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HomeMy WebLinkAbout065-010-001\ ' . ' | | | | / ^ r f � � ` ^ , / ^ ' � . � ' _ ' / f August 22, 1989 Energy Growth Partnership I No. 10 Lombard, Suite 410 San Francisco, CA 94111 CERTIFIED MAIL LJ -1-1- P _ L A N D O F N A T U R A L W E A L T H A N D B E A U T Y PLANNING DEPARTMENT 7 COUNTY CENTER DRIVE - OROVILLE, CALIFORNIA 95965-3397 TELEPHONE: (916) 538-7601 Re : Use Pe-rm It., -A-P 065-0-1 -0-001 , etc. Gentlemen: En=losed Is your validated Use Permit No. 88-44 to allow -an 11.9 MW hydroelectric project on property zoned TM -20 and TM -40 Iccated on DeSa-bla Powerhouse Road, 1800 feet west of the Skyway, DeSabla area. .Should you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact this office between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Sincerely, K rcher Director of Planning BAK:Ir Enc. CC: Department of Public Works (2) Environmental Health Department of Forestry USE PERMIT BUTTE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS August 22, 19-89 DATE: (Certified Mail Rec.) 88-44 PERMIT NO. AP 065-01-01,. 3,31,33,34,35 ASSESSOR'S PARCEL NO. Pursuant to the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance of the County of Butte and the special conditions set forth below: Energy Growth Partnership I is hereby granted• a Use Permit in accordance with application filed: January 15, 1988 to allow an 11.9 MW hydroelectric project, on property zoned TM -20 & 40, located on DeSabla Powerhouse Road, 1800 feet west of the Skyway, DeSabla area. 1. Failure to comply with the conditions specified herein as the basis for approval of application and issuance of Permit, constitutes cause for the revocation of said permit in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Butte County Zoning Enabling Ordinance. 2. Unless otherwise provided for in a condition to a use permit, all conditions must be completed by the permittee within 12 months of the delivery of the countersigned permit to the permittee. 3. If any use for which a use permit has been granted is not established within one year of the date of receipt of the countersigned permit by the permittee, the permit shall be come null and void and reapplication shall be required to establish the use. SPECIAL CONDITIONS: 1. For safety purposes DeSabla Powerhouse Road shall be blocked to prevent public traffic during the time of construction and a sign explaining alternative access to the Butte Creek Canyon shall be provided. 2. Doe Mill Road or any other public right-of-way used for access to the project site shall be improved by the property owners or their representative to allow the safe negotiation of all construction vehicles and other vehicles pertaining to the project, and such improvements shall meet the standards set forth by Chapter 20 of the Butte County Code, Standard Number RS -7. Such roadway improvements as mentioned above shall be completed within four weeks after the start of any construction on the proposed project. RS -7 is to be considered an acceptable roadway standard and those portions of pubic roadway used for access to the proposed project which does not meet such a standard shall be improved.. DeSabla Powerhouse Road shall be improved to Bureau of Land Management standards as set forth by the adopted EIR for the project. 3. Doe Mill Road and other public right-of-way used for access to the project site shall be maintained at all times during the construction period of the proposed project to the standards set forth by Chapter 20 of the Butte County Code, Standard Number RS - 7. DeSabla Powerhouse Road shall be maintained at all times during the construction period to the standards of BLM as set forth by the adopted EIR for the project. 4. Existing County roads used for access to the project site damaged as a direct result of the construction and maintenance activities related to the project will be repaired to a condition equal to or better than their condition prior to construction or maintenance activities which left the damage. 5. Meet the requirements of the Butte County Environmental Health Division, including: a. Provide portable toilets at construction sites and have them serviced and pumped by a licensed septic tank pumper. b. No permanent toilet facilities shall be permitted. C. All fuel storage, or hazardous materials storage shall meet all state and County regulations. Any underground storage .shall be constructed under permit and inspection from the Butte County Division of Environmental Health. 6. The property owners or their representative shall provide information to the Butte County Environmental Health Division of types and sizes of fuel storage facilities. Show paving and dik_ng for leak and spill protection on all above ground fuel tanks prior to the installation of any fuel storage facility. 7. Dust control activities shall be conducted on all access roads to control dust caused by construction vehicles. Those segments of the access roads which front properties or parcels with existing residential uses shall be treated with SC 250 a dust' binder 200 feet past the property lines of such frontages. Watering for dust abatement shall be conducted a minimum of twice daily on all other stretches of access roadways not treated by the SC 250 dust binder. Dust binding shall be implemented at completion of roadway upgrading which shall occur within four weeks after starting construction and shall be installed prior to any work being conducted on the diversion structure. 8. Spoils and tunnel aggregate from the development of the proposed project shall not be stored more than 12 months after completion of the proposed project at the PG&E storage site. The storage site for spoils and tunnel aggregate shall be revegetated at such time of,removing the spoils. FJ 9. In order to minimize the potential for erosion and sedimentation of the creek caused by road improvements on Black Prince Mine access road, standard erosion techniques shall be utilized. The standards of road construction set by the Bureau of Land Management or other regulatory agencies as well as the EIR shall be met. 10. The property owners or their representative shall post a $75,000 maintenance bond, or in lieu thereof, provide a certificate of deposit or annuity, naming the County of Butte the primary depositor to indemnify the County of Butte from any potential damages which may result from the actions or activities of Energy Growth Partnership I or their agents in developing the proposed project. Such bond, or certificate of deposit, or annuity shall be held by Butte County until such time as construction of the hydro electric project proposed is completed. Such maintenance bond or certificate of deposit or annuity shall be submitted for approval by the Butte County Planning Department prior to the issuance of the requested Use Permit. 