LIHI Certificate #65 - Medway Hydroelectric Project, Maine
Project Name | Medway |
LIHI Certificate No. | 65 |
LIHI Certificate Term | June 1, 2015 - June 1, 2020, extended to March 15, 2021 |
Owner | Black Bear Hydro Partners LLC |
State | Maine |
Location | Located at river mile 0.7 on the West Branch of the Penobscot River in Medway, Maine. |
Installed Capacity | 3.44 MW |
Average Annual Generation | 30,402 MWh |
Facility Type | Run-of-river |
FERC No. | P-2666 issued 1999, expires 2029 |
Certification History
December 1, 2020: The Low Impact Hydropower Institute has received a complete application for Low Impact recertification of the Medway Project. The complete application can be found below.
LIHI is seeking public comment on these applications. Comments that are directly tied to specific LIHI criteria (flows, water quality, fish passage, etc.) will be most helpful, but all comments will be considered. Comments may be submitted to the Institute by e-mail at comments@lowimpacthydro.org with “Medway Project Comments” in the subject line, or by mail addressed to the Low Impact Hydropower Institute, 1167 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington MA 02476. Comments must be received on or before 5 pm Eastern time on January 30, 2021 to be considered. All comments will be posted to the web site and the applicant will have an opportunity to respond. Any response will also be posted.
August 5, 2016: LIHI Executive Director Michael J. Sale, using authority delegated from the LIHI Governing Board, has issued a Preliminary Certification Decision that the Medway Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. P-2666) satisfies the LIHI Certification Criteria. This Preliminary Certification Decision includes one facility-specific condition, as follows:
Condition 1. The Owner shall be proactive in contacting the MIFWS a minimum of 30 days prior to any planned drawdown of the impoundment that would expose a significant portion of the river bottom, to determine if any special measures are needed to avoid or minimize adverse impacts to state-threatened mussels that may be in the impoundment. The Owner shall work with the MIFWS to implement appropriate mitigation measures should they be needed. The Owner shall advise LIHI of any such events, including the results of any activities conducted to minimize such impacts. Such notification shall be provided as part of the annual compliance statement to LIHI.
As provided for in Section 4.2.5 of the LIHI 2nd Edition, the Preliminary Certification Decision to certify, along with the Application Reviewer’s report and (if prepared) report of the Executive Director, will be posted on the Institute’s Web page for 30 days. Notice of the posting will be provided to all individuals or organizations that commented on the initial Application Package.
Any Commenter may submit a letter to the Executive Director requesting an appeal within the 30-day period. The appeal request must state specific reasons why the hydropower facility should have failed one or more criteria. If an individual or organization did not comment on the initial Application Package, they may not file an appeal. Further information about the LIHI appeal process is available in the LIHI Handbook, available at https://lowimpacthydro.org/certification-program-html/.
If no appeal is requested within the 30-day period, the Executive Director will issue LIHI Certification for the facility and post a notification of certification on the Institute’s website. Once final, the effective certification date for the Medway Project is June 1, 2015 for a five (5) year term, which will expire on June 1, 2020.
December 11, 2015: The Low Impact Hydropower Institute has received a complete application for a new term of Low Impact Certification for the Medway Hydroelectric project. The application materials can be found in the Files section below.
The public comment period for this application closed on February 12, 2016.
January 28, 2011: The Medway Hydroelectric Project has been certified as low impact for a five year term, effective June 1, 2010 and expiring June 1, 2015.
August 2, 2010: Public comment period for the application for certification has been closed.
June 2, 2010: Black Bear Hydro Partners has submitted an application for certification of the Medway Hydroelectric Project. The public comment period on the application will remain open for 60 days.