FERC Licensing & Relicensing

Penobscot River Projects, PPL Maine LLC (PPL Maine)

In 2003, PPL Maine entered into a Multi-Party Settlement Agreement (MPA) with the Penobscot Indian Nation, the U.S. Department of the Interior, various agencies of the State of Maine, and a number of conservation groups.  The MPA was a landmark agreement reached to resolve all fish passage, energy generation, and Tribal issues associated with PPL Maine’s Penobscot River Basin hydroelectric projects.  To implement Phase I of the MPA, PPL Maine was required to file amendment applications to implement fish passage, cultural resource management measures, and normal pond elevation changes at its Stillwater, Medway, Milford, Veazie, and West Enfield Projects.  In addition, PPL was required to file a revised relicensing application for its Orono Project.

In late 2003, DTA was retained to assist PPL Maine with the preparation of five amendment applications and one relicensing application. DTA staff was responsible for:

• Preparing amendment application for the Stillwater, West Enfield, Medway, Veazie and Milford Projects
• Preparing the Orono Project revised Application for New License
• Preparing Water Quality Certification applications for four projectsConducting field reconnaissance surveys at the Stillwater, Medway, and Orono Projects to obtain and update basic resource information.
• Performing hydrologic and stability analyses to evaluate the planned one-foot normal pond elevation increases at three of the projects. 
• Preparing an Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) assessment and working with PPL Maine and fisheries agencies prior to filing of the assessment with FERC
• Preparing responses to a FERC Additional Information Request
• Reviewing draft NEPA documents
• Reviewing Draft Water Quality Certifications
• Preparing revised Exhibits F and G Drawings to comply with new FERC electronic filing standards.

PPL Maine submitted the amendments and license application and they are currently before FERC.

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