18 CFR Part 5 — Integrated License Application Process

PART 5—INTEGRATED LICENSE APPLICATION PROCESS Authority: 16 U.S.C. 792-828c, 2601-2645; 42 U.S.C. 7101-7352. Source: Order 2002, 68 FR 51121, Aug. 25, 2003, unless otherwise noted. § 5.1 Applicability, definitions, and requirement to consult. (a) This part applies to the filing and processing of an application for an: (1) Original license; (2) New license for an existing project subject to Sections 14 and 15 of the Federal Power Act; or (3) Subsequent license. (b) Definitions. (c) Who may file. (d) Requirement to consult. (2) The Director of the Office of Energy Projects will, upon request, provide a list of known appropriate Federal, state, and interstate resource agencies, Indian tribes, and local, regional, or national non-governmental organizations likely to be interested in any license application proceeding. (e) Purpose. (f) Default process. (1) 18 CFR part 4, Subparts D-H and, as applicable, part 16 ( i.e., (2) Section 4.34(i) of this chapter, Alternative procedures. [Order 2002, 68 FR 51121, Aug. 25, 2003; 68 FR 61742, Oct. 30, 2003; 68 FR 69957, Dec. 16, 2003] § 5.2 Document availability. (a) Pre-application document. (2) The materials specified in paragraph (a)(1) of this section must be made available to the requester at the location specified in paragraph (a)(1) of this section or through the mail, or otherwise. Except as provided in paragraph (a)(3) of this section, copies of the pre-application document and any materials referenced therein must be made available at their reasonable cost of reproduction plus, if applicable, postage. (3) A potential licensee must make requested copies of the materials specified in paragraph (a)(1) of this section available to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service, the state agency responsible for fish and wildlife resources, any affected Federal land managing agencies, and Indian tribes without charge for the costs of reproduction or postage. (b) License application. (2) The applicant must provide a copy of the complete application (as amended) to a public library or other convenient public office located in each county in which the proposed project is located. (3) The materials specified in paragraph (b)(1) of this section must be made available to the requester at the location specified in paragraph (b)(1) of this section or through the mail. Except as provided in paragraph (b)(4) of this section, copies of the license application and any materials referenced therein must be made available at their reasonable cost of reproduction plus, if applicable, postage. (4) A licensee applicant must make requested copies of the materials specified in paragraph (b)(1) of this section available to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service, and the state agency responsible for fish and wildlife resources, any affected Federal land managing agencies, and Indian tribes without charge for the costs of reproduction or postage. (c) Confidentiality of cultural information. (d) Access. § 5.3 Process selection. (a)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this part or of parts 4 and 16 of this chapter, a potential applicant for a new, subsequent, or original license may until July 23, 2005 elect to use the licensing procedures of this part or the licensing procedures of parts 4 and 16. (2) Any potential license applicant that files its notification of intent pursuant to § 5.5 and pre-application document pursuant to § 5.6 after July 23, 2005 must request authorization to use the licensing procedures of parts 4 and 16, as provided for in paragraphs (b)-(f) of this section. (b) A potential license applicant may file with the Commission a request to use the traditional licensing process or alternative procedures pursuant to this Section with its notification of intent pursuant to § 5.5. (c)(1)(i) An application for authorization to use the traditional process must include justification for the request and any existing written comments on the potential applicant's proposal and a response thereto. (ii) A potential applicant requesting authorization to use the traditional process should address the following considerations: (A) Likelihood of timely license issuance; (B) Complexity of the resource issues; (C) Level of anticipated controversy; (D) Relative cost of the traditional process compared to the integrated process; (E) The amount of available information and potential for significant disputes over studies; and (F) Other factors believed by the applicant to be pertinent (2) A potential applicant requesting the use of § 4.34(i) alternative procedures (i) Demonstrate that a reasonable effort has been made to contact all agencies, Indian tribes, and others affected by the applicant's request, and that a consensus exists that the use of alternative procedures is appropriate under the circumstances; (ii) Submit a communications protocol, supported by interested entities, governing how the applicant and other participants in the pre-filing consultation process, including the Commission staff, may communicate with each other regarding the merits of the potential applicant's proposal and proposals and recommendations of interested entities; and (iii) Provide a copy of the request to all affected resource agencies and Indian tribes and to all entities contacted by the applicant that have expressed an interest in the alternative pre-filing consultation process. (d)(1) The potential applicant must provide a copy of the request to use the traditional process or alternative procedures to all affected resource agencies, Indian tribes, and members of the public likely to be interested in the proceeding. The request must state that comments on the request to use the traditional process or alternative procedures, as applicable, must be filed with the Commission within 30 days of the filing date of the request and, if there is no project number, that responses must reference the potential applicant's name and address. (2) The potential applicant must also publish notice of the filing of its notification of intent, of the pre-application document, and of any request to use the traditional process or alternative procedures no later than the filing date of the notification of intent in a daily or weekly newspaper of general circulation in each county in which the project is located. The notice must: (i) Disclose the filing date of the request to use the traditional process or alternative procedures, and the notification of intent and pre-application document; (ii) Briefly summarize these documents and the basis for the request to use the traditional process or alternative procedures; (iii) Include the potential applicant's name and address, and telephone number, the type of facility proposed to be applied for, its proposed location, the places where the pre-application document is available for inspection and reproduction; (iv) Include a statement that comments on the request to use the traditional process or alternative procedures are due to the Commission and the potential applicant no later than 30 days following the filing date of that document and, if there is no project number, that responses must reference the potential applicant's name and address; (v) State that comments on any request to use the traditional process should address, as appropriate to the circumstances of the request, the: (A) Likelihood of timely license issuance; (B) Complexity of the resource issues; (C) Level of anticipated controversy; (D) Relative cost of the traditional process compared to the integrated process; and (E) The amount of available information and potential for significant disputes over studies; and (F) Other factors believed by the commenter to be pertinent; and (vi) State that respondents must submit comments to the Secretary of the Commission in accordance with filing procedures posted on the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov. [Order 2002, 68 FR 51121, Aug. 25, 2003; 68 FR 61742, Oct. 30, 2003, as amended by Order 737, 75 FR 43402, July 26, 2010] § 5.4 Acceleration of a license expiration date. (a) Request for acceleration. (2) If the Commission grants the request for acceleration pursuant to paragraph (c) of this section, the Commission will deem the request for acceleration to be a notice of intent under § 16.6 of this chapter and, unless the Commission directs otherwise, the licensee must make available the Pre-Application Document provided for in § 5.6 no later than 90 days from the date that the Commission grants the request for acceleration. (b) Notice of request for acceleration. (i) Publishing notice in the Federal Register (ii) Publishing notice once in a daily or weekly newspaper published in the county or counties in which the project or any part thereof or the lands affected thereby are situated; and (iii) Notifying appropriate Federal, state, and interstate resource agencies and Indian tribes, and non-governmental organizations likely to be interested, by electronic means if practical, otherwise by mail. (2) The notice issued pursuant to paragraphs (b)(1)(A) and (B) and the written notice given pursuant to paragraph (b)(1)(C) will be considered as fulfilling the notice provisions of § 16.6(d) of this chapter should the Commission grant the acceleration request and will include an explanation of the basis for the licensee's acceleration request. (c) Commission order. [Order 2002, 68 FR 51121, Aug. 25, 2003, as amended by Order 653, 70 FR 8724, Feb. 23, 2005] § 5.5 Notification of intent. (a) Notification of intent. (b) Requirement to notify. http://www.ferc.gov (1) The potential applicant or existing licensee's name and address. (2) The project number, if any. (3) The license expiration date, if any. (4) An unequivocal statement of the potential applicant's intention to file an application for an original license, or, in the case of an existing licensee, to file or not to file an application for a new or subsequent license. (5) The type of principal project works licensed, if any, such as dam and reservoir, powerhouse, or transmission lines. (6) The location of the project by state, county, and stream, and, when appropriate, by city or nearby city. (7) The installed plant capacity, if any. (8) The names and mailing addresses of: (i) Every county in which any