2022-08369. Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC; Notice of Application Accepted for Filing and Soliciting Comments, Motions To Intervene, and Protests

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

a. Type of Application: Request for a temporary amendment of the reservoir elevation requirement at the Wateree development.

b. Project No.: 2232-828.

c. Date Filed: January 25, 2022.

d. Applicant: Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC.

e. Name of Project: Catawba-Wateree Hydroelectric Project.

f. Location: The project is located on the Catawba-Wateree River in Burke, McDowell, Caldwell, Catawba, Alexander, Iredell, Mecklenburg, Lincoln, and Gaston counties, North Carolina, and York, Lancaster, Chester, Fairfield, and Kershaw counties South Carolina.

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

h. Applicant Contact: Mr. Jeffrey G. Lineberger, Director of Water Strategy and Hydro Licensing, Duke Energy, Mail Code EC-12Q, 526 South Church Street, Charlotte, NC 28202, [phone].

i. FERC Contact: Mr. Steven Sachs, [phone], [e-mail].

j. Deadline for filing comments, motions to intervene, and protests is 30 days from the issuance of this notice by the Commission. The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file comments, motions to intervene, and protests using the Commission's eFiling system at 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/​doc-sfiling/​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], [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: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426. Submissions sent via any other carrier must be addressed to: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, MD 20852. The first page of any filing should include docket number P-2232-828.

The Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure 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. Description of Request: The applicant requests a temporary variance of its reservoir elevation requirement at the Wateree development. The applicant intends to maintain the water surface between 6 and 7 feet below the full pool elevation of 100 feet local datum for 11 to 16 months beginning in the third quarter of 2022. This differs from the normal target elevation which is 3 feet below full pool (97 feet local datum) from March through November and 5 to 5.5 feet below full pool (95 to 94.5 feet local datum) at all other times, and compares to the normal minimum elevation which is 6 feet below full pool (94 feet local datum) from March through October, and 7 feet below full pool (93 feet local datum) the reminder of the year. The applicant states the low reservoir elevation would allow it to install pneumatic crest gates on the Wateree dam.

l. In addition to publishing the full text of this document in the Federal Register , the Commission provides all interested persons an opportunity to view and/or print the contents of this document via the internet through the Commission's Home Page ( http://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 TYY, [phone].

m. Individuals desiring to be included on the Commission's mailing list should so indicate by writing to the Secretary of the Commission.

n. Comments, Motions to Intervene, or Protests: Anyone may submit comments, a motion to intervene, or a protest in accordance with the requirements of Rules of Practice and Procedure, 18 CFR 385.210, .211, .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, motions to intervene, or protests must be received on or before the specified comment date for the particular application.

o. Filing and Service of Responsive Documents: Any filing must (1) bear in all capital letters the title “COMMENTS”, “MOTION TO INTERVENE”, or “PROTEST” as applicable; (2) set forth in the heading the name of the applicant and the project number(s) of the application to which the filing responds; (3) furnish the name, address, and telephone number of the person intervening or protesting; and (4) otherwise comply with the requirements of 18 CFR 385.2001 through 385.2005. All comments, motions to intervene, or protests must set forth their evidentiary basis. A copy of all other filings in reference to this application must be accompanied by proof of service on all persons listed in the service list prepared by the Commission in this proceeding, in accordance with 18 CFR 385.2010.

Dated: April 13, 2022.

Debbie-Anne A. Reese,

Deputy Secretary.