11. In recognition of the historical nature of the Powerhouse site the property owners or their representative shall install at completion of the project a monument interpreting the local historical significance of the site. Monument style, design and historical content shall be developed by the property owners or their representative to the approval of the Planning Commission. The costs of constructing such a monument shall not exceed $5,000. The design shall incorporate anti -vandalism design concepts. 12. Any disturbed areas caused 'by construction or maintenance activities, or storage of spoils, shall be revegetated as necessary to minimize the potential for erosion. The property owners or their representative will work closely with the Bureau of Land Management, regulatory agencies, and County of Butte to establish specific times for revegetation activities on a site by site basis. All aspects of the erosion control plan outlined in Appendix III of the Supplement to the Environmental Impact Report, State Clearing House #83013001 shall be strictly adhered to. 13. All recreation and aesthetic impacts of the project shall be mitigated by: a. The diversion dam shall be grouted with native boulders, placed in an irregular, natural design to reflect the natural setting as much as possible. Design concepts shall be to the approval of the Bureau of Land Management landscape architect. b. Adit slopes shall be revegetated with native vegetation as soon as possible to reduce the effect of fresh cuts. C. To insure unhampered public access to Butte Creek at the powerhouse site a trail and stairs shall be provided -as approved by the.Bureau of Land Management. d. Energy Growth Partnership I has agreed to the following improvements to recreational facilities in the project vicinity. All improvements shall be made in accordance to agreements made between the project proponent, BLM, and the Butte Creek Trail Council. Butte Creek Trail Council in accordance to a memorandum of understanding with the BLM will administer the recreation fund identified below: 1. Footbridge repair: Two footbridges crossing unnamed creeks in the first mile of the Butte Creek trail will be rebuilt. 2. Parking area development: A parking area will be developed adjacent -to the gravel pit site for the users of the lower Bureau of Land Management trail beginning at the PG&E DeSabla access road. The lot will be gravelled and wheel stops provided. 3. Sinage: Directional signs will be provided to indicate the new Bureau of Land Management parking area and identify the trailhead. 4. Recreation.fund: A $20,000 fund will be set aside for use in trail maintenance and recreation in the future. 5. Gravel pit: The existing gravel pits to be utilized as a tunnel aggregate storage site will be rehabilitated by bringing in topsoils, recontouring and landscaping with native materials. 14. Exposed surfaces of the 100 foot penstock will be finished in a non -reflective natural color to minimize the contrast with surrounding scenery in accordance to the certified EIR for the project. 15. All powerhouse development should meet the Bureau of Land Management land use criteria and any other policies for mitigation measures required to reduce impacts to the aesthetics or recreational value of the canyon. 16. Cultural resource impacts shall be reduced 'by: a. Cultural.resource identified as CA -BUT -868 shall be mitigated by: 1. Performing a limited archival search and personal interviews. Searching PG&E publications, and records for photographs.. and accounts of the site and its constituents. Also interviewing former residents of the site. 2. Locate and map the site remains using the existing topographical data developed for project design. In addition, photograph any and all remains. 3. An evaluation of occupational refuse should be performed. Also evaluate and illustrate, as appropriate, a representative sample of remains recovered from the scatters. 4. Prepare an archaeological report according to professional standards. Submit a report to the Bureau of Land Management, State Historical Preservation Officer, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the County of Butte Planning Department, and Pacific Gas and Electric for review and awareness. Distribute reports among regional libraries for public use. 5. Erect a monument telling of the history of the site upon completion of construction in accordance to Condition 11 of this use permit. 17. To prevent conditions favorable to "keeper hole" development, the diversion structure sha11 be constructed with an irregular top. 18. Pursuant to Section 5937 of the Fish and Game Code, the property owners or their representative shall continually release 47cfs from its intake structure for the maintenance of Butte Creek's fishery and riparian resources. The required stream flow release will occur in an automatic fashion. 19. Water will be measured immediately downstream of the diversion dam via a gauge approved by the Department of Fish and Game, to insure that the required minimum instream flow of 47cfs is released. Such measurement shall be recorded by the project operator and monitored by the California Department of Fish and Game. 20. To prevent fish stranding, increases in the -amount of water diverted shall be gradual and at a rate not to exceed 30% of the total stream flow.per hour. 21. A fish screen acceptable to Fish and Game shall be installed on the intake structure, and shall be properly operated and maintained by the property owners or their representative. 22. The property owners or their representative will, by a method acceptable to the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board, and the Department of Fish and Game, remove sand and sediment from the pool immediately upstream from the intake structure on Butte ' Creek to a site acceptable to the aforementioned agencies. A self-cleaning diversion weir would be an acceptable alternative. 