part of the project is located, and in which any Federal facility that is used or to be used by the project is located; (ii) Every city, town, or similar political subdivision; (A) In which any part of the project is or is to be located and any Federal facility that is or is to be used by the project is located, or (B) That has a population of 5,000 or more people and is located within 15 miles of the existing or proposed project dam; (iii) Every irrigation district, drainage district, or similar special purpose political subdivision: (A) In which any part of the project is or is proposed to be located and any Federal facility that is or is proposed to be used by the project is located; or (B) That owns, operates, maintains, or uses any project facility or any Federal facility that is or is proposed to be used by the project; (iv) Every other political subdivision in the general area of the project or proposed project that there is reason to believe would be likely to be interested in, or affected by, the notification; and (v) Affected Indian tribes. (c) Requirement to distribute. i.e., alternative procedures (d) When to notify. (e) Non-Federal representatives. (f) Procedural matters. (g) Construction of regulations. [Order 2002, 68 FR 51121, Aug. 25, 2003; 68 FR 69957, Dec. 16, 2003, as amended by Order 737, 75 FR 43402, July 26, 2010] § 5.6 Pre-application document. (a) Pre-application document. http://www.ferc.gov (2) The agencies referred to in paragraph (a)(1) of this section include: Any state agency with responsibility for fish, wildlife, and botanical resources, water quality, coastal zone management plan consistency certification, shoreline management, and water resources; the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; the National Marine Fisheries Service; Environmental Protection Agency; State Historic Preservation Officer; Tribal Historic Preservation Officer; National Park Service; local, state, and regional recreation agencies and planning commissions; local and state zoning agencies; and any other state or Federal agency or Indian tribe with managerial authority over any part of project lands and waters. (b) Purpose of pre-application document. (2) A potential applicant is not required to conduct studies in order to generate information for inclusion in the pre-application document. Rather, a potential applicant must exercise due diligence in determining what information exists that is relevant to describing the existing environment and potential impacts of the project proposal (including cumulative impacts), obtaining that information if the potential applicant does not already possess it, and describing or summarizing it as provided for in paragraph (d) of this section. Due diligence includes, but is not limited to, contacting appropriate agencies and Indian tribes that may have relevant information and review of Federal and state comprehensive plans filed with the Commission and listed on the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov. (c) Form and distribution protocol General requirements. (2) Availability of source information and studies. (d) Content requirements Process plan and schedule. (2) Project location, facilities, and operations. (i) The exact name and business address, and telephone number of each person authorized to act as agent for the applicant; (ii) Detailed maps showing lands and waters within the project boundary by township, range, and section, as well as by state, county, river, river mile, and closest town, and also showing the specific location of any Federal and tribal lands, and the location of proposed project facilities, including roads, transmission lines, and any other appurtenant facilities; (iii) A detailed description of all existing and proposed project facilities and components, including: (A) The physical composition, dimensions, and general configuration of any dams, spillways, penstocks, canals, powerhouses, tailraces, and other structures proposed to be included as part of the project or connected directly to it; (B) The normal maximum water surface area and normal maximum water surface elevation (mean sea level), gross storage capacity of any impoundments; (C) The number, type, and minimum and maximum hydraulic capacity and installed (rated) capacity of any proposed turbines or generators to be included as part of the project; (D) The number, length, voltage, and interconnections of any primary transmission lines proposed to be included as part of the project, including a single-line diagram showing the transfer of electricity from the project to the transmission grid or point of use; and (E) An estimate of the dependable capacity, average annual, and average monthly energy production in kilowatt hours (or mechanical equivalent); (iv) A description of the current (if applicable) and proposed operation of the project, including any daily or seasonal ramping rates, flushing flows, reservoir operations, and flood control operations. (v) In the case of an existing licensed project; (A) A complete description of the current license requirements; i.e., (B) A summary of project generation and outflow records for the five years preceding filing of the pre-application document; (C) Current net investment; and (D) A summary of the compliance history of the project, if applicable, including a description of any recurring situations of non-compliance. (vi) A description of any new facilities or components to be constructed, plans for future development or rehabilitation of the project, and changes in project operation. (3) Description of existing environment and resource impacts General requirements. (A) A description of the existing environment as required by paragraphs (d)(3)(ii)-(xiii) of this section; (B) Summaries (with references to sources of information or studies) of existing data or studies regarding the resource; (C) A description of any known or potential adverse impacts and issues associated with the construction, operation or maintenance of the proposed project, including continuing and cumulative impacts; and (D) A description of any existing or proposed project facilities or operations, and management activities undertaken for the purpose of protecting, mitigating impacts to, or enhancing resources affected by the project, including a statement of whether such measures are required by the project license, or were undertaken for other reasons. The type and amount of the information included in the discussion must be commensurate with the scope and level of resource impacts caused or potentially caused by the proposed project. Potential license applicants are encouraged to provide photographs or other visual aids, as appropriate, to supplement text, charts, and graphs included in the discussion. (ii) Geology and soils. (A) A description of geological features, including bedrock lithology, stratigraphy, structural features, glacial features, unconsolidated deposits, and mineral resources at the project site; (B) A description of the soils, including the types, occurrence, physical and chemical characteristics, erodability and potential for mass soil movement; (C) A description of reservoir shorelines and streambanks, including: ( 1 ( 2 (iii) Water resources. (A) Drainage area; (B) The monthly minimum, mean, and maximum recorded flows in cubic feet per second of the stream or other body of water at the powerplant intake or point of diversion, specifying any adjustments made for evaporation, leakage, minimum flow releases, or other reductions in available flow; (C) A monthly flow duration curve indicating the period of record and the location of gauging station(s), including identification number(s), used in deriving the curve; and a specification of the critical streamflow used to determine the project's dependable capacity; (D) Existing and proposed uses of project waters for irrigation, domestic water supply, industrial and other purposes, including any upstream or downstream requirements or constraints to accommodate those purposes; (E) Existing instream flow uses of streams in the project area that would be affected by project construction and operation; information on existing water rights and water rights applications potentially affecting or affected by the project; (F) Any federally-approved water quality standards applicable to project waters; (G) Seasonal variation of existing water quality data for any stream, lake, or reservoir that would be affected by the proposed project, including information on: ( 1 ( 2 (H) The following data with respect to any existing or proposed lake or reservoir associated with the proposed project; surface area, volume, maximum depth, mean depth, flushing rate, shoreline length, substrate composition; and (I) Gradient for downstream reaches directly affected by the proposed project. (iv) Fish and aquatic resources. (A) Identification of existing fish and aquatic communities; (B) Identification of any essential fish habitat as defined under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and established by the National Marine Fisheries Service; and (C) Temporal and spacial distribution of fish and aquatic communities and any associated trends with respect to: ( 1 ( 2 ( 3 ( 4 ( 5 (v) Wildlife and botanical resources. (A) Upland habitat(s) in the project vicinity, including the project's transmission line corridor or right-of-way and a listing of plant and animal species that use the habitat(s); and (B) Temporal or spacial distribution of species considered important because of their commercial, recreational, or cultural value. (vi) Wetlands, riparian, and littoral habitat. (A) A list of plant and animal species, including invasive species, that use the wetland, littoral, and riparian habitat; (B) A map delineating the wetlands, riparian, and littoral habitat; and (C) Estimates of acreage for each type of wetland, riparian, or littoral habitat, including variability in such availability as a function of storage at a project that is not operated in run-of-river mode. (vii) Rare, threatened and endangered species. (A) A list of Federal- and state-listed, or proposed to be listed, threatened and endangered species known to be present in the project vicinity; (B) Identification of habitat requirements; (C) References to any known biological opinion, status reports, or recovery plan