Brookfield Seeks New License for Maine's Lewiston Falls Hydro Project
Published Date: 2/5/2025
Notice
Summary
Brookfield White Pine Hydro LLC wants a new license to run the Lewiston Falls Hydroelectric Project on the Androscoggin River in Maine. The public can join in by sharing their thoughts or concerns by March 31, 2025. This process could affect local communities and the environment, so it’s a big deal for anyone near Lewiston, Auburn, and Durham.
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Project Minimum Flow and Current Releases
The current license requires Brookfield to release a minimum flow of 1,430 cubic feet per second (cfs) or inflow, whichever is less. Brookfield states it meets this requirement by releasing 50 cfs to the Lewiston Canal System and 1,380 cfs to the river downstream of the project.
File Scoping Comments and Intervene by March 31
You can file scoping comments, protests, or a motion to intervene in the Lewiston Falls licensing proceeding. All comments, motions to intervene, and protests must be received on or before March 31, 2025, and the Commission encourages electronic filing through its eFiling or eComment systems.
Public Scoping Meetings on February 19, 2025
You may attend two public scoping meetings on February 19, 2025 (9:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. EST and 7:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m. EST) at the Hampton Inn Lewiston/Auburn (15 Lincoln Street, Lewiston, Maine) to provide oral or written scoping comments for the Lewiston Falls Project.
Environmental Site Review — RSVP by February 10
An environmental site review of the Lewiston Falls Project will begin at 8:00 a.m. on February 20, 2025; meeting suggested at the Hampton Inn Lewiston/Auburn to carpool. If you plan to attend, you must RSVP to Brookfield's Luke Anderson by February 10, 2025.
Project Boundary Change: 0.08 Acre Removed
The licensee proposes to remove a privately owned, non-project building near the Canal Gatehouse from the project boundary, reducing the project boundary by 0.08 acre and leaving 237.88 acres within the project boundary.
NEPA and Processing Schedule Through October 2026
The Commission's anticipated processing schedule lists key dates: Scoping Document 1 issued January 2025; scoping comments due March 2025; Notice of Ready for Environmental Analysis in August 2025; agency comments due October 2025; Commission issues draft NEPA document in April 2026 and final NEPA document in October 2026.
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