[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 85 (Thursday, May 2, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 18840]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-08906]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 3820-011]


Aclara Meters, LLC; Notice of Withdrawal of Existing Licensee's 
Notice of Intent To File a New License Application, and Soliciting Pre-
Application Documents and Notices of Intent To File a New License 
Application

    On August 31, 2016, Aclara Meters, LLC (Aclara or licensee) filed a 
Notice of Intent (NOI) to file an application for a new license for its 
Somersworth Hydroelectric Project No. 3820 (project), pursuant to 
section 16.6 of the Commission's regulations.\1\ On October 6, 2016, 
Commission staff issued a public notice of the NOI and approved the use 
of the traditional licensing process to develop the license 
application. The existing license for the project expires on August 31, 
2021.\2\
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    \1\ 18 CFR 16.6 (2018). At least five years before the 
expiration of a license for a major water power project, the 
licensee must file with the Commission an NOI that contains an 
unequivocal statement of the licensee's intention to file or not to 
file an application for a new license.
    \2\ The license for the project was issued with an effective 
date of September 1, 1981, for a term of 40 years. General Electric 
Company, 16 FERC 62,598 (1981).
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    On March 29, 2019, Aclara filed an application to surrender its 
license for the project.\3\ In its filing, Aclara states that it will 
no longer seek to relicense the Somersworth Hydroelectric Project, and 
instead seeks to surrender its existing license. Accordingly, Aclara's 
surrender application is also deemed to be a withdrawal of its NOI to 
file an application for a new license for the project.
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    \3\ The surrender application filing may be viewed on the 
Commission's website at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/elibrary.asp. Enter the docket number excluding the last three 
digits in the d Aclara Meters, LLC docket number field to access the 
document. The Commission is not seeking public comment on the 
surrender application (Docket No. P-3820-012) at this time.
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    Pursuant to section 16.25(a) of the Commission's regulations, when 
an existing licensee, having previously filed an NOI to file a new 
license for a project, subsequently does not file an application for a 
new license, the Commission must solicit applications from potential 
applicants other than the existing licensee.\4\ Any party interested in 
filing a license application or exemption (i.e., a potential applicant) 
for the project must file an NOI and pre-application document within 90 
days from the date of this notice.\5\ While the integrated licensing 
process is the default process for preparing an application for a new 
license, a potential applicant may request to use alternative licensing 
procedures when it files its NOI.\6\ An application for a new license 
or exemption for the Somersworth Hydroelectric Project No. 3820 must be 
filed within 18 months of the date of filing the NOI.
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    \4\ 18 CFR 16.25(a) (2018).
    \5\ Pursuant to section 16.24(a)(2) of the Commission's 
regulations, the existing licensee is prohibited from filing an 
application either individually or in combination with other 
entities. 18 CFR 16.24(a)(2) (2018).
    \6\ 18 CFR 5.3(b) (2018).
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    Questions concerning the process for filing an NOI should be 
directed to Patrick Crile at 202-502-8042 or Patrick.Crile@ferc.gov.

    Dated: April 26, 2019.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-08906 Filed 5-1-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