pertaining to a listed species; (D) Extent and location of any federally-designated critical habitat, or other habitat for listed species in the project area; and (E) Temporal and spatial distribution of the listed species within the project vicinity. (viii) Recreation and land use. (A) Text description illustrated by maps of existing recreational facilities, type of activity supported, location, capacity, ownership and management; (B) Current recreational use of project lands and waters compared to facility or resource capacity; (C) Existing shoreline buffer zones within the project boundary; (D) Current and future recreation needs identified in current State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plans, other applicable plans on file with the Commission, or other relevant local, state, or regional conservation and recreation plans; (E) If the potential applicant is an existing licensee, its current shoreline management plan or policy, if any, with regard to permitting development of piers, boat docks and landings, bulkheads, and other shoreline facilities on project lands and waters; (F) A discussion of whether the project is located within or adjacent to a: ( 1 ( 2 (G) Whether any project lands are under study for inclusion in the National Trails System or designated as, or under study for inclusion as, a Wilderness Area. (H) Any regionally or nationally important recreation areas in the project vicinity; (I) Non-recreational land use and management within the project boundary; and (J) Recreational and non-recreational land use and management adjacent to the project boundary. (ix) Aesthetic resources. (x) Cultural resources. (A) Identification of any historic or archaeological site in the proposed project vicinity, with particular emphasis on sites or properties either listed in, or recommended by the State Historic Preservation Officer or Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for inclusion in, the National Register of Historic Places; (B) Existing discovery measures, such as surveys, inventories, and limited subsurface testing work, for the purpose of locating, identifying, and assessing the significance of historic and archaeological resources that have been undertaken within or adjacent to the project boundary; and (C) Identification of Indian tribes that may attach religious and cultural significance to historic properties within the project boundary or in the project vicinity; as well as available information on Indian traditional cultural and religious properties, whether on or off of any federally-recognized Indian reservation (A potential applicant must delete from any information made available under this section specific site or property locations, the disclosure of which would create a risk of harm, theft, or destruction of archaeological or Native American cultural resources or to the site at which the resources are located, or would violate any Federal law, including the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979, 16 U.S.C. 470w-3, and the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, 16 U.S.C. 470hh). (xi) Socio-economic resources. e.g., (xii) Tribal resources. (A) Identification of information on resources specified in paragraphs (d)(2)(ii)-(xi) of this section to the extent that existing project construction and operation affecting those resources may impact tribal cultural or economic interests, e.g., (B) Identification of impacts on Indian tribes of existing project construction and operation that may affect tribal interests not necessarily associated with resources specified in paragraphs (d)(3)(ii)-(xi) of this Section, e.g., (xiii) River basin description. (A) The area of the river basin or sub-basin and length of stream reaches therein; (B) Major land and water uses in the project area; (C) All dams and diversion structures in the basin or sub-basin, regardless of function; and (D) Tributary rivers and streams, the resources of which are or may be affected by project operations; (4) Preliminary issues and studies list. (i) Issues pertaining to the identified resources; (ii) Potential studies or information gathering requirements associated with the identified issues; (iii) Relevant qualifying Federal and state or tribal comprehensive waterway plans; and (iv) Relevant resource management plans. (5) Summary of contacts. (e) If applicable, the applicant must also provide a statement of whether or not it will seek benefits under section 210 of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA) by satisfying the requirements for qualifying hydroelectric small power production facilities in § 292.203 of this chapter. If benefits under section 210 of PURPA are sought, a statement of whether or not the applicant believes the project is located at a new dam or diversion (as that term is defined in § 292.202(p) of this chapter), and a request for the agencies' view on that belief, if any. [Order 2002, 68 FR 51121, Aug. 25, 2003; 68 FR 69957, Dec. 16, 2003, as amended by Order 737, 75 FR 43402, July 26, 2010] § 5.7 Tribal consultation. A meeting shall be held no later than 30 days following filing of the notification of intent required by § 5.5 between each Indian tribe likely to be affected by the potential license application and the Commission staff if the affected Indian tribe agrees to such meeting. [Order 2002, 68 FR 51121, Aug. 25, 2003; 68 FR 61742, Oct. 30, 2003] § 5.8 Notice of commencement of proceeding and scoping document, or of approval to use traditional licensing process or alternative procedures. (a) Notice. (b) Notice contents. (1) The decision of the Director of the Office of Energy Projects on any request to use the traditional licensing process or alternative procedures. (2) If appropriate, a request by the Commission to initiate informal consultation under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act and the joint agency regulations thereunder at 50 CFR part 402, section 305(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and implementing regulations at 50 CFR 600.920, or section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and implementing regulations at 36 CFR 800.2, and, if applicable, designation of the potential applicant as the Commission's non-federal representative. (3) If the potential license application is to be developed and filed pursuant to this part, notice of: (i) The applicant's intent to file a license application; (ii) The filing of the pre-application document; (iii) Commencement of the proceeding; (iv) A request for comments on the pre-application document (including the proposed process plan and schedule); (v) A statement that all communications to or from the Commission staff related to the merits of the potential application must be filed with the Commission; (vi) The request for other Federal or state agencies or Indian tribes to be cooperating agencies for purposes of developing an environmental document; (vii) The Commission's intent with respect to preparation of an environmental impact statement; and (viii) A public scoping meeting and site visit to be held within 30 days of the notice. (c) Scoping Document 1. (1) An introductory section describing the purpose of the scoping document, the date and time of the scoping meeting, procedures for submitting written comments, and a request for information or study requests from state and Federal resource agencies, Indian tribes, non-governmental organizations, and individuals; (2) Identification of the proposed action, including a description of the project's location, facilities, and operation, and any proposed protection and enhancement measures, and other alternatives to the proposed action, including alternatives considered but eliminated from further study, and the no action alternative; (3) Identification of resource issues to be analyzed in the environmental document, including those that would be cumulatively affected along with a description of the geographic and temporal scope of the cumulatively affected resources; (4) A list of qualifying Federal and state comprehensive waterway plans; (5) A list of qualifying tribal comprehensive waterway plans; (6) A process plan and schedule and a draft outline of the environmental document; and (7) A list of recipients. (d) Scoping meeting and site visit. (1) Initiate issues scoping pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act; (2) Review and discuss existing conditions and resource management objectives; (3) Review and discuss existing information and make preliminary identification of information and study needs; (4) Review, discuss, and finalize the process plan and schedule for pre-filing activity that incorporates the time periods provided for in this part and, to the extent reasonably possible, maximizes coordination of Federal, state, and tribal permitting and certification processes, including consultation under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act and water quality certification or waiver thereof under section 401 of the Clean Water Act; and (5) Discuss the appropriateness of any Federal or state agency or Indian tribe acting as a cooperating agency for development of an environmental document pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act. (e) Method of notice. (1) Publishing notice in the Federal Register (2) Publishing notice in a daily or weekly newspaper published in the county or counties in which the project or any part thereof or the lands affected thereby are situated, and, as appropriate, tribal newspapers; (3) Notifying appropriate Federal, state, and interstate resource agencies, state water quality and coastal zone management plan consistency certification agencies, Indian tribes, and non-governmental organizations, by electronic means if practical, otherwise by mail. [Order 2002, 68 FR 51121, Aug. 25, 2003, as amended by Order 653, 70 FR 8724, Feb. 23, 2005] § 5.9 Comments and information or study requests. (a) Comments and study requests. (b) Content of study request. (1) Describe the goals and objectives of each study proposal and the information to be obtained; (2) If applicable, explain the relevant resource management goals of the agencies or Indian tribes with jurisdiction over the resource to be studied; (3) If the requester is not a resource agency, explain any relevant public interest considerations in regard to the proposed study; (4) Describe existing information concerning the subject of the study proposal, and the need for additional information; (5) Explain any nexus between project operations and effects (direct, indirect, and/or cumulative) on the resource to be studied, and how the study results would inform the development of license requirements; (6) Explain how any proposed study methodology (including any preferred data collection and analysis techniques, or objectively quantified information, and a schedule including appropriate field season(s) and the duration) is consistent with generally accepted practice in the scientific community or, as appropriate, considers relevant tribal values and knowledge; and (7) Describe considerations of level of effort and cost, as applicable, and why any proposed alternative studies would not be sufficient to meet the stated information needs. (c) Applicant seeking PURPA benefits; estimate of fees. [Order 2002, 68 FR 51121, Aug. 25, 2003; 68 FR 61742, Oct. 30, 2003; 68 FR 69957, Dec. 16, 2003, as amended by Order 699, 72 FR 45324, Aug. 14, 2007] § 5.10 Scoping Document 2. Within 45 days following the deadline for filing of comments on Scoping Document 1, the Commission staff shall, if necessary, issue Scoping Document 2. § 5.11 Potential Applicant's proposed study plan and study plan meetings. (a) Within 45 days following the deadline for filing of comments on the pre-application document, including information and study requests, the potential applicant must file with the Commission a proposed study plan. (b) The potential applicant's proposed study plan must include with respect to each proposed study: (1) A detailed description of the study and the methodology to be used; (2) A schedule for conducting the study; (3) Provisions for periodic progress reports, including the manner and extent to which information will be shared; and sufficient time for technical review of the analysis and results; and (4) If the potential applicant does not adopt a requested study, an explanation of why the request was not adopted, with reference to the criteria set forth in § 5.9(b). (c) The potential applicant's proposed study plan must also include provisions for the initial and updated study reports and meetings provided for in § 5.15. (d) The applicant's proposed study plan must: (1) Describe the goals and objectives of each study proposal and the information to be obtained; (2) Address any known resource management goals of the agencies or Indian tribes with jurisdiction over the resource to be studied; (3) Describe existing information concerning the subject of the study proposal, and the need for additional information; (4) Explain any nexus between project operations and effects (direct, indirect, and/or cumulative) on the resource to be studied; (5) Explain how any proposed study methodology (including any preferred data collection and analysis techniques, or objectively quantified information, and a schedule including appropriate field season(s) and the duration) is consistent with generally accepted practice in the scientific community or, as appropriate, considers any known tribal interests; (6) Describe considerations of level of effort and cost, as applicable. (e) The potential applicant's proposed study plan must be accompanied by a proposal for conducting a study plan meeting or meetings during the 90-day period provided for in § 5.12 for the purpose of clarifying the potential applicant's proposed study plan and any initial information gathering or study requests, and to resolve any outstanding issues with respect to the proposed study plan. The initial study plan meeting must be held no later than 30 days after the deadline date for filing of the potential applicant's proposed study plan. § 5.12 Comments on proposed study plan. Comments on the potential applicant's proposed study plan, including any revised information or study requests, must be filed within 90 days after the proposed study plan is filed. This filing must also include an explanation of any study plan concerns and any accommodations reached with the potential applicant regarding those concerns. Any proposed modifications to the potential applicant's proposed study plan must address the criteria in § 5.9(b). § 5.13 Revised study plan and study plan determination. (a) Within 30 days following the deadline for filing comments on the potential applicant's proposed study plan, as provided for in § 5.12, the potential applicant must file a revised study plan for Commission approval. The revised study plan shall include the comments on the proposed study plan and a description of the efforts made to resolve differences over study requests. If the potential applicant does not adopt a requested study, it must explain why the request was not adopted, with reference to the criteria set forth in § 5.9(b). (b) Within 15 days following filing of the potential applicant's revised study plan, participants may file comments thereon. (c) Within 30 days following the date the potential applicant files its revised study plan, the Director of Energy Projects will issue a Study Plan Determination with regard to the potential applicant's study plan, including any modifications determined to be necessary in light of the record. (d) If no notice of study dispute is filed pursuant to § 5.14 within 20 days of the Study Plan Determination, the study plan as approved in the Study Plan Determination shall be deemed to be approved and the potential applicant shall proceed with the approved studies. If a potential applicant fails to obtain or conduct a study as required by Study Plan Determination, its license application may be considered deficient. § 5.14 Formal study dispute resolution process. (a) Within 20 days of the Study Plan Determination, any Federal agency with authority to provide mandatory conditions on a license pursuant to FPA Section 4(e), 16 U.S.C. 797(e), or to prescribe fishways pursuant to FPA Section 18, 16 U.S.C. 811, or any agency or Indian tribe with authority to issue a water quality certification for the project license under section 401 of the Clean Water Act, 42 U.S.C. 1341, may file a notice of study dispute with respect to studies pertaining directly to the exercise of their authorities under sections 4(e) and 18 of the Federal Power Act or section 401 of the Clean Water Act. (b) The notice of study dispute must explain how the disputing agency's or Indian tribe's study request satisfies the criteria set forth in § 5.9(b), and shall identify and provide contact information for the panel member designated by the disputing agency or Indian tribe, as discussed in paragraph (d) of this section. (c) Studies and portions of study plans approved in the Study Plan Determination that are not the subject of a notice of dispute shall be deemed to be approved, and the potential applicant shall proceed with those studies or portions thereof. (d) Within 20 days of a notice of study dispute, the Commission will convene one or more three-person Dispute Resolution Panels, as appropriate to the circumstances of each proceeding. Each such panel will consist of: (1) A person from the Commission staff who is not otherwise involved in the proceeding, and who shall serve as the panel chair; (2) One person designated by the Federal or state agency or Indian tribe that filed the notice of dispute who is not otherwise involved in the proceeding; and (3) A third person selected by the other two panelists from a pre-established list of persons with expertise in the resource area. The two panelists shall make every reasonable effort to select the third panel member. If however no third panel member has been selected by the other two panelists within 15 days, an appropriate third panel member will be selected at random from the list of technical experts maintained by the Commission. (e) If more than one agency or Indian tribe files a notice of dispute with respect to the decision in the preliminary determination on any information-gathering or study request, the disputing agencies or Indian tribes must select one person to represent their interests on the panel. (f) The list of persons available to serve as a third panel member will be posted, as revised from time-to-time, on the hydroelectric page of the Commission's Web site. A person on the list who is requested and willing to serve with respect to a specific dispute will be required to file with the Commission at that time a current statement of their qualifications, a statement that they have had no prior involvement with the proceeding in which the dispute has arisen, or other financial or other conflict of interest. (g) All costs of the panel members representing the Commission staff and the agency or Indian tribe which filed the notice of dispute will be borne by the Commission or the agency or Indian tribe, as applicable. The third panel member will serve without compensation, except for certain allowable travel expenses as defined in 31 CFR part 301. (h) To facilitate the delivery of information to the dispute resolution panel, the identity of the panel members and their addresses for personal service with respect to a specific dispute resolution will be posted on the hydroelectric page of the Commission's Web site. (i) No later than 25 days following the notice of study dispute, the potential applicant may file with the Commission and serve upon the panel members comments and information regarding the dispute. (j) Prior to engaging in deliberative meetings, the panel shall hold a technical conference for the purpose of clarifying the matters in dispute with reference to the study criteria. The technical conference shall be chaired by the Commission staff member of the panel. It shall be open to all participants, and the panel shall receive information from the participants as it deems appropriate. (k) No later than 50 days following the notice of study dispute, the panel shall make and deliver to the Director of the Office of Energy Projects a finding, with respect to each information or study request in dispute, concerning the extent to which each criteria set forth in § 5.9(b) is met or not met, and why, and make recommendations regarding the disputed study request based on its findings. The panel's findings and recommendations must be based