
[Federal Register: March 10, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 46)]
[Notices]               
[Page 11151-11152]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10mr10-59]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 12779-005]

 
Pacific Gas and Electric Company; 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 Project License Application, and 
Soliciting Comments

March 3, 2010.
    a. Type of Filing: Notice of Intent to File a License Application 
for an Original License for a Hydrokinetic Pilot Project.
    b. Project No.: 12779-005.
    c. Date Filed: March 1, 2010.
    d. Submitted By: Pacific Gas and Electric Company.
    e. Name of Project: Humboldt WaveConnect Pilot Project.
    f. Location: The project would be located in the Pacific Ocean west 
of the City of Eureka in Humboldt County, California within California 
State waters.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: 18 CFR 5.3 of the Commission's regulations.
    h. Applicant Contact: Mr. Brian McDonald, Director--Renewable 
Resource Development, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, 77 Beale 
Street, MC B5Q-542, San Francisco, CA 94105-1814, telephone: (415)-973-
2005.
    i. FERC Contact: Kenneth Hogan (202) 502-8434.
    j. Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) 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 
application with monitoring plans; (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 
(Humboldt WaveConnect Pilot Project) and number (P-12779-005), and bear 
the heading ``Comments on the proposed Humboldt WaveConnect Pilot 
Project.'' Any individual or entity interested in submitting comments 
on the pre-filing materials must do so by April 30, 2009.
    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 PG&E'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 California 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 
PG&E'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, any comments 
filed, and PG&E's response to any additional information requests by 
the Commission, the Commission will determine whether there is adequate 
information to conclude the pre-filing

[[Page 11152]]

process and approve the use the Pilot Project Licensing Procedures.
    n. The proposed Humboldt WaveConnect Pilot Project would consist 
of: (1) Wave energy conversion (WEC) buoys including multi-point 
catenary moorings and anchors; (2) marker buoys, navigation lights, and 
environmental monitoring instruments; (3) five 9-mile-long submarine 
electrical cables extending underground onshore to; (4) land-based 
power conditioning equipment; (5) a 2,025-feet-long 12kV aboveground 
transmission line; and (6) appurtenant facilities. The estimated annual 
generation of the proposed project would be 43,800 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 
FERCONlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free at 1-866-208-3676, of for TTY, 
(202) 502-8659.
    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.

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               Milestone                               Date
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Comments on pre-filing materials due...  April 30, 2010.
Issuance of Notice of Site Visit/        May 7, 2010.
 Meetings.
Site Visit & Public Meetings/Technical   June 8-9, 2010.
 Conference.
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    q. Register online at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/
esubscription.asp to be notified via e-mail of new filing and issuances 
related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC 
Online Support.

Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2010-5044 Filed 3-9-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P

