2012-30719. New England Hydropower Company, LLC; Notice of Preliminary Permit Application Accepted for Filing and Soliciting Comments, Motions To Intervene, and Competing Applications

On December 7, 2012, the New England Hydropower Company, 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 Starr Mill Hydroelectric Project (Starr Mill Project or project) to be located on the Coginchaug River, near Middletown, Middlesex County, Connecticut. 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 project would consist of the following: (1) An existing 10-foot-high, 85-foot-long stone masonry dam; (2) an existing 8.32-acre impoundment with about 0.19 acres within the proposed project boundary; (3) an existing 12-foot-long, 6.6-foot-wide, 6.6-foot-deep head box and intake channel; (4) a new 3.3-foot-high, 7-foot-wide sluice gate equipped with a 6.6-foot-high, 12-foot-wide trashrack with 6-inch bar spacing; (5) a new 33-foot-long, 6.6-foot wide Archimedes screw generator unit with an installed capacity of 25 kilowatts; (6) a new 10-foot-high, 9.5-foot-long, 9.5-foot-wide powerhouse containing a new gearbox and electrical controls; (7) a new above ground 120-foot-long, 13.8-kilovolt transmission line connecting the powerhouse to an existing nearby distribution system pole; and (8) appurtenant facilities. The estimated annual generation of the proposed Starr Mill Project would be about 95 megawatt-hours. The existing Starr Mill Dam and appurtenant works, including a former powerhouse foundation and intake structures, are privately owned.

Applicant Contact: Mr. Michael C. Kerr, New England Hydropower Company, LLC, P.O. Box 5524, Beverly Farms, Massachusetts 01915; phone: [phone].

FERC Contact: John Ramer; phone: [phone] or email: [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. Comments, motions to intervene, notices of intent, and competing applications may be filed electronically via the Internet. See 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the Commission's Web site http://www.ferc.gov/​docs-filing/​efiling.asp.Commenters can submit brief comments up to 6,000 characters, without prior registration, using the eComment system at http://www.ferc.gov/​docs-filing/​ecomment.asp.You must include your name and contact information at the end of your comments. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at [e-mail] or toll free at 1-866-208-3676, or for TTY, [phone]. Although the Commission strongly encourages electronic filing, documents may also be paper-filed. To paper-file, mail an original and seven copies to: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426.

More information about this project, including a copy of the application, can be viewed or printed on the “eLibrary” link of Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov/​docs-filing/​elibrary.asp.Enter the docket number (P-14470) in the docket number field to access the document. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support.

Dated: December 14, 2012.

Kimberly D. Bose,

Secretary.