AGENCY INFORMATION

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• Qualified Preparers for
  Informed Growth Act
• Hydropower Licensing Projects
• More Special Projects

Introduction and Purpose         

            Under the Federal Power Act, the Federal Energy Regulation Commission (FERC) is responsible for licensing hydroelectric power projects.  FERC’s hydro licensing process involves consultation with state agencies, which may recommend license terms and conditions to FERC to protect and enhance water quality, fisheries resources, public recreation, renewable energy production, and other public interests.  In addition, under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) (or the Land Use Regulation Commission in the unorganized area of the State) has independent authority to issue water certification to ensure that a hydro project will meet state water quality requirements.  When FERC issues a license for a hydro project, the terms and conditions in the state water quality certification become part of that federal license.

 

            The main purposes of this website are to:

• provide information to members of the public on the status of hydropower projects that have begun the process for obtaining a license from FERC; and
• facilitate informed public comment to state agencies and/or FERC on plans, studies, terms and conditions to be recommended by state agencies for inclusion in the FERC license.

 For information on project status, click on the appropriate link:

• Status of Projects Currently Engaged in the FERC Licensing Process
• Status of Projects in Appeal or Reconsideration

 

Public Notices:

• Status of Tidal Power Project Proposals in Maine; as of November 1, 2006 (Microsoft Word 42KB, PDF 15KB)
• Corriveau Hydroelectric Project (FERC Docket number P-12629-000) (Corriveau Project).
• Kennebec Tidal Energy Hydroelectric Project (Docket number 12666-000) Kennebec River between Chops Point and West Chops Point, in Sagadahoc County
• Maine Tidal Energy Company, Tidal Energy Hydroelectric Project (Docket number 12668-000) Penobscot River west of Verona Island, in Hancock County
• New Hampshire Tidal Energy Company Portsmouth Area Tidal Energy Hydroelectric Project (Docket number 12664-000) located in the Piscataqua River in Rockingham and Strafford Counties New Hampshire and York County, Maine

 

Contacts for Maine agencies involved in hydro licensing:

• State Hydropower Coordinator (For general information on state agencies’ participation in the FERC process and interagency coordination)  

• State Water Quality Certification Coordinator (for general information on Maine’s water quality certification process)

• Department of Marine Resources (anadromous fisheries and other marine resources) 

• Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (freshwater fisheries, wildlife, wetlands and related issues) 

• State Planning Office: 

            Office of Energy Independence and Security (energy production; renewable energy) 

            Office of Floodplain Management (flood control) 

• Department of Conservation (boating; public recreation) 

• State Historic Preservation Office (archeological and historic resources)
• Maine Atlantic Salmon Commission
• Land Use Regulation Commission
• Public Utilities Commission

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To contact FERC, learn more about its hydro licensing process, or review and retrieve documents from FERC’s on-line libraries, follow one of the links below:

•  FERC e library Page
•  FERC Hydropower Page