Sign in Subscribe
United States. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Official Species List for Normanskill Hydroelectric Project

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Normanskill Hydroelectric Project, located in the Town of Guilderland in Albany County, New York, is a 1,250 kilowatt hydroelectric power plant that is undergoing relicensing. The project's environmental assessment requires an official list of federally threatened, endangered, candidate, and proposed species, as well as designated or proposed critical habitats that may occur within the project's boundary or be affected by it. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's ECOS-IPaC website, accessed on June 16, 2025, there are 5 species of concern, including 4 endangered species and 1 proposed threatened species.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Normanskill Hydroelectric Project involves relicensing a 1,250 kilowatt hydroelectric power plant in the Town of Guilderland, Albany County, New York.
  • The project requires an official species list, which includes 5 species of concern: 4 endangered species and 1 proposed threatened species.
  • The list includes species that may exist in another geographic area, and IPaC does not display listed species or critical habitats under the sole jurisdiction of NOAA Fisheries.
  • The species list fulfills the requirements of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
  • The project proponent must comply with the ESA, NEPA, and other relevant laws and regulations to minimize impacts to migratory birds and other species.
  • The project's environmental assessment must consider the potential effects of the project on the listed species and their habitats.

Statistics:

  • 5 species of concern are listed in the official species list for the Normanskill Hydroelectric Project.
  • 4 of the listed species are endangered: Indiana Bat (Myotis sodalis), Northern Long-eared Bat (Myotis septentrionalis), Tricolor Bat (Perimyotis subflavus), and the Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus).
  • 1 species is proposed as threatened: the Karner Blue Butterfly (Lycaeides melissa samuelis).
  • The project area is located in Albany County, New York, within the Town of Guilderland.
  • The project has a capacity of 1,250 kilowatts.

Sources:

  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. (2025). Memorandum to: Public Files for the Normanskill Hydroelectric Project (FERC Project No. 2955-011). [Posted by Andy Bernick, Wildlife Biologist, Division of Hydropower Licensing, Office of Energy Projects].
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. (2025). Official Species List.
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. (2025). ECOS-IPaC website. [https://ipac.ecosphere.fws.gov/](https://ipac.ecosphere.fws.gov/).
  • Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. (2025). Relicensing the Normanskill Hydroelectric Project. [https://www.ferc.gov/industries/hydropower/gen-info/rel-licensing/normanskill](https://www.ferc.gov/industries/hydropower/gen-info/rel-licensing/normanskill).
  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (n.d.). NOAA Fisheries. [https://www.noaa.gov/topic/marine-fisheries](https://www.noaa.gov/topic/marine-fisheries).
  • Endangered Species Act. (1973). U.S. Code, Title 16, chapter 35, § 1531 et seq.
  • National Environmental Policy Act. (1969). U.S. Code, Title 42, chapter 23, § 4321 et seq.

Read more