on the record in the proceeding. The panel shall file with its findings and recommendations all of the materials received by the panel. Any recommendation for the potential applicant to provide information or a study must include the technical specifications, including data acquisition techniques and methodologies. (l) No later than 70 days from the date of filing of the notice of study dispute, the Director of the Office of Energy Projects will review and consider the recommendations of the panel, and will issue a written determination. The Director's determination will be made with reference to the study criteria set forth in § 5.9(b) and any applicable law or Commission policies and practices, will take into account the technical expertise of the panel, and will explain why any panel recommendation was rejected, if applicable. The Director's determination shall constitute an amendment to the approved study plan. § 5.15 Conduct of studies. (a) Implementation. (b) Progress reports. (c) Initial study report. (2) Within 15 days following the filing of the initial study report, the potential applicant shall hold a meeting with the participants and Commission staff to discuss the study results and the potential applicant's and or other participant's proposals, if any, to modify the study plan in light of the progress of the study plan and data collected. (3) Within 15 days following the meeting provided for in paragraph (c)(2) of this section, the potential applicant shall file a meeting summary, including any modifications to ongoing studies or new studies proposed by the potential applicant. (4) Any participant or the Commission staff may file a disagreement concerning the applicant's meeting summary within 30 days, setting forth the basis for the disagreement. This filing must also include any modifications to ongoing studies or new studies proposed by the Commission staff or other participant. (5) Responses to any filings made pursuant to paragraph (c)(4) of this section must be filed within 30 days. (6) No later than 30 days following the due date for responses provided for in paragraph (c)(5) of this section, the Director will resolve the disagreement and amend the approved study plan as appropriate. (7) If no participant or the Commission staff files a disagreement concerning the potential applicant's meeting summary and request to amend the approved study plan within 30 days, any proposed amendment shall be deemed to be approved. (d) Criteria for modification of approved study. (1) Approved studies were not conducted as provided for in the approved study plan; or (2) The study was conducted under anomalous environmental conditions or that environmental conditions have changed in a material way. (e) Criteria for new study. (1) Any material changes in the law or regulations applicable to the information request; (2) Why the goals and objectives of any approved study could not be met with the approved study methodology; (3) Why the request was not made earlier; (4) Significant changes in the project proposal or that significant new information material to the study objectives has become available; and (5) Why the new study request satisfies the study criteria in § 5.9(b). (f) Updated study report. [Order 2002, 68 FR 51121, Aug. 25, 2003; 68 FR 61742, Oct. 30, 2003] § 5.16 Preliminary licensing proposal. (a) No later than 150 days prior to the deadline for filing a new or subsequent license application, if applicable, the potential applicant must file for comment a preliminary licensing proposal. (b) The preliminary licensing proposal must: (1) Clearly describe, as applicable, the existing and proposed project facilities, including project lands and waters; (2) Clearly describe, as applicable, the existing and proposed project operation and maintenance plan, to include measures for protection, mitigation, and enhancement measures with respect to each resource affected by the project proposal; and (3) Include the potential applicant's draft environmental analysis by resource area of the continuing and incremental impacts, if any, of its preliminary licensing proposal, including the results of its studies conducted under the approved study plan. (c) A potential applicant may elect to file a draft license application which includes the contents of a license application required by § 5.18 instead of the Preliminary Licensing Proposal. A potential applicant that elects to file a draft license application must include notice of its intent to do so in the updated study report required by § 5.15(f). (d) A potential applicant that has been designated as the Commission's non-Federal representative may include a draft Biological Assessment, draft Essential Fish Habitat Assessment, and draft Historic Properties Management Plan with its Preliminary Licensing Proposal or draft license application. (e) Within 90 days of the date the potential applicant files the Preliminary Licensing Proposal or draft license application, participants and the Commission staff may file comments on the Preliminary Licensing Proposal or draft application, which may include recommendations on whether the Commission should prepare an Environmental Assessment (with or without a draft Environmental Assessment) or an Environmental Impact Statement. Any participant whose comments request new information, studies, or other amendments to the approved study plan must include a demonstration of extraordinary circumstances, pursuant to the requirements of § 5.15(f). (f) A waiver of the requirement to file the Preliminary Licensing Proposal or draft license application may be requested, based on a consensus of the participants in favor of such waiver. § 5.17 Filing of application. (a) Deadline—new or subsequent license application. (b) Subsequent licenses. (c) Rejection or dismissal of application. (d)(1) Filing and service. (2) An applicant must publish notice twice of the filing of its application, no later than 14 days after the filing date in a daily or weekly newspaper of general circulation in each county in which the project is located. The notice must disclose the filing date of the application and briefly summarize it, including the applicant's name and address, the type of facility applied for, its proposed location, and the places where the information specified in § 5.2(b) is available for inspection and reproduction. The applicant must promptly provide the Commission with proof of the publication of this notice. (e) PURPA benefits. (2) If an applicant reverses a statement of intent not to seek PURPA benefits: (i) Prior to the Commission issuing a license, the reversal of intent will be treated as an amendment of the application under § 4.35 of this chapter and the applicant must: (A) Repeat the pre-filing consultation process under this part; and (B) Satisfy all the requirements in § 292.208 of this chapter; or (ii) After the Commission issues a license for the project, the applicant is prohibited from obtaining PURPA benefits. (f) Limitations on submitting applications. (g) Applicant notice. [Order 2002, 68 FR 51121, Aug. 25, 2003, as amended by Order 756, 77 FR 4893, Feb. 1, 2012] § 5.18 Application content. (a) General content requirements. (1) Identify every person, citizen, association of citizens, domestic corporation, municipality, or state that has or intends to obtain and will maintain any proprietary right necessary to construct, operate, or maintain the project; (2) Identify (providing names and mailing addresses): (i) Every county in which any part of the project, and any Federal facilities that would be used by the project, would be located; (ii) Every city, town, or similar local political subdivision: (A) In which any part of the project, and any Federal facilities that would be used by the project, would be located; or (B) That has a population of 5,000 or more people and is located within 15 miles of the project dam; (iii) Every irrigation district, drainage district, or similar special purpose political subdivision: (A) In which any part of the project, and any Federal facilities that would be used by the project, would be located; or (B) That owns, operates, maintains, or uses any project facilities that would be used by the project; (iv) Every other political subdivision in the general area of the project that there is reason to believe would likely be interested in, or affected by, the application; and (v) All Indian tribes that may be affected by the project. (3)(i) For a license (other than a license under section 15 of the Federal Power Act) state that the applicant has made, either at the time of or before filing the application, a good faith effort to give notification by certified mail of the filing of the application to: (A) Every property owner of record of any interest in the property within the bounds of the project, or in the case of the project without a specific project boundary, each such owner of property which would underlie or be adjacent to any project works including any impoundments; and (B) The entities identified in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, as well as any other Federal, state, municipal or other local government agencies that there is reason to believe would likely be interested in or affected by such application. (ii) Such notification must contain the name, business address, and telephone number of the applicant and a copy of the Exhibit G contained in the application, and must state that a license application is being filed with the Commission. (4)(i) As to any facts alleged in the application or other materials filed, be subscribed and verified under oath in the form set forth in paragraph (a)(3)(B) of this Section by the person filing, an officer thereof, or other person having knowledge of the matters set forth. If the subscription and verification is by anyone other than the person filing or an officer thereof, it must include a statement of the reasons therefor. (ii) This application is executed in the: State of County of By: (Name) (Address) being duly sworn, depose(s) and say(s) that the contents of this application are true to the best of (his or her) knowledge or belief. The undersigned Applicant(s) has (have) signed the application this ____ day of __________________, 2______. (Applicant(s)) By: Subscribed and sworn to before me, a [Notary Public, or