2024-27354. Notice of Application Accepted for Filing and Soliciting Motions To Intervene and Protests: Scott's Mill Hydro, LLC

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Department of Energy

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

1. [Project No. 14867-003]

Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection.

a. Type of Application: Original Major License.

b. Project No.: 14867-003.

c. Date filed: March 21, 2022.

d. Applicant: Scott's Mill Hydro, LLC.

e. Name of Project: Scott's Mill Hydroelectric Project.

f. Location: On the James River, near the City of Lynchburg, in Bedford and Amherst Counties, Virginia. No federal or tribal land would be occupied by project works or located within the project boundary.

g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act 16 U.S.C. 791(a)-825(r).

h. Applicant Contact: Mr. Mark Fendig, Luminaire Technologies, Inc., 9932 Wilson Highway, Mouth-of-Wilson, VA 24363; phone: [phone].

i. FERC Contact: Jody Callihan at [phone], or [e-mail].

j. Deadline for filing motions to intervene and protests: 60 days from the issuance date of this notice.

The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file motions to intervene and protests using the Commission's eFiling system at https://ferconline.ferc.gov/​FERCOnline.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. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at [e-mail], [phone] (toll free), or [phone] (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. All filings must clearly identify the project name and docket number on the first page: Scott's Mill Hydroelectric Project (P-14867-003).

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 but is not ready for environmental analysis.

l. The Scott's Mill Hydroelectric Project would consist of: (1) an existing masonry dam containing two spillways separated by a 25-foot-wide stone pier, with one 735-foot-long, 15-foot-high overflow spillway and the other a 140-foot-long, 16-foot-high arch-section spillway; (2) an impoundment with a surface area of 305 acres at the normal pool elevation of 516.4 feet North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88); (3) a new modular powerhouse containing nine generating units with a total installed capacity of 4.5 megawatts that would be installed immediately downstream of the existing arch-section spillway of the dam; (4) a new 1,200-foot-long overhead transmission line; and (5) appurtenant facilities.

To increase flow through the modular powerhouse, Scott's Mill proposes to remove the top 6.8 feet of the existing arch-section spillway of the dam and add 2-foot-high flashboards to the existing overflow spillway. Scott's Mill proposes to operate the project in a run-of-river mode, except on the 10 days of peak annual electrical demand in the Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland (PJM) regional transmission organization, during which time the project may operate in a peaking mode for up to two hours per day. The estimated annual energy production of the project is 20,700 megawatt-hours.

m. A copy of the application is available for review via the internet through the Commission's Home Page ( http://www.ferc.gov), 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 at [e-mail] or call toll free, [phone] or TTY [phone].

You may also register online at https://ferconline.ferc.gov/​FERCOnline.aspx to be notified via email of new filings and issuances related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support.

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].

n. Any qualified applicant desiring to file a competing application must submit to the Commission, on or before the specified intervention deadline date, a competing development application, or a notice of intent to file such an application. Submission of a timely notice of intent allows an interested person to file the competing development application no later than 120 days after the specified intervention deadline date. Applications for preliminary permits will not be accepted in response to this notice.

A notice of intent must specify the exact name, business address, and telephone number of the prospective applicant, and must include an unequivocal statement of intent to ( print page 92676) submit a development application. A notice of intent must be served on the applicant(s) named in this public notice.

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” or “MOTION TO INTERVENE,” “NOTICE OF INTENT TO FILE COMPETING APPLICATION,” or “COMPETING APPLICATION;” (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, address, and telephone number of the person protesting or intervening; and (4) otherwise comply with the requirements of 18 CFR 385.2001 through 385.2005. 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.

o. Procedural schedule: The application will be processed according to the following schedule. Revisions to the schedule will be made as appropriate.

Issue Scoping Document 1 for comments—January 2025

Comments on Scoping Document 1 due—February 2025

Request Additional Information ( if necessary)—March 2025

Issue Scoping Document 2 ( if necessary)—March 2025

Issue Notice of Ready for Environmental Analysis—March 2025

Dated: November 15, 2024.

Debbie-Anne A. Reese,

Secretary.