Sign in Subscribe
United States. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Department of the Interior Requests Extension of Time for Comments on Amended Boott Hydroelectric Project

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The United States Department of the Interior has submitted a document to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) requesting an extension of time for comments on the amended Boott Hydroelectric Project in Lowell, Massachusetts. The amendment, filed by the license applicant on June 20, 2025, proposes to include nearly all of the canal system within the boundary of the new license term. This is a significant change from the original application, which proposed removing the canal system from the project boundary. The Department of the Interior has no objection to the inclusion of the canal system but requires more time to prepare comments and recommendations.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Department of the Interior has requested an extension of time due to the significant change in the project boundary, which affects the interests of two of the Department's Bureaus: the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park Service.
  • The amended application proposes to include nearly all of the canal system within the boundary of the new license term, which was previously proposed to be removed.
  • The inclusion of the canal system raises additional questions about fish passage, management, maintenance, and recreation, which need to be addressed.
  • The Department has requested 120 days to prepare comments and recommendations after the Commission has accepted the amendment and is satisfied it needs no additional information to proceed.
  • Should the Commission reject the amendment, the Department will require 60 days to prepare comments and recommendations.
  • The Department respectfully requests that the Commission stay the deadline for responses to the REA notice, provide an opportunity to comment on the adequacy of scoping, and allow parties a minimum of 120 days to draft comments and recommendations if the amendment is accepted.

Statistics:

  • 120 days: The amount of time the Department requires to prepare comments and recommendations after the Commission has accepted the amendment and is satisfied that it needs no additional information to proceed.
  • 60 days: The amount of time the Department will require to prepare comments and recommendations if the Commission rejects the amendment.
  • 30 days: The amount of time left in the period set by the Commission's REA notice for the filing of comments, recommendations, and terms and conditions.
  • 17th Floor: The floor on which the Boston Field Office is located.
  • 617-223-5700: The office phone number of the Boston Field Office.
  • June 20, 2025: The date on which the license applicant filed an amendment to its final license application.
  • August 12, 2022: The date on which the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service signed a Settlement Agreement with the license applicant, NOAA Fisheries, New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, and the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife concerning fish passage.

Sources:

  • U.S. Department of the Interior OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR Boston Field Office 5 Post Office Square, 17th Floor Boston, MA 02109-3921 Office: 617-223-5700
  • Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 888 First Street, NE Washington, DC 20246
  • Boott Hydropower LLC Lowell Hydroelectric Project, FERC no. P-2790-074 Extension of time in light of Amendment of FLA

Read more