Small/Low-Impact Hydropower Projects - File Preliminary Information

Conduit and 10-MW Exemptions (4.38(b))

You must provide certain information to stakeholders and the Commission so these entities can understand the proposed project, identify any environmental issues, identify any information needs or studies, and provide meaningful comments and recommendations on the proposed project. The information to be provided is specified in section (4.38(b)) of the Commission's regulations and is usually consolidated into a single document called an Initial Consultation Document (ICD).

For the Initial Consultation Document (ICD) template, see: Conduit ICD Template or 10-MW ICD Template.

Licenses (5.5) - (5.6)

Applicants for a license must file a Notice of Intent (NOI), Pre-Application Document (PAD), and a request to use the TLP or Alternative Licensing Process (ALP) with the Commission. From experience, most applicants for small, low-impact projects have preferred to use the TLP.  Therefore, that is the information we have provided here.

For a Notice of Intent (NOI), Pre-Application Document (PAD), and TLP Request template, see: NOI Template |  PAD Template |  TLP Request Template

Applicants must provide public notice the filing of the NOI, PAD, and request to use the TLP no later than the filing date of the NOI in a daily or weekly newspaper in each county in which the project would be located. Applicants must also provide a copy of the TLP request to all stakeholders likely to be interested in the project and must ask for comments on the request to be filed with the Commission within 30 days of the filing date of the request.

For a public notice template and TLP Request Notice template example, see: Public Notice Template and TLP Request Newspaper Notice Template