2017-13522. Pioneer Valley, LLC; Notice of Preliminary Determination of a Qualifying Conduit Hydropower Facility and Soliciting Comments and Motions To Intervene

On June 20, 2017, Pioneer Valley, LLC, filed a notice of intent to construct a qualifying conduit hydropower facility, pursuant to section 30 of the Federal Power Act (FPA), as amended by section 4 of the Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act of 2013 (HREA). The proposed Pioneer Valley Hydro Site Project would have a combined installed capacity of 6 kilowatts (kW), and would be located along two sections of an existing irrigation pipeline. The project would be located near the Town of Cimarron in Gunnison County, Colorado.

Applicant Contact: Gary Stephens, 18876 6495 Road, Montrose, CO 81403, Phone No. [phone], email [e-mail].

FERC Contact: Robert Bell, Phone No. [phone], email: [e-mail].

Qualifying Conduit Hydropower Facility Description: The proposed project would consist of: (1) A new 25-foot-long, 8-inch diameter intake pipe; (2) a new powerhouse containing 2 generating units (one 4 kilowatt turbine and one 2 kilowatt turbine) with a total installed capacity of 6 kilowatts (kW); (3) a new 80-foot-long, 12-inch diameter discharge pipe to nearby pond; and (4) appurtenant facilities. The proposed project would have an estimated annual generating capacity of 45,900 kilowatt-hours (kWh).

A qualifying conduit hydropower facility is one that is determined or deemed to meet all of the criteria shown in the table below.

Table 1—Criteria for Qualifying Conduit Hydropower Facility

Statutory provision	Description	Satisfies (Y/N)
FPA 30(a)(3)(A), as amended by HREA	The conduit the facility uses is a tunnel, canal, pipeline, aqueduct, flume, ditch, or similar manmade water conveyance that is operated for the distribution of water for agricultural, municipal, or industrial consumption and not primarily for the generation of electricity	Y
FPA 30(a)(3)(C)(i), as amended by HREA	The facility is constructed, operated, or maintained for the generation of electric power and uses for such generation only the hydroelectric potential of a non-federally owned conduit	Y
FPA 30(a)(3)(C)(ii), as amended by HREA	The facility has an installed capacity that does not exceed 5 megawatts	Y
FPA 30(a)(3)(C)(iii), as amended by HREA	On or before August 9, 2013, the facility is not licensed, or exempted from the licensing requirements of Part I of the FPA	Y

Preliminary Determination: The proposed hydroelectric project will utilize the existing water distribution pipeline, and its addition will not alter the distribution pipeline's primary purpose. Therefore, based upon the above criteria, Commission staff preliminarily determines that the proposal satisfies the requirements for a qualifying conduit hydropower facility, which is not required to be licensed or exempted from licensing.

Comments and Motions to Intervene: Deadline for filing comments contesting whether the facility meets the qualifying criteria is 45 days from the issuance date of this notice.

Deadline for filing motions to intervene is 30 days from the issuance date of this notice.

Anyone may submit comments or a motion to intervene in accordance with the requirements of Rules of Practice and Procedure, 18 CFR 385.210 and 385.214. Any motions to intervene must be received on or before the specified deadline date for the particular proceeding.

Filing and Service of Responsive Documents: All filings must (1) bear in all capital letters the COMMENTS CONTESTING QUALIFICATION FOR A CONDUIT HYDROPOWER FACILITY or MOTION TO INTERVENE, as applicable; (2) state in the heading the name of the applicant and the project number of the application to which the filing responds; (3) state the name, address, and telephone number of the person filing; and (4) otherwise comply with the requirements of sections 385.2001 through 385.2005 of the Commission's regulations.^[1] All comments contesting Commission staff's preliminary determination that the facility meets the qualifying criteria must set forth their evidentiary basis.

The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file motions to intervene and 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], [phone] (toll free), or [phone] (TTY). In lieu of electronic filing, please send a paper copy to: Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426. 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.

Locations of Notice of Intent: Copies of the notice of intent can be obtained directly from the applicant or such copies can be viewed and reproduced at the Commission in its Public Reference Room, Room 2A, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426. The filing may also be viewed on the web at http://www.ferc.gov/​docs-filing/​elibrary.asp using the “eLibrary” link. Enter the docket number (i.e., CD17-13) in the docket number field to access the document. For assistance, call toll-free 1-866-208-3676 or email [e-mail]. For TTY, call [phone].

Dated: June 22, 2017.

Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,

Deputy Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  18 CFR 385.2001-2005 (2016).