title of other official authorized by the state to notarize documents, as appropriate] this ____ day of ____________________, 2______. /SEAL [if any] (Notary Public, or other authorized official) (5) Contain the information and documents prescribed in the following Sections of this chapter, except as provided in paragraph (b) of this Section, according to the type of application: (i) License for a minor water power project and a major water power project 10 MW or less: § 4.61 of this chapter (General instructions, initial statement, and Exhibits A, F, and G); (ii) License for a major unconstructed project and a major modified project: § 4.41 of this chapter (General instructions, initial statement, Exhibits A, B, C, D, F, and G); (iii) License for a major project—existing dam: § 4.51 of this chapter (General instructions, initial statement, Exhibits A, B, C, D, F, and G); or (iv) License for a project located at a new dam or diversion where the applicant seeks PURPA benefits: § 292.208 of this chapter. (b) Exhibit E—Environmental Exhibit. (1) General description of the river basin. (2) Cumulative effects. (3) Applicable laws. (i) Section 401 of the Clean Water Act. (ii) Endangered Species Act (ESA). (iii) Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. (iv) Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA). (v) National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). (vi) Pacific Northwest Power Planning and Conservation Act (Act). (vii) Wild and Scenic Rivers and Wilderness Acts. (4) Project facilities and operation. (i) Maps showing existing and proposed project facilities, lands, and waters within the project boundary; (ii) The configuration of any dams, spillways, penstocks, canals, powerhouses, tailraces, and other structures; (iii) The normal maximum water surface area and normal maximum water surface elevation (mean sea level), gross storage capacity of any impoundments; (iv) The number, type, and minimum and maximum hydraulic capacity and installed (rated) capacity of existing and proposed turbines or generators to be included as part of the project; (v) An estimate of the dependable capacity, and average annual energy production in kilowatt hours (or mechanical equivalent); (vi) A description of the current (if applicable) and proposed operation of the project, including any daily or seasonal ramping rates, flushing flows, reservoir operations, and flood control operations. (5) Proposed action and action alternatives. (A) A discussion of the affected environment; (B) A detailed analysis of the effects of the applicant's licensing proposal and, if reasonably possible, any preliminary terms and conditions filed with the Commission; and (C) Any unavoidable adverse impacts. (ii) The environmental document must contain, with respect to the resources listed in the Pre-Application Document provided for in § 5.6, and any other resources identified in the Commission's scoping document prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act and § 5.8, the following information, commensurate with the scope of the project: (A) Affected environment. e.g., (B) Environmental analysis. (C) Proposed environmental measures. (D) Unavoidable adverse impacts. (E) Economic analysis. (F) Consistency with comprehensive plans. (G) Consultation Documentation. (H) Literature cited. (iii) The applicant must also provide in the Environmental Document: (A) Functional design drawings of any fish passage and collection facilities or any other facilities necessary for implementation of environmental measures, indicating whether the facilities depicted are existing or proposed (these drawings must conform to the specifications of § 4.39 of this chapter regarding dimensions of full-sized prints, scale, and legibility); (B) A description of operation and maintenance procedures for any existing or proposed measures or facilities; (C) An implementation or construction schedule for any proposed measures or facilities, showing the intervals following issuance of a license when implementation of the measures or construction of the facilities would be commenced and completed; (D) An estimate of the costs of construction, operation, and maintenance, of any proposed facilities, and of implementation of any proposed environmental measures. (E) A map or drawing that conforms to the size, scale, and legibility requirements of § 4.39 of this chapter showing by the use of shading, cross-hatching, or other symbols the identity and location of any measures or facilities, and indicating whether each measure or facility is existing or proposed (the map or drawings in this exhibit may be consolidated). (c) Exhibit H. (1) Information to be provided by an applicant for new license: Filing requirements Information to be supplied by all applicants. (A) A discussion of the plans and ability of the applicant to operate and maintain the project in a manner most likely to provide efficient and reliable electric service, including efforts and plans to: ( 1 ( 2 ( 3 (B) A discussion of the need of the applicant over the short and long term for the electricity generated by the project, including: ( 1 ( 2 ( 3 ( i ( ii ( iii (C) The following data showing need and the reasonable cost and availability of alternative sources of power: ( 1 ( 2 ( i ( ii ( iii ( iv (D) If an applicant uses power for its own industrial facility and related operations, the effect of obtaining or losing electricity from the project on the operation and efficiency of such facility or related operations, its workers, and the related community. (E) If an applicant is an Indian tribe applying for a license for a project located on the tribal reservation, a statement of the need of such Indian tribe for electricity generated by the project to foster the purposes of the reservation. (F) A comparison of the impact on the operations and planning of the applicant's transmission system of receiving or not receiving the project license, including: ( 1 ( 2 ( 3 (G) If the applicant has plans to modify existing project facilities or operations, a statement of the need for, or usefulness of, the modifications, including at least a reconnaissance-level study of the effect and projected costs of the proposed plans and any alternate plans, which in conjunction with other developments in the area would conform with a comprehensive plan for improving or developing the waterway and for other beneficial public uses as defined in Section 10(a)(1) of the Federal Power Act. (H) If the applicant has no plans to modify existing project facilities or operations, at least a reconnaissance-level study to show that the project facilities or operations in conjunction with other developments in the area would conform with a comprehensive plan for improving or developing the waterway and for other beneficial public uses as defined in Section 10(a)(1) of the Federal Power Act. (I) A statement describing the applicant's financial and personnel resources to meet its obligations under a new license, including specific information to demonstrate that the applicant's personnel are adequate in number and training to operate and maintain the project in accordance with the provisions of the license. (J) If an applicant proposes to expand the project to encompass additional lands, a statement that the applicant has notified, by certified mail, property owners on the additional lands to be encompassed by the project and governmental agencies and subdivisions likely to be interested in or affected by the proposed expansion. (K) The applicant's electricity consumption efficiency improvement program, as defined under Section 10(a)(2)(C) of the Federal Power Act, including: ( 1 ( 2 (L) The names and mailing addresses of every Indian tribe with land on which any part of the proposed project would be located or which the applicant reasonably believes would otherwise be affected by the proposed project. (ii) Information to be provided by an applicant licensee. (A) The information specified in paragraph (c)(1) of this section. (B) A statement of measures taken or planned by the licensee to ensure safe management, operation, and maintenance of the project, including: ( 1 ( 2 ( 3 ( 4 ( 5 (C) A description of the current operation of the project, including any constraints that might affect the manner in which the project is operated. (D) A discussion of the history of the project and record of programs to upgrade the operation and maintenance of the project. (E) A summary of any generation lost at the project over the last five years because of unscheduled outages, including the cause, duration, and corrective action taken. (F) A discussion of the licensee's record of compliance with the terms and conditions of the existing license, including a list of all incidents of noncompliance, their disposition, and any documentation relating to each incident. (G) A discussion of any actions taken by the existing licensee related to the project which affect the public. (H) A summary of the ownership and operating expenses that would be reduced if the project license were transferred from the existing licensee. (I) A statement of annual fees paid under part I of the Federal Power Act for the use of any Federal or Indian lands included within the project boundary. (iii) Information to be provided by an applicant who is not an existing licensee. (A) The information specified in paragraph (c)(1) of this section. (B) A statement of the applicant's plans to manage, operate, and maintain the project safely, including: ( 1 ( 2 ( 3 ( 4 (d) Consistency with comprehensive plans. (e) Response to information requests. (f) Maps and drawings. [Order 2002, 68 FR 51121, Aug. 25, 2003; 68 FR 61742, Oct. 30, 2003; 68 FR 69957, Dec. 16, 2003; Order 699, 72 FR 45324, Aug. 14, 2007; Order 756, 77 FR 4894, Feb. 1, 2012; Order 877, 86 FR 42715, Aug. 5, 2021] § 5.19 Tendering notice and schedule. (a) Notice. (1) Issuance of the acceptance for filing and ready for environmental analysis notice provided for in § 5.22. (2) Filing of recommendations, preliminary terms and conditions, and fishway prescriptions; (3) Issuance of a draft environmental assessment or environmental impact statement, or an environmental assessment not preceded by a draft. (4) Filing of comments on the draft environmental assessment or environmental impact statement, as