2011-22506. Whitestone Power and Communications; Notice of Intent To File License Application, Filing of Draft Application, Request for Waivers of Integrated Licensing Process Regulations Necessary for Expedited Processing of a Hydrokinetic Pilot ...

a. Type of Filing: Notice of Intent to File a License Application for an Original License for a Hydrokinetic Pilot Project.

b. Project No.: 13305-002.

c. Date Filed: August 22, 2011.

d. Submitted By: Whitestone Power and Communications.

e. Name of Project: Microturbine Hydrokinetic River-In-Stream Energy Conversion Power Project (also known as Whitestone Poncelet RISEC Project).

f. Location: On the Tanana River within the Unorganized Borough, near Delta Junction, Alaska.

g. Filed Pursuant to: 18 CFR 5.3 of the Commission's regulations.

h. Applicant Contact: Steven M. Selvaggio, Whitestone Power and Communications, P.O. Box 1630, Delta Junction, Alaska 99737; [phone].

i. FERC Contact: Dianne Rodman [phone].

j. Whitestone Power and Communications (Whitestone) has filed with the Commission: (1) A notice of intent (NOI) to file an application for an original license for a hydrokinetic pilot project and a draft license; (2) a request for waivers of the integrated licensing process regulations necessary for expedited processing of a hydrokinetic pilot project license application; (3) a proposed process plan and schedule; (4) a request to be designated as the non-Federal representative for section 7 of the Endangered Species Act consultation; and (5) a request to be designated as the non-Federal representative for section 106 consultation under the National Historic Preservation Act (collectively the pre-filing materials).

k. With this notice, we are soliciting comments on the pre-filing materials listed in paragraph j above, including the draft license application and monitoring plans. All comments should be sent to the address above in paragraph h. In addition, all comments (original and eight copies) must be filed with the Commission at the following address: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426. All filings with the Commission must include on the first page, the project name (Microturbine Hydrokinetic River-In-Stream Energy Conversion Power Project) and number (P-13305-002), and bear the heading “Comments on the proposed Microturbine Hydrokinetic River-In-Stream Energy Conversion Power Project.” Any individual or entity interested in submitting comments on the pre-filing materials must do so by September 21, 2011.

Comments 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.

l. With this notice, we are approving Whitestone's request to be designated as the non-Federal representative for section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and its request to initiate consultation under section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act; and recommending that it begin informal consultation with: (a) The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service as required by section 7 of ESA; and (b) the Alaska State Historic Preservation Officer, as required by section 106, National Historical Preservation Act, and the implementing regulations of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation at 36 CFR 800.2.

m. This notice does not constitute the Commission's approval of Whitestone's request to use the Pilot Project Licensing Procedures. Upon its review of the project's overall characteristics relative to the pilot project criteria, the draft license application contents, and any comments filed, the Commission will determine whether there is adequate information to conclude the pre-filing process.

n. The proposed Microturbine Hydrokinetic River-In-Stream Energy Conversion Power Project would consist of: (1) A 12-foot-wide, 16-foot-diameter Poncelet undershot water wheel; (2) a 34-foot-long, 19- to 24-foot-wide, aluminum-frame floatation platform mounted on a 34-foot-long, 3.5-foot-diameter high-density-polyethylene (HDPE) pontoon and a 34-foot-long, 3-foot-diameter HDPE pontoon; (3) a 100-kilowatt turbine/generator unit; (4) a 33-foot-long, 3.5-foot-wide gangway from the shore to the floating pontoon; (5) three anchoring cables to secure the flotation platform to the shore, including a 30-foot-long primary safety tether, a 117-foot-long primary cable, and a 100-foot-long secondary cable; (6) an approximately 900-foot-long transmission cable from the floatation platform to an existing Golden Valley Electric Association distribution line; and (7) appurtenant facilities. The project is anticipated to operate from April until October, with an estimated annual generation of 200 megawatt-hours.

o. A copy of the draft license application and all pre-filing materials are available for review at the Commission in the Public Reference Room or may be viewed on the Commission's Web site (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, of for TTY, [phone].

p. Pre-filing process schedule. The pre-filing process will be conducted pursuant to the following tentative schedule. Revisions to the schedule below may be made based on staff's review of the draft application and any comments received.

Milestone	Date
Comments on pre-filing materials due	September 21, 2011.
Issuance of meeting notice (if needed)	October 6, 2011.
Public meeting/technical conference (if needed)	November 7, 2011.
Issuance of notice concluding pre-filing process and ILP waiver request determination	October 21, 2011 (if no meeting is needed). December 1, 2011 (if meeting is needed).

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

Dated: August 25, 2011.

Kimberly D. Bose,

Secretary.