2024-23744. Low Head Hydro M 21, LLC; Notice of Preliminary Permit Application Accepted for Filing and Soliciting Comments, Motions To Intervene, and Competing Applications

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Department of Energy

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

1. [Project No. 15358-000]

On May 29, 2024, Low Head Hydro- M 21, LLC filed an application for a preliminary permit, pursuant to section 4(f) of the Federal Power Act (FPA), proposing to study the feasibility of the proposed Mississippi Locks and Dam 21 Hydroelectric Project, a hydropower project proposed to be located at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' (Corps) Mississippi Lock and Dam 21, located on the Mississippi River, in Adams County, Illinois and Marion County, Missouri. The sole purpose of a preliminary permit, if issued, is to grant the permit holder priority to file a license application during the permit term. A preliminary permit does not authorize the permit holder to perform any land-disturbing activities or otherwise enter upon lands or waters owned by others without the owners' express permission.

The proposed Mississippi Locks and Dam 21 Hydroelectric Project would consist of the following: (1) a new hydropower structure located approximately 100 feet downstream of the existing Corps submersible dam, connected to the west side of the dam via a new proposed access road; (2) thirty Very Low Head (VLH) turbine-generator units located in concrete channels (turbine bays) within the hydropower structure, each rated with a capacity of 500 kilowatts providing a total rated capacity of 15 megawatts; (3) a new unlined earth intake channel located upstream of the powerhouse which will convey flow from the upper pool to the turbine bays; (4) a 150-foot-long guide wall proposed on both sides of the new intake channel; (5) a new unlined earth excavated tailrace with stone riprap proposed to be 300-foot-wide and 300-foot-long; (6) a 150-foot-long guide wall proposed on both sides of the new tailrace channel; (7) a new 14-foot-wide concrete deck proposed to connect the approach dam on the west side to the existing Corps operation yard on the east; and (8) a control building and substation on the west river bank connecting the transmission line to an interconnection point. The proposed project would have an estimated annual generation of 71,400 megawatt-hours.

Applicant Contact: Allen W. Skelly, Low Head Hydro M21, LLC, 127 Longwood Blvd., Mount Orab, Ohio 45154; phone: [phone].

FERC Contact: Shivani Khetani; phone: [phone], or by email at [e-mail].

Deadline for filing comments, motions to intervene, competing applications (without notices of intent), or notices of intent to file competing applications: 60 days from the issuance of this notice. Competing applications and notices of intent must meet the requirements of 18 CFR 4.36.

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, environmental justice communities, Tribal members and others, access publicly available information and navigate Commission processes. For public inquiries and assistance with making filings such as interventions, comments, or requests for rehearing, the public is encouraged to contact OPP at [phone] or [e-mail].

The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file comments, motions to intervene, notices of intent, and competing applications using the Commission's eFiling system at https://ferconline.ferc.gov/​eFiling.aspx. Commenters can submit brief comments up to 6,000 characters, without prior registration, using the eComment system at https://ferconline.ferc.gov/​QuickComment.aspx. You must include your name and contact information at the end of your comments. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at [e-mail], [phone] (toll free), or [phone] (TTY). In lieu of electronic filing, you ( print page 82999) may submit a paper copy. Submissions sent via the U.S. Postal Service must be addressed to: Debbie-Anne A. Reese, Acting 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, Acting Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852. The first page of any filing should include docket number P-15358-000.

More information about this project, including a copy of the application, can be viewed or printed on the “eLibrary” link of the Commission's website at https://elibrary.ferc.gov/​eLibrary/​search. Enter the docket number (P-15358) in the docket number field to access the document. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support.

Dated: October 8, 2024.

Debbie-Anne A. Reese,

Acting Secretary.