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FAST-41 Postings by Agencies for Seminoe Pumped Storage Project

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Posted on: )

FAST-41 Initiation Notice
Seminoe Pumped Storage FAST-41 Initiation Notice.pdf
Application and Supporting Documents

The project sponsor filed an application for an original license on January 18, 2023.  The application and other supporting documents can be found by searching under docket number P-14787 in the Commission’s eLibrary system.

Information on the status of mitigation measures

The Commission develops mitigation measures after assessing:  (1) the project sponsor's proposed measures; and (2) comments, recommendations, and conditions submitted by resource agencies and other stakeholders during the licensing process.  Commission staff will include any staff-recommended mitigation measures in this section after issuance of the draft and final National Environmental Policy Act documents. 

Description of the status of any litigation

There is no active litigation on the Commission’s licensing proceeding.

Information about project-related public meetings, public hearings, and public comment periods

The Commission's licensing process includes multiple opportunities for the public to provide comments, including with the issuance of Scoping Document 1, the Notice of Ready for Environmental Analysis, and the draft National Environmental Policy Act document.  Information on the timing of project-related comment periods and public meetings will be added to this section as it becomes available. 

On September 6, 2024, the Commission issued a notice establishing a deadline for filing scoping comments of November 5, 2024, and providing information on public scoping meetings and an environmental site review.

On January 13, 2025, the Commission issued a notice establishing a deadline for filing comments, recommendations, terms and conditions, and prescriptions of March 14, 2025. 

On March 28, 2025, the Commission issued a notice establishing a deadline for filing additional comments on the scope of issues to address in the Environmental Impact Statement of April 28, 2025.

Description of any Federal agency action taken or decision made that materially affects the status of the project

Bureau of Land Management (Posted on: )

FAST-41 Initiation Notice

FAST-41 Initiated February 2, 2023

Contact Lead Agency (FERC) Project Manager for additional information.

Application and Supporting Documents

Applications: WYWY 191971, WYWY 191971-01, WYWY 191971-02

Contact BLM Project Manager for additional information.

BLM Rawlins Field office contact for the right-of-way is Carla Fiedor, her email is c75fiedo@blm.gov, phone number (307) 328-4251.

BLM Rawlins Field office contact for planning/NEPA is Wendy Huber, whuber@blm.gov, phone number (307) 775-6288.

Information on the status of mitigation measures

BLM must solicit information about key mitigation measures during the public comment period that follows the NOA for the Draft EIS. BLM will also continue to consider possible mitigation measures through internal and external scoping throughout the planning process. Resource areas that BLM has currently identified as requiring possible mitigation include:

  • Removal of Limber Pine
  • Big Game Winter Crucial Range – Determination on mitigation measures will require coordination with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department
  • BLM Threatened & Endangered or Sensitive Species
  • Visual Impacts in Visual Resource Management Avoidance Areas (Class II VRM)

A document outlining mitigation measures necessary for wildlife from the Rawlins RMP is attached for reference.

BLM must solicit information about key mitigation measures during the public comment period that follows the NOA for the Draft EIS. BLM will also continue to consider possible mitigation measures through internal and external scoping throughout the planning process. Resource areas that BLM has currently identified as requiring possible mitigation include:

·       Removal of Limber Pine

·       Big Game Winter Crucial Range – Determination on mitigation measures will require coordination with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department

·       BLM Threatened & Endangered or Sensitive Species

·       Visual Impacts in Visual Resource Management Avoidance Areas (Class II VRM)

A document outlining mitigation measures necessary for wildlife from the Rawlins RMP is attached for reference.

Description of the status of any litigation

N/A

Information about project-related public meetings, public hearings, and public comment periods

Tribal Outreach: EIS effort should include Historic Properties Treatment Plan for the BLM ROW. If it does not, further coordination with BLM will be required. Typically the EIS would include a Programmatic Agreement as an appendix, which would contain the Historic Properties Treatment Plan.

