to a 0.13-mile-long bypassed reach of the Beaver
River. The generators are connected to the regional electric grid by a
generator lead line and a step-up transformer. The project recreation
facilities include: (1) a hand-carry boat portage route with an
impoundment take-out site, a portage trail, and a put-in site
downstream of the powerhouse; and (2) a fishing platform adjacent to
the dam that provides anglers with access to the impoundment.
High Falls Development
The High Falls Development includes a 1,559.9-foot-long, 50-foot-
high concrete dam (High Falls dam) that includes an intake structure
with four slide gates and four trashracks with 1-inch clear bar
spacing, a 204-foot-long ogee spillway with a crest elevation of 914.82
feet NAVD 88, a non-operational stoplog gate and low-level outlet gate,
and a 445.9-foot-long ogee spillway with a crest elevation of 914.82
feet NAVD 88 and a sluice gate. The development also includes two
dikes. The dam and dikes create an impoundment that has a surface area
of 145 acres at the spillway crest elevation of 914.82 feet NAVD 88.
From the impoundment, water flows through the intake structure to a
605-foot-long penstock that provides water to a powerhouse that
includes three 1.6-MW vertical Francis turbine-generators. Water is
discharged from the powerhouse to a tailrace. Water also flows through
the sluice gate at the spillway to provide minimum flows to a 0.21-
mile-long bypassed reach of the Beaver River. The generators are
connected to the regional electric grid by two generator lead lines and
a step-up transformer. The project recreation facilities include: (1) a
hand-carry boat portage route that includes an impoundment take-out
site, a portage trail, and a put-in site downstream of the powerhouse;
(2) five campsites on the islands in the impoundment; and (3) an
impoundment access site that includes a hand-carry boat launch, picnic
area, and parking area.
Proposed Project Operation and Environmental Measures
Erie proposes to: (1) continue to limit impoundment fluctuations
by: (a) 1 foot from May 1 through June 30 and 1.5 feet from July 1
through April 30, for the Moshier, Soft Maple, and Effley Developments;
(b) 1 foot at the Eagle, Elmer, Taylorville, and Belfort Developments;
and (c) 1.5 feet at the High Falls Development, in the downward
direction from the crest of the dam or the flashboards, if present; (2)
continue to release the following minimum flows or inflow, whichever is
less, to the bypassed reaches: (a) 45 cfs at the Moshier and Eagle
Developments;
[[Page 51168]]
(b) 35 cfs at the Soft Maple Development; (c) 20 cfs at the Effley,
Elmer, and Belfort Developments; (d) 60 cfs at the Taylorville
Development; and (e) 30 cfs at the High Falls Development; (3) continue
to release a minimum flow of 250 cfs downstream of the High Falls
Development's powerhouse; (4) continue to implement the Low Flow
Augmentation Plan, including consultation with the New York DEC to
determine any alternative flow releases; (5) continue to implement the
Streamflow and Headpond Elevation Monitoring Plan; (6) continue to
implement the Minimum Flow and Fish Conveyance Plans for the Moshier,
Soft Maple, Effley, Elmer, Belfort, Soft Maple, and High Falls
Developments; (7) update and continue to implement the Recreation Plan
that requires operation and maintenance of the project recreation
facilities described above and releasing the following whitewater
flows: (a) one 4-hour release of 400 cfs from Moshier dam; (b) five 4-
hour releases of 200 cfs from the Taylorville dam; and (c) five 4-hour
releases of 200 cfs from Eagle dam; (8) maintain a fishing access area
at the Moshier Development and bypassed reach trails at the Taylorville
Development as project recreation facilities, including installing
signage at the facilities; and (9) develop a historic properties
management plan.
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 (i.e., P-2645). For assistance, contact
FERC Online Support. A copy is also available for inspection and
reproduction at Lowville Free Library, located at 5387 Dayan St.,
Lowville, NY 13367, or the Frank J. Basloe Library, located at 245 Main
St., Herkimer, NY 13350.
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.
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 FISHWAY 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 on 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#9fd0cfcfdff9faedfcb1f8f0e9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="baf5eaeafadcdfc8d994ddd5cc">[email protected]</span></a>.
o. The applicant must file on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on
October 5, 2026: (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.
p. Final amendments to the application must be filed with the
Commission on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on September 3, 2026.
(Authority: 18 CFR 2.1.)
Dated: August 4, 2026.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2026-16168 Filed 8-6-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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