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Via Electronic Filing July 9, 2019 Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary

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Via Electronic Filing July 9, 2019 Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary Appalachian Power Company P. O. Box 2021 Roanoke, VA 24022-2121 aep.com Via Electronic Filing July 9, 2019 Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 888 First Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20426 Subject: Niagara Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 2466-034) Filing of Proposed Study Plan for Relicensing Studies Dear Secretary Bose: Appalachian Power Company (Appalachian or Applicant), a unit of American Electric Power (AEP) is the Licensee, owner, and operator of the run-of-river 2.4 megawatt (MW) Niagara Hydroelectric Project (Project No. 2466-034) (Project or Niagara Project), located on the Roanoke River in Roanoke, Virginia. The Project is located at approximate river mile 355 on the Roanoke River, approximately 6 miles southeast of the City of Roanoke, Roanoke County, Virginia. The reservoir formed by the Project is approximately 2 miles long and includes the confluence with Tinker Creek. The existing license for the Project was issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) for a 30-year term, with an effective date of April 4, 1994 and expires February 29, 2024. Accordingly, Appalachian is pursuing a new license for the Project pursuant to the Commission’s Integrated Licensing Process (ILP), as described at 18 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 5. In accordance with 18 CFR §5.11 of the Commission’s regulations, Appalachian is filing the Proposed Study Plan (PSP) describing the studies that the Licensee is proposing to conduct in support of relicensing the Project. Appalachian filed a Pre-Application Document (PAD) and associated Notice of Intent (NOI) with the Commission on January 28, 2019, to initiate the ILP. The Commission issued Scoping Document 1 (SD1) for the Project on March 26, 2019. SD1 was intended to advise resource agencies, Indian tribes, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders as to the proposed scope of FERC’s Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Project and to seek additional information pertinent to the Commission’s analysis. On April 24 and 25, 2019, the Commission held public scoping meetings in Vinton, Virginia. During these meetings, FERC staff presented information regarding the ILP and details regarding the study scoping process and how to request a relicensing study, including the Commission’s study criteria. In addition, FERC staff solicited comments regarding the scope of issues and analyses for the EA. Pursuant to 18 CFR §5.8(d), a public site visit of the Project was conducted on April 24, 2019. Niagara Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 2466-034) Filing of Proposed Study Plan for Relicensing Studies July 9, 2019 Page 2 of 3 Resource agencies, Indian tribes, and other interested parties were afforded a 60-day period to request studies and provide comments on the PAD and SD1. The comment period was initiated with the Commission’s March 26, 2019 notice and concluded on May 25, 2019. During the comment period, a total of twelve stakeholders filed letters with the Commission providing general comments, comments regarding the PAD, comments regarding SD1, and/or study requests. Proposed Study Plan Appalachian has evaluated all the study requests and comments submitted by the stakeholders, with a focus on the requests that specifically addressed the seven criteria for study requests as set forth at 18 CFR §5.9(b) of the Commission’s ILP regulations. For the study requests that did not address the seven study criteria, where appropriate, Appalachian considered the study in the context of providing the requested information in conjunction with one or more of Appalachian’s proposed studies. The purpose of the PSP is to present the studies that are being proposed by Appalachian and to address the comments and study requests submitted by resource agencies and other stakeholders. The PSP also provides FERC, regulatory agencies, Indian tribes, and other stakeholders with the methodology and details of Appalachian’s proposed studies. At this time, Appalachian is proposing to conduct the following studies as described in detail in the PSP: 1. Flow and Bypass Reach Aquatic Habitat Study; 2. Water Quality Study; 3. Fish Community Study; 4. Benthic Aquatic Resources Study; 5. Wetlands, Riparian, and Littoral Habitat Characterization Study; 6. Shoreline Stability Assessment Study; 7. Recreation Study; and 8. Cultural Resources Study. Appalachian is filing the PSP with the Commission electronically and is distributing this letter to the parties listed on the attached distribution list. For parties listed on the attached distribution list who have provided an email address, Appalachian is distributing this letter via email; otherwise, Appalachian is distributing this letter via U.S. mail. All parties interested