applicable; (5) Filing of modified recommendations, mandatory terms and conditions, and fishway prescriptions in response to a draft NEPA document or Environmental Analysis, if no draft NEPA document is issued; (6) Issuance of a final NEPA document, if any; (7) In the case of a new or subsequent license application, a deadline for submission of final amendments, if any, to the application; and (8) Readiness of the application for Commission decision. (b) Modifications to process plan and schedule. (c) Method of notice. (1) Publishing notice in the Federal Register (2) Notifying appropriate Federal, state, and interstate resource agencies, state water quality and coastal zone management plan consistency certification agencies, Indian tribes, and non-governmental organizations, by electronic means if practical, otherwise by mail. (d) Resolution of pending information requests. [Order 2002, 68 FR 51121, Aug. 25, 2003; 68 FR 61742, Oct. 30, 2003; 68 FR 69957, Dec. 16, 2003; Order 653, 70 FR 8724, Feb. 23, 2005] § 5.20 Deficient applications. (a) Deficient applications. (2) Within 30 days of the filing date of any application for a license under this part, the Director of the Office of Energy Projects will notify the applicant if, in the Director's judgment, the application does not conform to the prefiling consultation and filing requirements of this part, and is therefore considered deficient. An applicant having a deficient application will be afforded additional time to correct the deficiencies, not to exceed 90 days from the date of notification. Notification will be by letter or, in the case of minor deficiencies, by telephone. Any notification will specify the deficiencies to be corrected. Deficiencies must be corrected by submitting an a filing pursuant to the requirements of subpart T of part 385 of this chapter within the time specified in the notification of deficiency. (3) If the revised application is found not to conform to the prefiling consultation and filing requirements of this part, or if the revisions are not timely submitted, the revised application will be rejected. Procedures for rejected applications are specified in paragraph (b)(3) of this section. (b) Patently deficient applications. (2) If, after 30 days following its filing date, the Director of the Office of Energy Projects determines that an application patently fails to comply with the prefiling consultation and filing requirements of this part, or is for a project that is precluded by law: (i) The application will be rejected by order of the Commission, if the Commission determines that it is patently deficient; or (ii) The application will be considered deficient under paragraph (a)(2) of this Section, if the Commission determines that it is not patently deficient. (3) Any application for an original license that is rejected may be submitted if the deficiencies are corrected and if, in the case of a competing application, the resubmittal is timely. The date the rejected application is resubmitted will be considered the new filing date for purposes of determining its timeliness under § 4.36 of this chapter and the disposition of competing applications under § 4.37 of this chapter. [Order 2002, 68 FR 51121, Aug. 25, 2003; 68 FR 61743, Oct. 30, 2003] § 5.21 Additional information. An applicant may be required to submit any additional information or documents that the Commission considers relevant for an informed decision on the application. The information or documents must take the form, and must be submitted within the time, that the Commission prescribes. An applicant may also be required to provide within a specified time additional copies of the complete application, or any of the additional information or documents that are filed, to the Commission or to any person, agency, Indian tribe or other entity that the Commission specifies. If an applicant fails to provide timely additional information, documents, or copies of submitted materials as required, the Commission may dismiss the application, hold it in abeyance, or take other appropriate action under this chapter or the Federal Power Act. § 5.22 Notice of acceptance and ready for environmental analysis. (a) When the Commission has determined that the application meets the Commission's requirements as specified in §§ 5.18 and 5.19, the approved studies have been completed, any deficiencies in the application have been cured, and no other additional information is needed, it will issue public notice as required in the Federal Power Act: (1) Accepting the application for filing and specifying the date upon which the application was accepted for filing (which will be the application filing date if the Secretary receives all of the information and documents necessary to conform to the requirements of §§ 5.1 through 5.21, as applicable, within the time frame prescribed in § 5.20 or § 5.21); (2) Finding that the application is ready for environmental analysis; (3) Requesting comments, protests, and interventions; (4) Requesting recommendations, preliminary terms and conditions, and preliminary fishway prescriptions, including all supporting documentation; and (5) Establishing the date for final amendments to applications for new or subsequent licenses; and (6) Updating the schedule issued with the tendering notice for processing the application. (b) If the project affects lands of the United States, the Commission will notify the appropriate Federal office of the application and the specific lands affected, pursuant to Section 24 of the Federal Power Act. (c) For an application for a license seeking benefits under Section 210 of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978, as amended, for a project that would be located at a new dam or diversion, the Applicant must serve the public notice issued under paragraph (a)(1) of this Section to interested agencies at the time the applicant is notified that the application is accepted for filing. [Order 2002, 68 FR 51121, Aug. 25, 2003; 68 FR 61743, Oct. 30, 2003] § 5.23 Response to notice. (a) Comments and reply comments. (b) Water quality certification. (i) A copy of the water quality certification or the certifying authority's express waiver; (ii) A copy of the request for certification, including proof of the date on which the certifying authority received the request; or (iii) Evidence of waiver of water quality certification as described in paragraph (b)(2) of this section. (2) A certifying authority is deemed to have waived the certification requirements of section 401(a)(1) of the Clean Water Act if the certifying authority has not denied, expressly waived, or granted certification by one year after the date the certifying authority received a written request for certification. If a certifying authority denies certification, the applicant must file a copy of the denial within 30 days after the applicant received it. [Order 2002, 68 FR 51121, Aug. 25, 2003, as amended at 89 FR 96530, Dec. 5, 2024] § 5.24 Applications not requiring a draft NEPA document. (a) If the Commission determines that a license application will be processed with an environmental assessment rather than an environmental impact statement and that a draft environmental assessment will not be required, the Commission will issue the environmental assessment for comment no later than 120 days from the date responses are due to the notice of acceptance and ready for environmental analysis. (b) Each environmental assessment issued pursuant to this paragraph must include draft license articles, a preliminary determination of consistency of each fish and wildlife agency recommendation made pursuant to Federal Power Act section 10(j) with the purposes and requirements of the Federal Power Act and other applicable law, as provided for in § 5.26, and any preliminary mandatory terms and conditions and fishway prescriptions. (c) Comments on an environmental assessment issued pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section, including comments in response to the Commission's preliminary determination with respect to fish and wildlife agency recommendations and on preliminary mandatory terms and conditions or fishway prescriptions, must be filed no later than 30 or 45 days after issuance of the environmental assessment, as specified in the notice accompanying issuance of the environmental assessment, as should any revisions to supporting documentation. (d) Modified mandatory prescriptions or terms and conditions must be filed no later than 60 days following the date for filing of comments provided for in paragraph (c) of this section, as specified in the notice accompanying issuance of the environmental analysis. [Order 2002, 68 FR 51121, Aug. 25, 2003; 68 FR 61743, Oct. 30, 2003] § 5.25 Applications requiring a draft NEPA document. (a) If the Commission determines that a license application will be processed with an environmental impact statement, or a draft and final environmental assessment, the Commission will issue the draft environmental impact statement or environmental assessment for comment no later than 180 days from the date responses are due to the notice of acceptance and ready for environmental analysis provided for in § 5.22. (b) Each draft environmental document will include for comment draft license articles, a preliminary determination of the consistency of each fish and wildlife agency recommendation made pursuant to section 10(j) of the Federal Power Act with the purposes and requirements of the Federal Power Act and other applicable law, as provided for in § 5.26, and any preliminary mandatory terms and conditions and fishways prescriptions. (c) Comments on a draft environmental document issued pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section, including comments in response to the Commission's preliminary determination with respect to fish and wildlife agency recommendations and on preliminary mandatory terms and conditions or prescriptions must be filed no later than 30 or 60 days after issuance of the draft environmental document, as specified in the notice accompanying issuance of the draft environmental document. (d) Modified mandatory prescriptions or terms and conditions must be filed no later than 60 days following the date for filing of comments provided for in paragraph (c) of this section. (e) The Commission