# Black Canyon Hydro, LLC; Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Seminoe Pumped Storage Project and Public Comment Sessions Soliciting Comments
In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 [^1] and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (Commission) regulations, 18 CFR part 380, the Office of Energy Projects has reviewed the application for license for the Seminoe Pumped Storage Project (FERC No. 14787) and has prepared a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) to evaluate the environmental effects of licensing the 972-megawatt project. The project would be located at the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's (Reclamation) Seminoe Reservoir on the North Platte River in Carbon County, Wyoming, approximately 35 miles northeast of Rawlins, Wyoming. The project would occupy 1,025.94 acres of land managed by Bureau of Land Management (BLM), 77.00 acres managed by Reclamation, and 830 acres of private lands. Reclamation, BLM, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Western Area Power Administration, the Saratoga-Encampment-Rawlins Conservation District, the Medicine Bow Conservation District, and the Carbon County Board of Commissioners participated as cooperating agencies to prepare the EIS.
[^1] National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, amended (Pub. L. 91-190, 42 U.S.C. 4321-4347, as amended by Pub. L. 94-52, July 3, 1975, Pub. L. 94-83, August 9, 1975, Pub. L. 97-258, 4(b), September 13, 1982, Pub. L. 118-5, June 3, 2023, Pub. L. 119-21, July 4, 2025).
The draft EIS contains an analysis of the applicant's proposal and the alternatives for licensing the Seminoe Pumped Storage Project. The draft EIS documents the views of governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, affected Native-American Tribes, the public, the license applicant, and Commission staff.
The Commission provides all interested persons with an opportunity to view and/or print the draft EIS via the internet through the Commission's Home Page ( *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 at *[email protected],* or toll-free at (866) 208-3676, or for TTY, (202) 502-8659.
You may also register online at *https://ferconline.ferc.gov/FERCOnline.aspx* to be notified via email of new filings and issuances related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support.
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, community organizations, 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 *[email protected].*
All comments must be filed on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on January 2, 2026. [^2]
[^2] The Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure provide that if a filing deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday, holiday, or other day when the Commission is closed for business, the filing deadline does not end until the close of business on the next business day. 18 CFR 385.2007(a)(2) (2025). Because the 90-day filing deadline falls on a holiday ( *i.e.,* January 1, 2026), the filing deadline is extended until the close of business on Friday, January 2, 2026.
The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file comments using the Commission's eFiling system at *https://ferconline.ferc.gov/eFiling.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. The first page of any filing should include docket number P-14787-004.
Anyone may intervene in this proceeding based on this draft EIS (18 CFR 380.10). You must file your request to intervene as specified above. [^3] You do not need intervenor status to have your comments considered.
[^3] Interventions may also be filed electronically via the internet in lieu of paper. See the previous discussion on filing comments electronically.
In addition to or in lieu of sending written comments, you are invited to attend a public comment session that will be held to receive comments on the draft EIS. Commission staff will hold two sessions for the purpose of receiving comments on the draft EIS. All interested individuals and entities are invited to attend one or both of the sessions. The dates and times of the sessions are listed below.
**Evening Comment Session**
*Date:* Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
*Time:* 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Mountain Time.
*Location:* Jeffrey Memorial Community Center, 315 West Pine Street, Rawlins, Wyoming 82301.
**Daytime Comment Session**
*Date:* Thursday, November 13, 2025.
*Time:* 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., Mountain Time.
*Location:* Laramie County Library in Cheyenne, 2200 Pioneer Avenue, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82001.
The sessions will begin promptly at their respective start times listed above. There will not be a formal presentation by Commission staff when the session opens, and you may arrive any time after the scheduled start time. Individual oral comments will be taken on a one-on-one basis with a court reporter (with Commission staff present). This format is designed to receive the maximum number of oral comments in a convenient way during the timeframe allotted. If you wish to speak, Commission staff will hand out numbers in the order of your arrival. If a significant number of people are interested in providing oral comments with the court reporter, a time limit may be implemented for each commentor. Although there will not be a formal presentation, Commission staff will be available throughout the comment session to answer your questions about the environmental review process. Please see appendix 1 to this notice for additional information on the session format and conduct. [^4]
[^4] The appendix referenced in this notice will not appear in the *Federal Register* . Copies of the attachment were sent to all those receiving this notice in the mail and are available at *www.ferc.gov* using the “eLibrary” link. For assistance, contact FERC at *[email protected]* or call toll free, (886) 208-3676 or TTY (202) 502-8659.
The primary goal of these comment sessions is to identify the specific environmental issues and concerns with the draft EIS. Comments will be recorded by the court reporter and become part of the public record for this proceeding. Transcripts will be publicly available on FERC's eLibrary system.
It is important to note that the Commission provides equal consideration to all comments received, whether filed in writing or provided orally at a public comment session. Interested parties who choose not to speak or who are unable to attend the draft EIS comment sessions may provide written comments and information to the Commission as described above.
For further information, contact Michael Tust at (202) 502-6522, or *[email protected].*
Dated: September 26, 2025.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Secretary.