2023-10514. Kaukauna Utilities; Notice Soliciting Scoping Comments

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

a. Type of Application: New Major License.

b. Project No.: P–2715–026.

c. Date filed: July 22, 2022.

d. Applicant: Kaukauna Utilities.

e. Name of Project: Combined Locks Hydroelectric Project.

f. Location: The existing project is located on the Lower Fox River in the Village of Combined Locks and the Village of Little Chute, Outagamie County, Wisconsin.

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

h. Applicant Contact: Zachary Moureau, Environmental & Compliance Manager, Kaukauna Utilities, 777 Island Street, Kaukauna, WI 54130–7077; (920) 462–0238; [e-mail].

i. FERC Contact: Kelly Wolcott, (202) 502–6480, or [e-mail].

j. Deadline for filing scoping comments: June 10, 2023.^[1]

The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file scoping comments 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/​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], (866) 208–3676 (toll free), or (202) 502–8659 (TTY). In lieu of electronic filing, please send a paper copy to: Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426. The first page of any filing should include docket number P–2715–026.

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 is not ready for environmental analysis at this time.

l. Project Description: The Combined Locks Project consists of: (1) a concrete and cyclopean stone dam approximately 654 feet long and 27 feet high with additional 24 inch nominal flashboards mounted upon the spillway crest at elevation 674.6 feet International Great Lakes Datum of 1985 (IGLD85); (2) a 126.9-acre reservoir at normal full pool elevation 676.7 feet IGLD85; (3) a powerhouse approximately 65 feet wide by 130 feet long housing two 3.1-megawatt (MW) generators, for a total authorized capacity of 6.2 MW; (4) a tailrace channel; (5) a 265-foot-long, 4.16-kilovolt (kV) interconnection line from the powerhouse to transformer and 1,442-foot-long, 12.47-kV interconnection line from the transformer to the substation; and (6) appurtenant facilities.

m. In addition to publishing the full text of this notice in the Federal Register , the Commission provides all interested persons an opportunity to view and/or print the contents of this notice, as well as other documents in the proceeding ( e.g., scoping document) 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 (P–2715). For assistance, contact FERC at [e-mail] or call toll-free, (866) 208–3676 or TTY, (202) 502–8659.

You may also register online at http://www.ferc.gov/​docs-filing/​esubscription.asp to be notified via email of new filings and issuances related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support.

n. Scoping Process:

Commission staff will prepare either an environmental assessment (EA) or an environmental impact statement (EIS) that describes and evaluates the probable effects, if any, of the licensee's proposed action and alternatives. The EA or EIS will consider environmental impacts and reasonable alternatives to the proposed action. The Commission's scoping process will help determine the required level of analysis and satisfy the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) scoping requirements, irrespective of whether the Commission prepares an EA or an EIS. At this time, we do not anticipate holding on-site scoping meetings. Instead, we are soliciting written comments and suggestions on the preliminary list of issues and alternatives to be addressed in the NEPA document, as described in scoping document 1 (SD1), issued May 11, 2023.

Copies of the SD1 outlining the subject areas to be addressed in the NEPA document were distributed to the parties on the Commission's mailing list and the applicant's distribution list. Copies of SD1 may be viewed on the web at 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. At this time, the Commission has suspended access to the Commission's Public Reference Room. For assistance, contact FERC at [e-mail] or call toll-free, (866) 208–3676 or TTY, (202) 502–8659.

Dated: May 11, 2023.

Debbie-Anne A. Reese,

Deputy Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  The Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure provide that if a deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday, holiday, or other day when the Commission is closed for business, the deadline does not end until the close of business on the next business day.