BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 8377-030]
Isabella Partners; Notice of Application for Capacity Amendment Accepted for
Filing, Soliciting Comments, Motions to Intervene, Protests, Recommendations,
Terms and Conditions, and Fishway Prescriptions
Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been filed with the
Commission and is available for public inspection:
a. Application Type:

Capacity Amendment

b. Project No:

8377-030

c. Date Filed:

February 20, 2024

d. Applicant:

Isabella Partners

e. Name of Project:

Isabella Hydroelectric Project

f. Location:

The project is located on the Kern River in Kern County,
California at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps)’
Isabella Dam on lands administered by the Corps of
Engineers.

g. Filed Pursuant to:

Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791a - 825r

h. Applicant Contact:

Ben Singer, P.O. Box 1136, Bozeman, MT 59771,
ben@hydrodynamics.biz, and 406-763-4063

i. FERC Contact:

Zeena Aljibury, (202) 502-6065, zeena.aljibury@ferc.gov

j. Cooperating agencies: With this notice, the Commission is inviting Federal, State,
local, and Tribal agencies with jurisdiction and/or special expertise with respect to

environmental issues affected by the proposal, that wish to cooperate in the preparation of
any environmental document, if applicable, to follow the instructions for filing such
requests described in item l below. Cooperating agencies should note the Commission's
policy that agencies that cooperate in the preparation of any environmental document
cannot also intervene. See 94 FERC ¶ 61,076 (2001).
k. Water Quality Certification: The applicant submitted an application for water quality
certification (WQC) on February 13, 2023 to the California State Water Resources
Control Board (California SWRCB). California SWRCB issued a WQC on February 12,
2024, which is included in the amendment application.
l. Deadline for filing comments, motions to intervene, and protests: July 18, 2024.
The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file comments,
motions to intervene, and protests using the Commission’s eFiling system
at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp. Commenters can submit brief comments
up to 6,000 characters, without prior registration, using the eComment system
at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ecomment.asp. For assistance, please contact FERC
Online Support at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, (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, Acting
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, Acting Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, MD 20852. The first page of any filing should
include the docket number P-8377-030. Comments emailed to Commission staff are not
considered part of the Commission record.

The Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure require all intervenors filing
documents with the Commission to serve a copy of that document on each person whose
name appears 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.
m. Description of Request: Isabella Partners requests approval for a capacity
amendment to the license for the Isabella Hydroelectric Project. Isabella Partners
proposes to construct and operate a new 5-megawatt (MW) generating unit which would
be located in a new 40-foot-by-45-foot concrete structure adjacent to the existing
powerhouse. This would result in an increase of the installed capacity from 12.8 MW to
17.8 MW. Currently, flows greater than the 100 cubic feet per second (cfs) capacity of
Unit 3 and less than the 500 cfs minimum operating range of Units 1 and 2 are discharged
through the existing bypass channel. The proposed 5-MW addition (Unit 4) would allow
Isabella Partners to generate power at flows between 100 and 500 cfs. Water released
from the proposed unit would be discharged through the existing tailrace. Isabella
Partners would continue to operate the Project under the 1993 Army Corps of Engineers
Memorandum of Agreement and there would be no changes in water releases to the Kern
River as a result of the proposed action.
n. Locations of the Application: This filing may 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. 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, call 1-866-208-3676 or e-mail FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, for TTY,
call (202) 502-8659. Agencies may obtain copies of the application directly from the
applicant.
o. Individuals desiring to be included on the Commission's mailing list should so
indicate by writing to the Secretary of the Commission.
p. Comments, Protests, or Motions to Intervene: Anyone may submit comments, a
protest, or a motion to intervene in accordance with the requirements of Rules of Practice
and Procedure, 18 CFR 385.210, .211, .214, respectively. In determining the appropriate
action to take, the Commission will consider all protests or other comments filed, but
only those who file a motion to intervene in accordance with the Commission's Rules
may become a party to the proceeding. Any comments, protests, or motions to intervene
must be received on or before the specified comment date for the particular application.
q. Filing and Service of Documents: Any filing must (1) bear in all capital letters the
title “COMMENTS”, “PROTEST”, or “MOTION TO INTERVENE”, “TERMS AND
CONDITIONS”, OR “FISHWAY PRESCRIPTIONS”, as applicable; (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
commenting, protesting or intervening; and (4) otherwise comply with the requirements
of 18 CFR 385.2001 through 385.2005. All comments, motions to intervene, or protests
must set forth their evidentiary basis and otherwise comply with the requirements of 18
CFR 4.34(b). All comments, motions to intervene, or protests should relate to project
works which are the subject of the amendment. Agencies may obtain copies of the
application directly from the applicant. A copy of any protest or motion to intervene
must be served upon each representative of the applicant specified in the particular

application. If an intervener 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. A copy of
all other filings in reference to this application must be accompanied by proof of service
on all persons listed in the service list prepared by the Commission in this proceeding, in
accordance with 18 CFR 4.34(b) and 385.2010.
r. 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
OPP@ferc.gov.
Dated: June 18, 2024.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Acting Secretary.

[FR Doc. 2024-13930 Filed: 6/25/2024 8:45 am; Publication Date: 6/26/2024]