# Lake Lynn Generation, LLC; Notice of Application Ready for Environmental Analysis and Soliciting Comments, Recommendations, Terms and Conditions, and Prescriptions
Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection.
a. *Type of Application:* New Major License.
b. *Project No.:* 2459-279.
c. *Date filed:* November 30, 2022.
d. *Applicant:* Lake Lynn Generation, LLC (Lake Lynn Generation).
e. *Name of Project:* Lake Lynn Hydroelectric Project (Lake Lynn Project, or project).
f. *Location:* The existing project is located on the Cheat River, near the city of Morgantown, in Monongalia County, West Virginia, and near the borough of Point Marion, in Fayette County, Pennsylvania.
g. *Filed Pursuant to:* Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791(a)-825(r).
h. *Applicant Contact:* Jody Smet, Vice President, Engineering and Regulatory Affairs, Eagle Creek Renewable Energy, LLC, 7315 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 1100W, Bethesda, MD 20814; Phone at (240) 482-2700; or email at *[email protected].*
i. *FERC Contact:* Allan Creamer at (202) 502-8365, or email at *[email protected].*
j. *Deadline for filing comments, recommendations, terms and conditions, and prescriptions:* 60 days from the issuance date of this notice; reply comments are due 105 days from the issuance date of this notice.
The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file comments, recommendations, terms and conditions, and prescriptions using the Commission's eFiling system at *https://ferconline.ferc.gov/FERCOnline.aspx.* Commenters can submit brief comments up to 6,000 characters, without prior registration, using the eComment system at *https://ferconline.ferc.gov/QuickComment.aspx.* For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at *[email protected],* (866) 208-3676 (toll free), or (202) 502-8659 (TTY). In lieu of electronic filing, you may submit a paper copy. Submissions sent via the U.S. Postal Service must be addressed to: Debbie-Anne A. Reese, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426. Submissions sent via any other carrier must be addressed to: Debbie-Anne A. Reese, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852. All filings must clearly identify the project name and docket number on the first page: Lake Lynn Hydroelectric Project (P-2459-279).
The Commission's Rules of Practice require all intervenors filing documents with the Commission to serve a copy of that document on each person on the official service list for the project. Further, if an intervenor files comments or documents with the Commission relating to the merits of an issue that may affect the responsibilities of a particular resource agency, they must also serve a copy of the document on that resource agency.
k. This application has been accepted and is now ready for environmental analysis.
l. *Project Description:* The Lake Lynn Project consists of: (1) a 13 mile-long, 1,729-acre impoundment (Cheat Lake; originally named Lake Lynn) with a maximum storage capacity of 72,300 acre-feet at a normal water surface elevation of 870 feet National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD 29) and a normal minimum storage capacity of 51,100 acre-feet at 857 feet NGVD 29; (2) a 1,000-foot-long, 125-foot-high, concrete gravity dam with a 624-foot-long spillway section controlled by 26, 21-foot-wide by 17-foot-high, Tainter gates; (3) a concrete intake structure equipped with a log boom and eight trash racks with 4-inch clear bar spacing; (4) eight 12-foot-wide by 18-foot-deep gated reinforced concrete penstocks; (5) a 160-foot-long by 94.5-foot-wide powerhouse containing four Francis generating units with a combined capacity of 51.2 megawatts; and (6) two 800-foot-long transmission lines that run from the powerhouse to a substation within the project boundary.
The Lake Lynn Project is currently operated as a peaking facility with storage. Peaking hours and operations are dictated by market value. Seasonal peaking during winter typically occurs in the morning for 5 hours and in the afternoon for 5 hours to meet demand. During the summer, peaking occurs between 6:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. in the evening. The maximum drawdown rate to meet peak demand is one-half a foot/hour. Typical drawdown is 0.2-0.4 feet/day, which can vary depending on environmental and economic considerations. The current license requires Lake Lynn Generation to maintain Cheat Lake between 868 feet and 870 feet NGVD 29 from May 1 through October 31, 857 feet and 870 feet NGVD 29 from November 1 through March 31, and 863 feet and 870 feet NGVD 29 from April 1 through April 30 each year. The current license also requires Lake Lynn Generation to release a downstream minimum flow of 212 cubic-feet-per-second (cfs), or inflow, from the dam when not generating, with an absolute minimum flow of 100 cfs regardless of inflow, when not generating. The project generates about 144,741 megawatt-hours annually.
Lake Lynn Generation does not propose any changes to existing project facilities. However, Lake Lynn Generation proposes to: (1) continue operating the project as a peaking facility with storage, maintain minimum flows and lake levels as required by the existing license, and maintain the existing recreation facilities; (2) develop a number of plans, including an operations plan, a water quality monitoring plan, a recreation management plan, a shoreline management plan, and a historic properties management plan, as well as bat protection measures; and (3) remove approximately 244 acres of land from the project boundary.
m. A copy of the application can be viewed on the Commission's website at *http://www.ferc.gov,* using the “eLibrary” link. Enter the docket number excluding the last three digits in the docket number field, to access the document. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support.
*All filings must:* (1) bear in all capital letters the title “COMMENTS,” “REPLY COMMENTS,” “RECOMMENDATIONS,” “TERMS AND CONDITIONS,” or “PRESCRIPTIONS;” (2) set forth in the heading the name of the applicant and the project number of the application to which the filing responds; (3) furnish the name, address, and telephone number of the person submitting the filing; and (4) otherwise comply with the requirements of 18 CFR 385.2001 through 385.2005. All comments, recommendations, terms and conditions or prescriptions must set forth their evidentiary basis and otherwise comply with the requirements of 18 CFR 4.34(b). Agencies may obtain copies of the application directly from the applicant. Each filing must be accompanied by proof of service on all persons listed on the service list prepared by the Commission in this proceeding, in accordance with 18 CFR 4.34(b) and 385.2010.
The Commission's Office of Public Participation (OPP) supports meaningful public engagement and participation in Commission proceedings. OPP can help members of the public, including landowners, environmental justice communities, Tribal members and others, access publicly available information and navigate Commission processes. For public inquiries and assistance with making filings such as interventions, comments, or requests for rehearing, the public is encouraged to contact OPP at (202) 502-6595, or at *[email protected].*
You may also register online at *http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp* to be notified via email of new filings and issuances related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support.
n. The applicant must file no later than 60 days from the issuance date of this notice: (1) a copy of the water quality certification; (2) a copy of the request for certification, including proof of the date on which the certifying agency received the request; or (3) evidence of a waiver of water quality certification.
o. *Procedural schedule:* The application will be processed according to the following schedule. Revisions to the schedule will be made as appropriate.
| Milestones | Target date |
| --- | --- |
| Deadline for filing comments, recommendations, terms and conditions, and prescriptions | February 17, 2025. |
| Deadline for filing reply comments | April 3, 2025. |
p. Final amendments to the application must be filed with the Commission no later than 30 days from the issuance date of this notice.
Dated: December 19, 2024.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Secretary.