in the relicensing process may obtain a copy of the PSP electronically through FERC’s eLibrary system at https://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/search/fercgensearch.asp under docket number P-2466-034, or on Appalachian’s website at http://www.aephydro.com/HydroPlant/Niagara. If any party would like to request a CD containing an electronic copy of the PSP, please contact the undersigned at the information listed below. Comments on the PSP, including any additional or revised study requests, must be filed within 90 days of the filing date of this PSP which is no later than October 7, 2019. Comments must include an explanation of any study plan concerns, and any accommodations reached with Appalachian Niagara Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 2466-034) Filing of Proposed Study Plan for Relicensing Studies July 9, 2019 Page 3 of 3 regarding those concerns (18 CFR §5.12). Any proposed modifications to this PSP must address the Commission’s criteria as presented in 18 CFR §5.9(b). As necessary, after the comment period closes, Appalachian will prepare a Revised Study Plan (RSP) that will address interested parties’ comments to the extent practicable. Pursuant to the ILP, Appalachian will file the RSP with the Commission on or before November 6, 2019, and the Commission will issue a final Study Plan Determination (SPD) by December 6, 2019. Initial Proposed Study Plan Meeting In accordance with 18 CFR §5.11(e) of the Commission’s regulations, Appalachian intends to hold an initial Proposed Study Plan Meeting (PSP Meeting) to describe the background, concepts, and study methods described in the PSP. The PSP Meeting will begin at 9:00 AM on August 1, 2019 at the Jefferson Center, located at 541 Luck Avenue, Suite 221, Roanoke, Virginia 24016. To assist with meeting planning and logistics, Appalachian respectfully requests that individuals or organizations who plan to attend the meeting please RSVP by sending an email to me at [email protected] on or before July 25, 2019. If there are any questions regarding the PSP or PSP Meeting, please do not hesitate to contact me at (614) 716-2240 or the e-mail address above. Sincerely, Jonathan M. Magalski Environmental Specialist Consultant American Electric Power Services Corporation Enclosure Niagara Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 2466) Distribution List Federal Agencies Office of the Solicitor US Department of the Interior Mr. John Eddins 1849 C Street, NW Archaeologist/Program Analyst Washington, DC 20240 Advisory Council on Historic Preservation 401 F Street NW, Suite 308 Ms. Lindy Nelson Washington, DC 20001-2637 Regional Environmental Officer, Office of [email protected] Environmental Policy & Compliance US Department of the Interior, Philadelphia Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Region 195 Hemphill Knob Road Custom House, Room 244 Asheville, NC 28803 200 Chestnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19106 Park Headquarters Blue Ridge Parkway Ms. Barbara Rudnick 199 Hemphill Knob Road NEPA Team Leader - Region 3 Asheville, NC 28803-8686 US Environmental Protection Agency 1650 Arch Street Ms. Kimberly Bose Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029 Secretary Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Mr. Martin Miller 888 1st St NE Chief, Endangered Species - Northeast Washington, DC 20426 Region (Region 5) US Fish and Wildlife Service FEMA Region 3 300 Westgate Center Drive 615 Chestnut Street Hadley, MA 01035 One Independence Mall, Sixth Floor Philadelphia, PA 19106-4404 Ms. Cindy Schulz Field Supervisor, Virginia Field Office George Washington and Jefferson National US Fish and Wildlife Service Forest 6669 Short Lane 5162 Valleypointe Parkway Gloucester, VA 23061 Roanoke, VA 24019 Mr. John McCloskey Mr. John Bullard US Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Administrator [email protected] NOAA Fisheries Service Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office Mr. Richard C. McCorkle 55 Great Republic Drive Fish and Wildlife Biologist, Pennsylvania Field Gloucester, MA 01930-2276 Office US Fish and Wildlife Service Mr. John A. Bricker 110 Radnor Road, Suite 101 State Conservationist State College, PA 16801 US Department of Agriculture [email protected] Natural Resources Conservation Service 1606 Santa Rosa Road, Suite 209 Ms. Elizabeth Merz Richmond, VA 23229-5014 US Forest Service 3714 Highway 16 Mr. Harold Peterson Marion, VA 24354 Bureau of Indian Affairs US Department of the Interior 545 Marriott Dr, Suite 700 Nashville, TN 37214 [email protected] 2 Niagara Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 2466) Distribution List Mr. Mark Bennett Mr. Jess Jones Center Director Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Center VA and WV Water Science Center Virginia Tech US Geological Survey 1B Plantation Road John W. Powell Building Blacksburg, VA 24061 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive Reston, VA 20192 Mr. Ralph Northam [email protected] Governor Office of the Governor
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