2024-06771. Kram Hydro 2, LLC; Notice of Preliminary Permit Application Accepted for Filing and Soliciting Comments, Motions To Intervene, and Competing Applications

On February 13, 2024, Kram Hydro 2, 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 a hydropower project proposed to be located at the Kentucky River lock and dam 8 on the Kentucky River, in Jessamine and Garrard counties, Kentucky. 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 Kentucky River Lock and Dam 8 Hydroelectric Project would consist of the following: (1) an existing 309-foot-long, 31-foot-high concrete lock and dam; (2) an existing 17.6-mile-long, 573-acre reservoir with a storage capacity of 8,700-acre-feet; (3) a proposed 50-foot-wide, 150-foot-long intake channel, upstream of the powerhouse; (4) a proposed 150-foot-long, 50-foot-wide concrete powerhouse, designed to fit within the abandoned lock, containing two identical pit turbine-generator units, with a combined generating capacity of 10 megawatts; (5) a proposed 160-foot-long, 60-foot wide unlined tailrace; (6) a proposed 60-foot-long, 60-foot-wide substation adjacent to the powerhouse; and (7) a proposed 2-mile-long, 138-kilovolt transmission line. The project is estimated to generate an average of 50 gigawatt-hours annually. The existing lock and dam are owned and operated by the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Applicant Contact: Pamela Niditch, Kram Hydro 2, 12333 Sowden Rd., Suite B. PMB 50808, Houston, TX 77080; phone: [phone].

FERC Contact: Prabharanjani Madduri; 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 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 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-15322-001.

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].

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-15322) in the docket number field to access the document. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support.

Dated: March 25, 2024.

Debbie-Anne A. Reese,

Acting Secretary.