Green Mountain Power Corporation; Notice of Intent To File License Application, Filing of Pre-Application Document (Pad), Commencement of Pre-Filing Process and Scoping, Request for Comments on the Pad and Scoping Document, and Identification of Issues and Associated Study Requests

Issuing agencies

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 190 (Friday, October 2, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 190 (Friday, October 2, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62722-62723]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-20239]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 2731-046]


Green Mountain Power Corporation; Notice of Intent To File 
License Application, Filing of Pre-Application Document (Pad), 
Commencement of Pre-Filing Process and Scoping, Request for Comments on 
the Pad and Scoping Document, and Identification of Issues and 
Associated Study Requests

    a. Type of Filing: Notice of Intent to File License Application for 
a New License and Commencing Pre-filing Licensing Process.
    b. Project No.: 2731-046.
    c. Dated Filed: July 31, 2026.
    d. Submitted By: Green Mountain Power Corporation (GMP).
    e. Name of Project: Weybridge Hydroelectric Project.
    f. Location: The project is located on Otter Creek in Addison 
County, Vermont.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: 18 CFR part 5 of the Commission's 
regulations.
    h. Potential Applicant Contact: Mr. John Tedesco, Generation 
Project Coordinator, Green Mountain Power Corporation, 163 Acorn Lane, 
Colchester, VT 05446; (802) 655-8753 or email at 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b4fedbdcda9ae0d1d0d1c7d7dbf4d3c6d1d1dad9dbc1dac0d5dddac4dbc3d1c69ad7dbd9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="347e5b5c5a1a6051505147575b74534651515a595b415a40555d5a445b4351461a575b59">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.
    i. FERC Contact: Erin Mocko, Project Coordinator, Great Lakes 
Branch, Division of Hydropower Licensing; telephone at (202) 502-8107; 
email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4d083f24236300222e26220d0b081f0e632a223b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0441766d6a2a496b676f6b44424156472a636b72">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.
    j. Cooperating agencies: Federal, state, local, and tribal agencies 
with jurisdiction and/or special expertise with respect to 
environmental issues that wish to cooperate in the preparation of the 
environmental document should follow the instructions for filing such 
requests described in item o below. Cooperating agencies should note 
the Commission's policy that agencies that cooperate in the preparation 
of the environmental document cannot also intervene. See 94 FERC ] 
61,076 (2001).
    k. With this notice, we are initiating informal consultation with: 
(a) the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration--Fisheries under section 7 of the Endangered 
Species Act and the joint agency regulations thereunder at 50 CFR, part 
402; and (b) the Vermont State Historic Preservation Officer, as 
required by section 106, National Historic Preservation Act, and the 
implementing regulations of the Advisory Council on Historic 
Preservation at 36 CFR 800.2.
    l. With this notice, we are designating GMP as the Commission's 
non-federal representative for carrying out informal consultation 
pursuant to section 7 of the Endangered Species Act and section 106 of 
the National Historic Preservation Act.
    m. GMP filed with the Commission a Pre-Application Document (PAD), 
including a proposed process plan and schedule, pursuant to 18 CFR 5.6 
of the Commission's regulations.
    n. A copy of the PAD is 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 the document. For assistance, contact 
FERC Online Support at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7e383b2c3d31101217101b2d0b0e0e110c0a3e181b0c1d50191108"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b1f7f4e3f2fedfddd8dfd4e2c4c1c1dec3c5f1d7d4c3d29fd6dec7">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>, (866) 208-3676 (toll 
free), or (202) 502-8659 (TTY). A copy is also available via the 
contact in paragraph h.
    You may 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.
    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#89c6d9d9c9efecfbeaa7eee6ff"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6c233c3c2c0a091e0f420b031a">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.
    o. With this notice, we are soliciting comments on the PAD and 
Commission staff's Scoping Document 1 (SD1), as well as study requests. 
All comments on the PAD and SD1, and study requests should be sent to 
the address above in paragraph h. In addition, all comments on the PAD 
and SD1, study requests, requests for cooperating agency status, and 
all communications to and from Commission staff related to the merits 
of the potential application must be filed with the Commission.
    The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file 
documents 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>. You 
must include your name and contact information at the end of your 
comments. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support. 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

[[Page 62723]]

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: 
Weybridge Hydroelectric Project (P-2731-046).
    All filings with the Commission must bear the appropriate heading: 
``Comments on Pre-Application Document,'' ``Study Requests,'' 
``Comments on Scoping Document 1,'' ``Request for Cooperating Agency 
Status,'' or ``Communications to and from Commission Staff.'' Any 
individual or entity interested in submitting study requests, 
commenting on the PAD or SD1, and any agency requesting cooperating 
status must do so by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, November 30, 
2026.
    p. Scoping Process: In accordance with the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA), Commission staff will prepare either an 
environmental assessment (EA) or an environmental impact statement 
(EIS) (collectively referred to as the ``NEPA document''). The NEPA 
document will consider the environmental effects of the proposed action 
and reasonable alternatives to the proposed action. The Commission's 
scoping process will help determine the required level of analysis and 
satisfy the NEPA scoping requirements, irrespective of whether the 
Commission prepares an EA or EIS.

Scoping Sessions

    Commission staff will hold two scoping session for the project to 
receive input on the scope of the NEPA document. A daytime session will 
focus on concerns of resource agencies, Indian Tribes, and non-
governmental organizations (NGO); and an evening session will focus on 
input from the public. We invite all interested agencies, Indian 
Tribes, NGOs, and the public to attend one or both sessions to assist 
staff in identifying the scope of environmental issues that should be 
analyzed in the NEPA document. The dates and times of the scoping 
sessions are listed below.

Morning Scoping Session

    Date: Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
    Time: 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
    Location: Green Mountain Power Corporation, 121 Cady Rd., 
Middlebury, VT 05753.

Evening Scoping Session

    Date: Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
    Time: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
    Location: Green Mountain Power Corporation, 121 Cady Rd., 
Middlebury, VT 05753.
    Copies of SD1, outlining the subject areas to be addressed in the 
environmental document, were mailed to the individuals and entities on 
the Commission's mailing list. Copies of SD1 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 n. Based on all oral 
and written comments, a Scoping Document 2 (SD2) may be issued. SD2 may 
include a revised process plan and schedule, as well as a list of 
issues, identified through the scoping process.

Site Visit

    A site visit of the project will be conducted at 19 Water St., 
Weybridge, VT 05753, on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, from 2:30 p.m. to 
3:30 p.m.
    All interested individuals, agencies, Indian Tribes, and NGOs are 
invited to attend. Participants should meet at 2:30 p.m. at 19 Water 
St., Weybridge, VT 05753. Please contact John Tedesco at (803) 324-7318 
or via email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2d4742454303594849485e4e426d4a5f48484340425843594c44435d425a485f034e4240">[email&#160;protected]</a> on or before 
October 23, 2026, if you plan to attend.

Scoping Session Procedures

    Agencies, Indian Tribes, NGOs, and individuals with environmental 
expertise and concerns are encouraged to attend the sessions and to 
assist the staff in defining and clarifying the issues to be addressed 
in the NEPA document. 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 session a half 
hour earlier than the scheduled time. Please see appendix A of the SD1 
for additional information on the session format and conduct.
    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 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 sessions to answer your questions about the environmental 
review process. Representatives from GMP will also be present to answer 
project-specific questions.

(Authority: 18 CFR 2.1)

    Dated: September 29, 2026.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2026-20239 Filed 10-1-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


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