23. At least ninety days prior to start of construction, the property owners or their representative will submit, to the Department of Fish and Game, for its review and approval, engineered drawings for the intake structure, the fish screen, and the powerhouse tail race. These drawings shall be designed by a state -licensed civil engineer. The intake structure shall be designed to pass the 100 year flood flow and the outlet of the fish and water flow release shall be constructed in such a manner that silt and debris does not obstruct the outlet and the release is made accurately, continually, and automatically. The powerhouse tailrace should be designed to prevent stream bank erosion when water is released from the powerhouse. 24. Pursuant to section 1603 of the Department of Fish and Game Code, the property owners or their representative will, prior to the beginning of the project construction, notify the Department of Fish and Game and enter into a stream bed alteration agreement, not inconsistent with the terms of this agreement, with the department to protect fish and wildlife resources during project construction. 25. The property owners or their representative will for the life of the project,permit access to the.project by agents representing the Department of Fish and Game, without prior notification, to insure proper incorporation in operation of fish and wildlife protection measures. 26. The property owners or their representative will implement any remedial action and/or measures found necessary by the Department of Fish and Game to protect, maintain, or restore fish and wildlife resources adversely impacted as a result of failure to comply in whole or in part in any of these terms and/or conditions for the project. 27. The property owners or their representative will maintain and operate the project in compliance with the above-mentioned terms and conditions and "the adopted EIR regardless of .whether it operates under a license or any other regulatory program of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. 28. The property owners or their representative will incorporate the above-mentioned terms and conditions in any subsequent sale, lease, conveyance or other entitlement use of interest so as to legally assure compliance with said terms and conditions as long as the project generates electrical power. .29. Avoid stream pollution from substances used in construction and operation and from pollutants released upstream at the project area by— a. y—a. Enforce strict on-site handling rules as part of a spill prevention, control, and counter measure plan to be followed during construction and operations.. b. Systematically collect and remove sanitary wastes, used oils, and other contaminants from project job sites and facilities. C. Use chemical toilets at all construction sites to prevent bacterial and nutrient contamination of the creek. d. House all construction equipment to minimize environmental contamination from machinery lubricants and other substances. e. Utilize the intake structure closure device to shut down project diversions and return full flows to the creek to provide maximum dilution flows in case of pollution as a result of spills or other pollution sources upstream. 30. Ponding of water behind the proposed diversion structure shall not exceed 1.25 acres in surface area. 31. The water appropriated shall be limited to the quantity which can be beneficially used and shall not exceed 250 cubic feet per second to be diverted from January 1 through December 31 of each year. 32. Transmission lines shall be designed and constructed in such a way that they are not a hazard to raptors. 33. The property owners or their representatives shall construct the project using an all -tunnel alignment substantially as specified in the Supplement to the Draft Environmental Impact Report dated October 1987 for Application 27815. 34. The State water Resources Control Board reserves jurisdiction over this permit until after the proceeding on Application 28535 of Pacific Gas and Electric Company for the purpose of evaluating the public interests issues to determine whether the public interest requires a reversal of the priorities of rights initiated by Applications 27815 and 28535. 35. All rights and privileges to appropriate water for power purposes under this permit and any subsequently issued license are subject to depletions resulting from future upstream appropriation for domestic and stock watering uses within the watershed. Such rights and privileges under this permit may also be subject to future upstream appropriations for uses within the watershed other than domestic and stock watering if and to the extent that the Board determines, pursuant to water Code Sections 100 and 275, .that the continued exercise of the appropriation for power purposes is unreasonable in light of such proposed uses. Any such determination shall be made only after notice to permittee or licensee of an application for any such future upstream appropriation and the opportunity to be heard; provided, that a hearing, if requested,, may be consolidated with the hearing on such applications. 36. No construction shall be commenced and no water shall be used under this. permit until all necessary federal, state and local J approvals have been obtained, including compliance with any applicable Federal Energy Regulatory Commission requirements. 37. The property owners or their representative must also comply with all other applicable federal, state, and local statutes, ordinances, and regulations as pertaining to the development and maintenance of a hydro -electric project. 38. The property owners or their representative must also adhere to all conditions and mitigation measures.stipulated by the adopted EIR for this project. I hereby declare under penalty of perjury that I have read the foregoing conditions, that they are in fact the conditions which were imposed upon the granting of this u'se permit, and that I agree to abide fully by said conditions. Dated: Applicant NOTE: Issuance of this Use Permit. does not waive requirement of obtaining Building and Health Department permits before starting construction, nor does it waive any other requirements. CC: Department of Public Works (2) Environmental Health Division of Forestry Butte County Board of Supervisors .Chairman n