Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Initiates Scoping Process for Proposed Hydroelectric Project in Maine

Strategic Insights -

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has initiated a scoping process to gather public input on environmental issues related to the proposed Barker Mill Upper Hydroelectric Project in Maine. The project, filed by KEI (Maine) Power Management (III) LLC, involves the relicensing of the Upper Barker Project, which includes a 41-acre impoundment and a 950-kilowatt turbine-generator unit.

As part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review process, the Commission will prepare an environmental document that will discuss the environmental effects of relicensing the Upper Barker Project. The scoping process aims to focus the analysis on the important environmental issues and gather input from the public and interested agencies. The Commission invites written comments on the scope of issues to address in the environmental document, with a deadline of December 1, 2025.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Barker Mill Upper Hydroelectric Project involves the relicensing of the Upper Barker Project, a 41-acre impoundment and a 950-kilowatt turbine-generator unit.
  • The project is located on the Little Androscoggin River in Auburn, Androscoggin County, Maine.
  • KEI Power Management (III) LLC filed the application on July 29, 2021.
  • The existing Upper Barker Project generates 4,681 megawatt-hours annually.
  • The scoping process will determine the scope of issues to address in the environmental document, which will discuss effects on general resource areas such as geology and soils, aquatic resources, terrestrial resources, and threatened and endangered species.
  • The Commission encourages electronic filing and provides instructions on how to submit comments and register for eSubscription to stay informed of all issuances and submittals regarding the project.
  • The project has undergone a Settlement Agreement with various resource agencies, including the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service, the Maine Department of Marine Resources, and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

Statistics:

  • 41-acre impoundment
  • 950-kilowatt turbine-generator unit
  • 4,681 megawatt-hours generated annually
  • 5 general resource areas to be discussed in the environmental document: geology and soils, aquatic resources, terrestrial resources, threatened and endangered species, recreation, land use, and aesthetic resources.

Sources:

  • Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
  • KEI (Maine) Power Management (III) LLC
  • U.S. Department of Justice
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  • National Marine Fisheries Service
  • Maine Department of Marine Resources
  • Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife