FERC Environmental Assessment for Ruedi Hydroelectric Project Amendment

FR: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Published March 31st, 2026

Detected March 31st, 2026

Summary

FERC has released an Environmental Assessment (EA) for City of Aspen's non-capacity license amendment application for the Ruedi Hydroelectric Project No. 3603 in Colorado. The proposed amendments include construction of a new powerhouse, penstock extensions, a 1.2-megawatt turbine/generator unit, tailrace, and bypass line. Staff concluded the amendments would not constitute a major federal action significantly affecting the human environment. Public comments are due April 27, 2026.

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What changed

Commission staff prepared an EA analyzing the potential environmental effects of the proposed license amendment for the Ruedi Hydroelectric Project located at Ruedi Dam on the Fryingpan River in Pitkin and Eagle counties, Colorado. The amendment involves constructing a 22 by 28-foot powerhouse, adding 110 feet of new 30-inch penstock, installing a second turbine and generator unit (1.2-megawatts), building a new 48 by 48-inch, 60-foot concrete tailrace, adding a 24-inch bypass line, and modernizing the electrical system. Staff concluded the proposed amendment with appropriate environmental protective measures would not constitute a major federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment.

Stakeholders should submit public comments by April 27, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time using the Commission's eFiling system or eComment system. Comments may also be filed in paper format addressed to Debbie-Anne A. Reese, Secretary, FERC. All filings should include docket number P-3603-018. The EA may be accessed via the Commission's eLibrary system using docket number P-3603.

What to do next

Submit public comments by April 27, 2026 5:00 p.m. ET using FERC's eFiling or eComment system
Include docket number P-3603-018 on all comment filings
Access and review the EA on FERC's eLibrary system (docket P-3603) to inform comment submissions

Source document (simplified)

Notice

City of Aspen; Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment

A Notice by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on 03/31/2026

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Public Inspection Published Document: 2026-06200 (91 FR 15991) Document Headings ###### Department of Energy

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Project No. 3603-018 In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (Commission or FERC) regulations, 18 CFR part 380, Commission staff reviewed City of Aspen's application for a non-capacity amendment of license for the Ruedi Hydroelectric Project No. 3603 and have prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the project. [1 ] The licensee proposes to build a 22 by 28-foot powerhouse, add an additional 110 feet of new 30-inch penstock, install a second turbine and generator unit with the capacity of 1.2-megawatts, [2 ] construct a new 48 by 48-inch, 60-foot concrete tailrace, add a 24-inch diameter bypass line within the powerhouse, and modernize the electrical system. The project is located at the Ruedi Dam and reservoir of the U.S. Department of Interior's Bureau of Reclamation on the Fryingpan River in Pitkin and Eagle counties, Colorado.

The EA contains Commission staff's analysis of the potential environmental effects of the proposed amendment, alternatives to the proposed action, and concludes that the proposed amendment, with appropriate environmental protective measures, would not constitute a major federal action that would significantly affect the quality of the human environment.

The EA may be viewed on the Commission's website at http://www.ferc.gov using the “eLibrary” link. Enter the docket number (P-3603) in the docket number field to access the document. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll-free at 1-866-208-3676, or for TTY, (202) 502-8659.

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, contact FERC Online Support.

All comments must be filed by April 27, 2026 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file comments 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. 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, 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, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852. The first page of any filing should include docket number P-3603-018.

For public inquiries and assistance with making filings such as interventions, comments, or requests for rehearing, contact the Office of Public Participation at (202)502-6595 or OPP@ferc.gov.

For further information, contact Maryam Akhavan at (202) 502-6110 or Maryam.Akhavan@ferc.gov.

(Authority: 18 CFR 2.1.)

Dated: March 26, 2026.

Debbie-Anne A. Reese,

Secretary.

Footnotes

                     The unique identification number for documents relating to this environmental review is EAXX-019-20-000-1753700984.

Back to Citation 2.

                     The proposed increase in capacity is less than the threshold for a capacity amendment ([18 CFR 4.201(b)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-18/section-4.201#p-4.201(b)) (2025)).

Back to Citation [FR Doc. 2026-06200 Filed 3-30-26; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717-01-P

Published Document: 2026-06200 (91 FR 15991)