will issue a final environmental document within 90 days following the date for filing of modified mandatory prescriptions or terms and conditions. § 5.26 Section 10(j) process. (a) In connection with its environmental review of an application for license, the Commission will analyze all terms and conditions timely recommended by fish and wildlife agencies pursuant to the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act for the protection, mitigation of damages to, and enhancement of fish and wildlife (including related spawning grounds and habitat) affected by the development, operation, and management of the proposed project. Submission of such recommendations marks the beginning of the process under section 10(j) of the Federal Power Act. (b) The agency must specifically identify and explain the recommendations and the relevant resource goals and objectives and their evidentiary or legal basis. The Commission may seek clarification of any recommendation from the appropriate fish and wildlife agency. If the Commission's request for clarification is communicated in writing, copies of the request will be sent by the Commission to all parties, affected resource agencies, and Indian tribes, which may file a response to the request for clarification within the time period specified by the Commission. If the Commission believes any fish and wildlife recommendation may be inconsistent with the Federal Power Act or other applicable law, the Commission will make a preliminary determination of inconsistency in the draft environmental document or, if none, the environmental assessment. The preliminary determination, for any recommendations believed to be inconsistent, shall include an explanation why the Commission believes the recommendation is inconsistent with the Federal Power Act or other applicable law, including any supporting analysis and conclusions and an explanation of how the measures recommended in the environmental document would adequately and equitably protect, mitigate damages to, and enhance, fish and wildlife (including related spawning grounds and habitat) affected by the development, operation, and management of the project. (c) Any party, affected resource agency, or Indian tribe may file comments in response to the preliminary determination of inconsistency, including any modified recommendations, within the time frame allotted for comments on the draft environmental document or, if none, the time frame for comments on the environmental assessment. In this filing, the fish and wildlife agency concerned may also request a meeting, telephone or video conference, or other additional procedure to attempt to resolve any preliminary determination of inconsistency. (d) The Commission shall attempt, with the agencies, to reach a mutually acceptable resolution of any such inconsistency, giving due weight to the recommendations, expertise, and statutory responsibilities of the fish and wildlife agency. If the Commission decides, or an affected resource agency requests, the Commission will conduct a meeting, telephone or video conference, or other procedures to address issues raised by its preliminary determination of inconsistency and comments thereon. The Commission will give at least 15 days' advance notice to each party, affected resource agency, or Indian tribe, which may participate in the meeting or conference. Any meeting, conference, or additional procedure to address these issues will be scheduled to take place within 90 days of the date the Commission issues a preliminary determination of inconsistency. The Commission will prepare a written summary of any meeting held under this paragraph to discuss section 10(j) issues, including any proposed resolutions and supporting analysis, and a copy of the summary will be sent to all parties, affected resource agencies, and Indian tribes. (e) The section 10(j) process ends when the Commission issues an order granting or denying the license application in question. If, after attempting to resolve inconsistencies between the fish and wildlife recommendations of a fish and wildlife agency and the purposes and requirements of the Federal Power Act or other applicable law, the Commission does not adopt in whole or in part a fish and wildlife recommendation of a fish and wildlife agency, the Commission will publish the findings and statements required by section 10(j)(2) of the Federal Power Act. § 5.27 Amendment of application. (a) Procedures. (b) Date of acceptance. (c) New and subsequent licenses. (d) Deadline. [Order 2002, 68 FR 51121, Aug. 25, 2003; 68 FR 61743, Oct. 30, 2003] § 5.28 Competing applications. (a) Site access for a competing applicant. (b) Competing applications. (c) New or subsequent license applications—final amendments; better adapted statement. (d) Rules of preference among competing applicants. [Order 2002, 68 FR 51121, Aug. 25, 2003; 68 FR 61743, Oct. 30, 2003] § 5.29 Other provisions. (a) Filing requirement. (b) Waiver of compliance with consultation requirements. (2) If an agency, Indian tribe, member of the public fails to timely comply with a provision regarding a requirement of this section, an applicant may proceed to the next sequential requirement of this section without waiting for the agency, Indian tribe, or member of the public. (c) Requests for privileged or Critical Energy Infrastructure Information treatment of pre-filing submission. (d) Conditional applications. (e) Trial-type hearing. (f) Notice and comment hearings. (2) The Director of Energy Projects may waive or modify any of the provisions of this part for good cause. A commenter or reply commenter may obtain an extension of time from the Commission only upon a showing of good cause or extraordinary circumstances in accordance with § 385.2008 of this chapter. (3) Late-filed recommendations by fish and wildlife agencies pursuant to the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act and section 10(j) of the Federal Power Act for the protection, mitigation of damages to, and enhancement of fish and wildlife affected by the development, operation, and management of the proposed project and late-filed terms and conditions or prescriptions filed pursuant to sections 4(e) and 18 of the Federal Power Act, respectively, will be considered by Commission under section 10(a) of the Federal Power Act if such consideration would not delay or disrupt the proceeding. (g) Settlement negotiations. (i) Whether requests for suspension of the procedural schedule have previously been made or granted; (ii) Whether the request is supported by a consensus of participants in the proceeding and an explanation of objections to the request expressed by any participant; (iii) The likelihood that a settlement agreement will be filed within the requested suspension period; and (iv) Whether the requested suspension is likely to cause any new or subsequent license to be issued after the expiration of the existing license. (2) The Commission reserves the right to terminate any suspension of the procedural schedule if it concludes that insufficient progress is being made toward the filing of a settlement agreement. (h) License conditions and required findings. (2) Subject to paragraph (f)(3) of this section, fish and wildlife conditions shall be based on recommendations timely received from the fish and wildlife agencies pursuant to the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act. (3) The Commission will consider the timely recommendations of resource agencies, other governmental units, and members of the public, and the timely recommendations (including fish and wildlife recommendations) of Indian tribes affected by the project. (4) Licenses for a project located within any Federal reservation shall be issued only after the findings required by, and subject to any conditions that may be timely filed pursuant to section 4(e) of the Federal Power Act. (5) The Commission will require the construction, maintenance, and operation of such fishways as may be timely prescribed by the Secretary of Commerce or the Secretary of the Interior, as appropriate, pursuant to section 18 of the Federal Power Act. (i) Standards and factors for issuing a new license. (2) If there are only insignificant differences between the final applications of an existing licensee and a competing Applicant after consideration of the factors enumerated in section 15(a)(2) of the Federal Power Act, the Commission will determine which Applicant will receive the license after considering: (i) The existing licensee's record of compliance with the terms and conditions of the existing license; and (ii) The actions taken by the existing licensee related to the project which affect the public. (iii) An existing licensee that files an application for a new license in conjunction with an entity or entities that are not currently licensees of all or part of the project will not be considered an existing licensee for the purpose of the insignificant differences provision of section 15(a)(2) of the Federal Power Act. (j) Fees under section 30(e) of the Federal Power Act. [Order 2002, 68 FR 51121, Aug. 25, 2003, as amended by Order 769, 77 FR 65475, Oct. 29, 2012] § 5.30 Critical energy infrastructure information. If any action required by this part requires a potential Applicant or Applicant to reveal Critical Energy Infrastructure Information, as defined by § 388.113(c) of this chapter, to the public, the Applicant must follow the procedures set out in § 4.32(k) of this chapter. § 5.31 Transition provision. This part shall apply to license applications for which the deadline for filing a notification of intent to seek a new or subsequent license, or for filing a notification of intent to file an original license application, as required by § 5.5 of this part, is July 23, 2005 or later. This section shall cease to have effect on December 5, 2026, unless the Commission determines that the cessation deadline should be extended to a date not more than 5 years in the future after offering the public an opportunity to provide input on the costs and benefits of this section and considering that input. The Commission will publish a document in the Federal Register [Order 2002, 68 FR 51121, Aug. 25, 2003, as amended by Order 914, 90 FR 48402, Oct. 21, 2025]

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