2011-13683. Jonathan and Jayne Chase; Notice of Application Accepted for Filing With the Commission, Intent To Waive Scoping, Soliciting Motions To Intervene and Protests, Ready for Environmental Analysis, Soliciting Comments, Terms and Conditions, ...

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

a. Type of Application: Exemption From Licensing.

b. Project No.: 13381-001.

c. Date filed: July 23, 2010.

d. Applicant: Jonathan and Jayne Chase.

e. Name of Project: Troy Hydropower Project.

f. Location: On the Missisquoi River, in the Town of Troy, Orleans County, Vermont. The project would not occupy lands of the United States.

g. Filed Pursuant to: Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978, 16 U.S.C. 2705, 2708.

h. Applicant Contact: Jonathan and Jayne Chase, 361 Goodall Road, Derby Line, VT 05830, [phone].

i. FERC Contact: Tom Dean, [phone].

j. Deadline for filing motions to intervene and protests, comments, terms and conditions, recommendations, and prescriptions: Due to the small size and particular location of this project and the close coordination with state and federal agencies during the preparation of the application, the 60-day timeframe in 18 CFR 4.34(b) for filing motions to intervene and protests, comments, terms and conditions, recommendations, and prescriptions is shortened. Instead, motions to intervene and protests, comments, terms and conditions, recommendations, and prescriptions will be due 30 days from the issuance date of this notice. All reply comments must be filed with the Commission within 45 days from the date of this notice

All documents 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.

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 has been accepted for filing and is now ready for environmental analysis.

l. Project Description: The Troy Project would consist of: (1) The existing 20.5-foot-high, 180-foot-long Bakers Falls dam equipped with a 134-foot-long spillway and a 3.33-foot-wide, 4.0-foot-high wastegate located about 5 feet below the dam spillway; (2) an existing 0.61-acre impoundment with a normal water surface elevation of 739.4 feet above mean sea level; (3) an existing intake structure equipped with two 3.33-foot-wide, 4.0-foot-high headgates; (4) an existing forebay with a 2.0-foot-wide, 2.0-foot-high wastegate; (5) an existing 250-foot-long, 6.5-foot-diameter penstock; (6) an existing powerhouse containing one inoperable 600-kilowatt (kW) generating unit; and (7) three existing overhead 6.6-kilovolt 90-foot-long transmission lines.

The applicant proposes to: (1) Rehabilitate or replace the powerhouse; (2) increase the capacity of the inoperable generating unit to 850 kW; and (3) replace the existing transmission lines with three new buried 480 volt 90-foot-long transmission lines. The project would be operated in a run-of-river mode, and would have an annual generation of 1,500 megawatt-hours.

m. Due to the project works already existing and the limited scope of proposed rehabilitation of the project site described above, the applicant's close coordination with federal and state agencies during the preparation of the application, completed studies during pre-filing consultation, and agency recommended preliminary terms and conditions, we intend to waive scoping, shorten the notice filing period, and expedite the exemption process. Based on a review of the application, resource agency consultation letters including the preliminary 30(c) terms and conditions, and comments filed to date, Commission staff intends to prepare a single environmental assessment (EA). Commission staff determined that the issues that need to be addressed in its EA have been adequately identified during the pre-filing period, which included a public meeting and site visit, and no new issues are likely to be identified through additional scoping. The EA will consider assessing the potential effects of project construction and operation on geology and soils, aquatic, terrestrial, threatened and endangered species, recreation and land use, aesthetic, and cultural and historic resources.

n. A copy of the application is available for review at the Commission in the Public Reference Room or may be viewed on the Commission's Web site 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. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support.

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

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

All filings must (1) Bear in all capital letters the title “PROTEST”, “MOTION TO INTERVENE”, “COMMENTS,” “REPLY COMMENTS,” “RECOMMENDATIONS,” “TERMS AND CONDITIONS,” or “PRESCRIPTIONS;” (2) set forth in the heading the name of the applicant and the project number of the application to which the filing responds; (3) furnish the name, address, and telephone number of the person protesting or intervening; and (4) otherwise comply with the requirements of 18 CFR 385.2001 through 385.2005. All comments, recommendations, terms and conditions or prescriptions must set forth their evidentiary basis and otherwise comply with the requirements of 18 CFR 4.34(b). Agencies may obtain copies of the application directly from the applicant. A copy of any protest or motion to intervene must be served upon each representative of the applicant specified in the particular application. 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 4.34(b) and 385.2010.

p. Procedural schedule: The application will be processed according to the following procedural schedule. Revisions to the schedule may be made as appropriate.

Milestone	Target date
Notice of the availability of the EA	October 2011.

Dated: May 26, 2011.

Kimberly D. Bose,

Secretary.