E9-15729. MeadWestvaco Corporation; Notice of Application Accepted for Filing, Soliciting Motions To Intervene and Protests, Ready for Environmental Analysis, and Soliciting Comments, Recommendations, Preliminary Terms and Conditions, and ...

June 25, 2009.

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

a. Type of Application: Subsequent Minor License.

b. Project No.: 2985-006.

c. Date Filed: April 29, 2009.

d. Applicant: MeadWestvaco Corporation.

e. Name of Project: Willow Mill Hydroelectric Project.

f. Location: On the Housatonic River in the Town of Stockbridge, Berkshire County, Massachusetts. The project does not affect Federal lands.

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

h. Applicant Contact: Thomas A. Beebe, Senior Engineering Project Manager, MeadWestvaco, MW Custom Papers, LLC, P.O. Box 188, South Lee, MA 01260, [phone], [e-mail].

i. FERC Contact: Kristen Murphy [phone] or [e-mail].

j. The deadline for filing motions to intervene and protests, comments, recommendations, preliminary terms and conditions, and preliminary fishway prescriptions is 60 days from the issuance of this notice; reply comments are due 105 days from the issuance date of this notice.

All documents (original and eight copies) should be filed with: 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.

Motions to intervene, protests, comments, recommendations, preliminary terms and conditions, and preliminary fishway prescriptions may be filed electronically via the Internet in lieu of paper. The Commission strongly encourages electronic filings. See 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the Commission's Web site (http://www.ferc.gov) under the “e-Filing” link. For a simpler method of submitting text-only comments, click on “Quick Comment.”

k. This application has been accepted for filing and is ready for environmental analysis.

l. The existing Willow Mill Project consists of: (1) A 14-foot-high, 150-foot-wide stone masonry gravity dam; (2) an 11-acre impoundment; (3) a 10-foot-deep, 18-foot-wide, 50-foot-long rubble and masonry canal connected to a 10-foot-deep, 18-foot-wide, 260-foot-long rubble and masonry underground headrace; (4) two 5.5-foot-long, 8-foot diameter steel penstocks; (5) a 100-kW turbine generating unit; and (6) a 210-foot-long discharge pipe releasing water back into the Housatonic River. The turbine generating unit is located in the basement of MeadWestvaco's paper mill. There are no transmission lines associated with the project as all of the power is used for internal use at the Willow Mill.

The applicant proposes to continue to operate the project in run-of-river mode with an increase in minimum flow in the 700-foot-long bypass reach from 1.4 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 122 cfs or inflow, whichever is less. The applicant estimates that the total average annual generation, with the proposed minimum flow, would be approximately 256 megawatt-hours.

m. 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 at [e-mail] or toll-free at 1-866-208-3676, or for TTY, 202-502-8659. A copy is also available for inspection and reproduction at the address in item h above.

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

n. 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, .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,” “PRELIMINARY TERMS AND CONDITIONS,” or “PRELIMINARY FISHWAY 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.

o. Procedural Schedule:

The application will be processed according to the following Hydro Licensing Schedule. Revisions to the schedule may be made as appropriate.

MILESTONE	TARGET DATE
Filing of interventions, comments, recommendations, preliminary terms and conditions, and fishway prescriptions	August 24, 2009
Commission issues EA	December 22, 2009
Filing of comments on EA	January 21, 2010
Filing of modified terms and conditions	March 22, 2010

p. Final amendments to the application must be filed with the Commission no later than 30 days from the issuance date of this notice.

q. A license applicant must file no later than 60 days following the date of issuance of the notice of acceptance and ready for environmental analysis provided for in § 5.22: (1) A copy of the water quality certification; (2) a copy of the request for certification, including proof of the date on which the certifying agency received the request; or (3) evidence of waiver of water quality certification.

Kimberly D. Bose,

Secretary.