FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION
`WASHINGTON, D.C. 20426
`May 8, 2019
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`OFFICE OF ENERGY PROJECTS
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`Re: Notice of License Expiration and Request for Information Regarding
`Process Selection
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`To the parties addressed:
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`Our records indicate that 29 hydropower projects with Federal Energy
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`Regulatory Commission (Commission) licenses will begin the relicensing process
`between October 1, 2021, and September 30, 2022 (see Attachment). According
`to our records, you own and operate one of these projects. This letter provides
`advance notice of your project’s license expiration and explains the steps you must
`take to initiate the relicensing process.
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`Between 5 and 5.5 years before your existing license expires, you will need
`to notify the Commission whether or not you intend to file an application for a
`new license.1 Concurrent with the filing of a notice of intent (NOI) to relicense
`the project, you must file a Pre-Application Document (PAD) with the
`Commission and distribute the PAD to appropriate federal, state, and interstate
`resource agencies, Indian tribes, local governments, and members of the public
`likely to be interested in the project’s relicensing.2 The PAD must include: (1) a
`process plan and schedule; (2) a description of the project’s location, facilities, and
`operation; (3) a description of the existing environment at the project and its
`resource impacts; (4) a preliminary list of issues and proposed studies; and (5) a
`list of contacts. The specific requirements of the PAD can be found at 18 C.F.R. §
`5.6 of the Commission's regulations.
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` Pursuant to 18 C.F.R. § 16.23, an existing licensee that fails to file an NOI
`at least 5 years before the existing license expires shall be deemed to have filed a
`notice indicating that it does not intend to file an application to relicense its
`project. Additionally, pursuant to 18 C.F.R. § 16.24, an existing licensee that
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`1 Please refer to Section 15(b)(1) of the Federal Power Act and 18 C.F.R. §
`5.5 of the Commission’s regulations.
`2 To aid in your preparation of a distribution list, a list of federal and state
`agencies can be viewed at:
`http://www.ferc.gov/industries/hydropower/enviro/consultlist.aspx.
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`2
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`informs the Commission that it does not intend to file an application, may not file
`an application to relicense its project, either individually or in conjunction with an
`entity or entities that are not currently licensees of the project. Therefore, if you
`intend to file an application to relicense your project, please allow sufficient time
`to prepare your NOI and PAD in accordance with the regulations.
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`Although the Integrated Licensing Process (ILP) is the default process for
`preparing a relicense application, you have the option of requesting either the
`Alternative or Traditional Licensing Process (ALP or TLP, respectively).3 As you
`consider process options, we ask that you seriously consider the TLP if you expect
`your project to have non-complex resource issues, relatively little controversy, and
`a lack of significant disputes over studies.
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`Over the next 15 years, we expect an annual average of over 30 relicensing
`processes to commence. To prepare for this substantial relicensing workload,
`which will be influenced by process selection,4 we are asking that you contact us
`prior to June 30, 2019, to indicate whether you anticipate using the ILP or
`requesting the TLP or ALP in preparing an application for a new license. Please
`respond even if you are undecided. To notify us of your anticipated relicensing
`process, we request that you send an email to vincent.jones@ferc.gov. Please
`indicate “Relicensing Process” in the subject line and list your name, the
`licensee’s name, the project number(s), the project name(s), and the anticipated
`relicensing process (or undecided) in the body of the message.
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`If you would like to discuss process options, please contact the staff listed
`below. To determine which branch will be handling your project, please refer to
`the spreadsheet posted on the Commission’s hydropower web site at:
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`http://www.ferc.gov/industries/hydropower/gen-info/licensing/relicenses2015-
`2030.xlsx.
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`New England Branch (NEB)
`Nicholas Tackett
`Telephone: 202-502-6783
`Email: nicholas.tackett@ferc.gov
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`3 A table comparing the three licensing processes is available at
`http://www.ferc.gov/industries/hydropower/gen-info/licensing/matrix.asp.
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`4 Staff involvement during the period when the license application is being
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`prepared (i.e., prefiling) varies significantly among the three processes.
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`3
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`Mid-Atlantic Branch (MAB)
`John B. Smith
`Email: john.smith@ferc.gov
`Phone: (202) 502-8972
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`South Branch (SB)
`Stephen Bowler
`Email: stephen.bowler@ferc.gov
`Phone: (202) 502-6861
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`Midwest Branch (MWB)
`Janet Hutzel
`Email: janet.hutzel@ferc.gov
`Phone: (202) 502-8675
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`West Branch (WB)
`Tim Konnert
`Email: timothy.konnert@ferc.gov
`Phone: (202) 502-6359
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`Northwest Branch (NWB)
`David Turner
`Telephone: 202-502-6091
`Email: david.turner@ferc.gov
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`Attachment- List of Projects
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`Sincerely,
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`Vince Yearick
`Director
`Division of Hydropower Licensing
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`4
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`Attachment
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`List of projects that will begin the relicensing process between October 1, 2021,
`and September 30, 2022:
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`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`27
`28
`29
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`
`
`2290
`2538
`2550
`2569
`4644
`11132
`2716
`2725
`3407
`9074
`1388
`1389
`2705
`10854
`4900
`5062
`8405
`9685
`9709
`9985
`2275
`4684
`9951
`4114
`9821
`1517
`2740
`8369
`9282
`
`WB
`KERN RIVER NO 3
`MAB
`BEEBEE ISLAND
`MWB
`WEYAUWEGA
`MAB
`BLACK RIVER
`MAB
`DAHOWA
`NEB
`EUSTIS
`BATH COUNTY PUMPED STORAGE MAB
`ROCKY MOUNTAIN PUMPED STORAGE
`SB
`MAGIC DAM
`NWB
`WARRENSBURG
`MAB
`LEE VINING
`WB
`RUSH CREEK
`WB
`NEWHALEM CREEK
`NWB
`CATARACT
`MWB
`FORESTPORT
`MAB
`QUINEBAUG-FIVE MILE POND
`NEB
`GLEN
`NEB
`CRANBERRY LAKE
`MAB
`HERKIMER
`MAB
`MILL POND
`MAB
`SALIDA HYDRO NOS. 1 & 2
`WB
`STILLWATER
`MAB
`FRENCH LANDING
`MWB
`LOWER SARANAC
`MAB
`OGDENSBURG
`MAB
`UPPER MONROE
`WB
`BAD CREEK PUMPED STORAGE
`SB
`LAKE FLOWER DAM
`MAB
`PINE VALLEY
`NEB
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