[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 140 (Thursday, July 21, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47380-47381]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-17220]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 77-282]
Pacific Gas and Electric Company; Notice of Application Accepted
for Filing, Soliciting Comments, Motions To Intervene, and Protests
Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been
filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection:
a. Type of Application: Application for Temporary Variance of
Minimum Flow Requirements.
b. Project No.: 77-282.
c. Date Filed: July 6, 2016.
d. Applicant: Pacific Gas and Electric Company (licensee).
e. Name of Project: Potter Valley Project.
f. Location: Eel River and East Fork Russian River in Lake and
Mendocino Counties, California.
g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791(a)-825(r).
h. Applicant Contact: Ms. Elizabeth Rossi, Senior License
Coordinator, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Mail Code: N13E, P.O.
Box 770000, San Francisco, CA 94177, Phone: (415) 973-2032.
i. FERC Contact: Mr. John Aedo, (415) 369-3335, or
[email protected].
j. Deadline for filing comments, motions to intervene, protests,
and recommendations is 30 days from the issuance date of this notice by
the Commission (August 15, 2016). The Commission strongly encourages
electronic filing. Please file motions to intervene, protests,
comments, or recommendations 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. You must include your name and contact information at the
end of your comments. For assistance, please contact FERC Online
Support at [email protected], (866) 208-3676 (toll free), or
(202) 502-8659 (TTY). In lieu of electronic filing, please send a paper
copy to: Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First
Street NE., Washington, DC 20426. Please include the project number (P-
77-282) on any comments, motions to intervene, protests, or
recommendations filed.
k. Description of Request: The licensee requests a temporary
variance of the minimum flow requirements in the Eel River below Scott
Dam and the East Branch of the Russian River. The licensee explains
that Lake Pillsbury only filled to 80 percent this year due to: Dry
spring conditions; the April 1, 2016 closure schedule of the spillway
gates for dam safety purposes; and minimum and supplemental flow
releases. Therefore, in order to conserve water resources, ensure that
adequate water is available for minimum flow releases and regular water
deliveries later in the year, and avoid Lake Pillsbury bank sloughing
and water turbidity, the licensee proposes to reduce minimum flow
releases at the project. Specifically, the licensee proposes to reduce
flows in the Eel River below Scott Dam from the required 60 cubic feet
per second (cfs) normal year requirement to the 20 cfs critical year
requirement. The licensee
[[Page 47381]]
would also reduce minimum flows in the East Branch Russian River from
the 75 cfs normal year requirement to the 25 cfs dry year requirement,
and possibly the 5 cfs critical year requirement, depending on storage
conditions and in consultation with the resource agencies and
stakeholders. In conjunction with the proposed variance, the licensee
proposes to provide no more than 50 cfs to the Potter Valley Irrigation
District (PVID) through the East Branch Russian River.
The licensee also proposes to establish a Potter Valley Drought
Working Group, comprised of the resource agencies and stakeholders,
which would meet twice monthly during the variance to determine
appropriate release levels within the framework of the proposed
variance. The licensee requests that once a flow is established, that a
24-hour average flow be used as the compliance criteria for the
corresponding compliance point. Finally, the licensee proposes to file
monthly compliance reports with the Commission, and to provide bi-
monthly email reports to the resource agencies and stakeholders.
l. Locations of the Application: A copy of the application is
available for inspection and reproduction at the Commission's Public
Reference Room, located at 888 First Street NE., Room 2A, Washington,
DC 20426, or by calling (202) 502-8371. This filing may also be viewed
on the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/elibrary.asp. Enter the docket number excluding the last three digits
in the docket number field to access the document. 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, call 1-866-208-3676 or email
[email protected], for TTY, call (202) 502-8659. A copy is
also available for inspection and reproduction at the address in item
(h) above.
m. Individuals desiring to be included on the Commission's mailing
list should so indicate by writing to the Secretary of the Commission.
n. Comments, Protests, or Motions To Intervene: Anyone may submit
comments, a protest, or a motion to intervene in accordance with the
requirements of Rules of Practice and Procedure, 18 CFR 385.210, .211,
.214. In determining the appropriate action to take, the Commission
will consider all protests or other comments filed, but only those who
file a motion to intervene in accordance with the Commission's Rules
may become a party to the proceeding. Any comments, protests, or
motions to intervene must be received on or before the specified
comment date for the particular application.
o. Filing and Service of Responsive Documents: Any filing must (1)
bear in all capital letters the title ``COMMENTS'', ``PROTEST'', or
``MOTION TO INTERVENE'' as applicable; (2) set forth in the heading the
name of the applicant and the project number of the application to
which the filing responds; (3) furnish the name, address, and telephone
number of the person protesting or intervening; and (4) otherwise
comply with the requirements of 18 CFR 385.2001 through 385.2005. All
comments, motions to intervene, or protests must set forth their
evidentiary basis and otherwise comply with the requirements of 18 CFR
4.34(b). All comments, motions to intervene, or protests should relate
to project works which are the subject of proposed action. Agencies may
obtain copies of the application directly from the applicant. A copy of
any protest or motion to intervene must be served upon each
representative of the applicant specified in the particular
application. If an intervener files comments or documents with the
Commission relating to the merits of an issue that may affect the
responsibilities of a particular resource agency, they must also serve
a copy of the document on that resource agency. A copy of all other
filings in reference to this application must be accompanied by proof
of service on all persons listed in the service list prepared by the
Commission in this proceeding, in accordance with 18 CFR 4.34(b) and
385.2010.
Dated: July 15, 2016.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-17220 Filed 7-20-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P