Cooperating Agency Meetings: Will FERC identify local governments with jurisdiction by law or special expertise that should be Cooperating Agencies and schedule the necessary Cooperating Agency meetings that include these entities? BLM can provide support/advice. BLM usually conducts Cooperating Agency meetings on a regular (e.g., monthly) basis, or at a minimum after each EIS stage (I.e., pre-NOI, NOI, Draft EIS NOA, Final EIS NOA, ROD).

Socioeconomics Workshop: BLM conducts at least one Socioeconomics Workshop during the NOI scoping period. BLM could likely do this in cooperation with FERC if FERC already plans to host a workshop(s)

Public Scoping Meetings: BLM conducts at least one public scoping meeting during the 30-day scoping period that follows the NOI. BLM could likely do this in cooperation with FERC if FERC already plans to host a meeting(s)

Action:  Environmental Impact Statement (FERC)

              Milestones:

Issuance of Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS (Agency Action):  02/25/2025

Conduct 30-day scoping period (43 CFR 1610.2(e)) (Agency Action):  02/25/2025

Official Notice of Availability of a Draft EIS published in the FR (Agency Action):  08/29/2025

Conduct 90-day public comment period (43 CFR 1610.2(e)) (Agency Action):  no date set

Official Notice of Availability of a Final EIS published in the FR (Agency Action):  03/13/2026

Issuance of Lead Agency Record of Decision (Agency Action):  06/18/2026

Action:  Environmental Impact Statement (BLM)

Milestones:

Adopt FERC Final EIS (Cooperating Agency Action): 06/25/2026

Conduct 30-day Protest Period (43 CFR 1610.5) (Cooperating Agency Action): 07/25/2026

Conduct 60-day Governor’s Consistency Review (43 CFR 1610.3 2(e)) (Cooperating Agency Action): 08/25/2026

Issue Record of Decision (Cooperating Agency Action): 09/25/2026

 

 

Description of any Federal agency action taken or decision made that materially affects the status of the project

BLM will likely have to amend our Rawlins Resource Management Plan to issue the required Rights-of-Way.

Fish and Wildlife Service (Posted on: )

FAST-41 Initiation Notice

FERC has posted the FAST-41 Initiation Notice.

Application and Supporting Documents

None at this time.

Information on the status of mitigation measures

None at this time.

Description of the status of any litigation

NA

Information about project-related public meetings, public hearings, and public comment periods

FWS has no information at this time.

Description of any Federal agency action taken or decision made that materially affects the status of the project

None at this time.

US Army Corps of Engineers - Regulatory (Posted on: )

FAST-41 Initiation Notice

Lead agency will provide FIN

Application and Supporting Documents

None at this time.

Information on the status of mitigation measures

To early in the project life cycle to determine if mitigation is required.

Description of the status of any litigation

N/A

Information about project-related public meetings, public hearings, and public comment periods

None at this time, early in the project life cycle.

Description of any Federal agency action taken or decision made that materially affects the status of the project

None thus far.

Bureau of Reclamation (Posted on: )

FAST-41 Initiation Notice

The Lead Agency will post the FIN.

Application and Supporting Documents

The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) published a Federal Register Notice to solicit proposals for the development of a non-Federal hydropower at Seminoe Reservoir (Federal Register :: Pumped-Storage Hydroelectric Power Development on Seminoe Reservoir, Kendrick Project, Wyoming). 

In response to the Federal Register Notice, Reclamation received an application from Black Canyon Hydro. The application contains proprietary information and is not available for posting.

Reclamation selected Black Canyon Hydro and entered into a preliminary lease of power privilege on February 23, 2021.

Information on the status of mitigation measures

A portion of the mitigation measures will be determined in the Record of Decision at the end of the environmental review process.  The remainder of the mitigation measures will be determined through the lease of power privilege process and will be based on actual construction methods and proximity to Seminoe Dam.

Description of the status of any litigation

None.

Information about project-related public meetings, public hearings, and public comment periods

All public engagement activities will occur through the NEPA process; see FERC's Environmental Impact Statement action for general public engagement opportunities.  

Description of any Federal agency action taken or decision made that materially affects the status of the project

Refer to the Application and Supporting Documents section above.