2022-01994. Oglethorpe Power Corporation, Georgia Power Company, Rocky Mountain Leasing Corporation, and U.S. Bank National Association; Notice of Intent To File License Application, Filing of Pre-Application Document, and Approving Use of the ...

a. Type of Filing: Notice of Intent to File License Application and Request to Use the Traditional Licensing Process.

b. Project No.: 2725-075.

c. Dated Filed: December 10, 2021.

d. Submitted By: Oglethorpe Power Corporation.

e. Name of Project: Rocky Mountain Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project.

f. Location: On Heath Creek, Floyd County, Georgia. The project does not occupy any federal lands.

g. Filed Pursuant to: 18 CFR 5.5 of the Commission's regulations.

h. Applicant Contact: Craig A. Jones, Environmental Policy Director, Oglethorpe Power Corporation, 2100 East Exchange Place, Tucker, GA 30084, [phone], [e-mail].

i. FERC Contact: Michael Spencer at [phone] or [e-mail].

j. Oglethorpe Power Corporation (OPC) filed its request to use the Traditional Licensing Process on December 10, 2021. OPC provided public notice of its request on December 10, 2021. In a letter dated January 26, 2022, the Director of the Division of Hydropower Licensing approved OPC's request to use the Traditional Licensing Process.

k. With this notice, we are initiating informal consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and/or NOAA Fisheries under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act and the joint agency regulations thereunder at 50 CFR part 402; and NOAA Fisheries under section 305(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and implementing regulations at 50 CFR 600.920. We are also initiating consultation with the Georgia 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 OPC as the Commission's non-federal representative for carrying out informal consultation, pursuant to section 7 of the Endangered Species Act and section 305(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act; and consultation pursuant to section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.

m. OPC filed a Pre-Application Document (PAD; including a proposed process plan and schedule) with the Commission, pursuant to 18 CFR 5.6 of the Commission's regulations.

n. A copy of the PAD may be viewed on the Commission's website ( 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 Online Support at [e-mail], [phone] (toll free), or [phone] (TTY).

o. The applicant states its unequivocal intent to submit an application for a new license for Project No. 2725-075. Pursuant to 18 CFR 16.8, 16.9, and 16.10 each application for a new license and any competing license applications must be filed with the Commission at least 24 months prior to the expiration of the existing license. All applications for license for this project must be filed by December 31, 2024.

p. Register online at https://ferconline.ferc.gov/​eSubscription.aspx to be notified via email of new filing and issuances related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support.

Dated: January 26, 2022.

Kimberly D. Bose,

Secretary.