[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 29 (Wednesday, February 12, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7995-7996]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-02811]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 3342-023]


Briar Hydro Associates, LLC; Notice of Intent To File License 
Application, Filing of Pre-Application Document, and Approving Use of 
the Traditional Licensing Process

    a. Type of Filing: Notice of Intent to File License Application and 
Request to Use the Traditional Licensing Process.
    b. Project No.: 3342-023.
    c. Date Filed: November 29, 2019.
    d. Submitted By: Briar Hydro Associates, LLC (Briar Hydro).
    e. Name of Project: Penacook Lower Falls Hydroelectric Project.
    f. Location: On the Contoocook River, in Merrimack County, New 
Hampshire. No federal lands are occupied by the project works or 
located within the project boundary.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: 18 CFR 5.3 and 5.5 of the Commission's 
regulations.
    h. Potential Applicant Contact: Andrew J. Locke, Essex Hydro 
Associates, LLC, 55 Union Street, Boston, MA 02108; (617) 357-0032; 
[email protected]
    i. FERC Contact: Jeanne Edwards at (202) 502-6181; or email at 
jeanne.edwards@ferc.gov.
    j. Briar Hydro filed its request to use the Traditional Licensing 
Process on November 29, 2019. Briar Hydro provided public notice of its 
request on December 12, 2019. In a letter dated February 6, 2020, the 
Director of the Division of Hydropower Licensing

[[Page 7996]]

approved Briar Hydro's request to use the Traditional Licensing 
Process.
    k. With this notice, we are initiating informal consultation with 
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and/or NOAA Fisheries under section 
7 of the Endangered Species Act and the joint agency regulations 
thereunder at 50 CFR, part 402. We are also initiating consultation 
with the New Hampshire State Historic Preservation Officer, as required 
by section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, and the 
implementing regulations of the Advisory Council on Historic 
Preservation at 36 CFR 800.2.
    l. With this notice, we are designating Briar Hydro as the 
Commission's non-federal representative for carrying out informal 
consultation pursuant to section 7 of the Endangered Species Act and 
consultation pursuant to section 106 of the National Historic 
Preservation Act.
    m. On November 28, 2019, Briar Hydro filed a Pre-Application 
Document (PAD; including a proposed process plan and schedule) with the 
Commission, pursuant to 18 CFR 5.6 of the Commission's regulations.
    n. A copy of the PAD is available for review at the Commission in 
the Public Reference Room or may be viewed on the Commission's website 
(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, (866) 208-3676 (toll free), or (202) 502-
8659 (TTY). A copy is also available for inspection and reproduction at 
the address in paragraph h.
    o. The licensee states its unequivocal intent to submit an 
application for a new license for Project No. 3342. Pursuant to 18 CFR 
16.8, 16.9, and 16.10 each application for a new license and any 
competing license applications must be filed with the Commission at 
least 24 months prior to the expiration of the existing license. All 
applications for license for this project must be filed by October 31, 
2.
    p. Register online at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp to be notified via email of new filings and issuances 
related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC 
Online Support.

    Dated: February 6, 2020.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-02811 Filed 2-11-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


