HomeMy WebLinkAboutFERC - Letter to DWR RE Application for Amendment to License for Feather River Hydroelectric Project Under P-2100-000 Menchaca, Clarissa
From: Bennett, Robin
Sent: Thursday,January 11, 2018 9:12 AM
To: Menchaca, Clarissa
Cc: McCracken, Shari
Subject: FW:General Correspondence issued in FERC P-2100-000
Attachments: 01-11-2018 FERC to CA DWR re Environmental Report filing and due date
20180111-3034(32624679).pdf
Importance: High
The attached is an announcement from FERC regarding instruction to CA DWR to file Exhibit E-Oroville Dam
Environmental Report.
-----Original Message-----
From: 'FERC eSubscription' [mailto:eSubscription@ferc.gov]
Sent:Thursday,January 11, 2018 8:56 AM
Subject: General Correspondence issued in FERC P-2100-000
On 1/11/2018,the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC),Washington D.C., issued this document:
Docket(s): P-2100-000
Lead Applicant: California Department of Water Resources
Filing Type: General Correspondence
Description: Letter to California Department of Water Resources re the application for an amendment to license for
the Feather River Hydroelectric Project under P-2100.
To view the document for this Issuance, click here
http:HeIibrary.FERC.gov/idmws/file_list.asp?accession num=20180111-3034
To modify your subscriptions, click here: https:Hferconline.ferc.gov/eSubscription.aspx
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1
FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION
WASHINGTON,D.C.20426
OFFICE OF ENERGY PROJECTS
Project No. 2100000---California
Feather River Hydroelectric Project
California Department of Water Resources
January 11, 2018
Mr. Ted Craddock
Project Manager
California Department of Water Resources
P.O. Box 942836
Sacramento, CA 94236-0001
Subject: Request for Exhibit E—Environmental Report
Dear Mr. Craddock:
This letter is in regard to your upcoming application for an amendment to the
license for the Feather River Hydroelectric Project No. 2100, and necessary information
to support the application. Several project features are in a state of repair or
enhancement, including the Oroville main spillway and Oroville emergency spillway, as
a result of an above average 2016-2017 water year and the resultant failure of the main
spillway and use of the emergency spillway. To date, the review and approval of
numerous construction projects has been coordinated with the Commission's Division of
Dam Safety and Inspections. Due to the urgent public safety concerns associated with
these repairs, the Commission's review of the response and recovery projects, including
the reconstruction of the main spillway and alteration of the emergency spillway, has
proceeded on an expedited basis and has focused primarily on the engineering aspects of
the construction activities. While environmental effects were considered during the
design and review process; that review was not published in a comprehensive report.
This letter seeks to ensure that you timely file the necessary environmental documents in
order for the Commission's Division of Hydropower Administration and Compliance to
complete its review of the effects of past, present, and future work activities on project
resources.
As stated in our April 20, 2017 letter, the Commission functions as the lead federal
agency for compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act(NEPA). Under
NEPA, the Commission will prepare and publish an environmental document analyzing
Project No. 2100-000 -2-
the known and potential impacts of the response and recovery efforts. To help inform the
preparation of an environmental document, California Department of Water Resources
(California DWR) committed to prepare an environmental resources report (Exhibit E) to
support its application for license amendment to incorporate the construction at the
spillways.
To date, Commission staff have been unable to complete their environmental
review under NEPA because Commission staff have not received the information
contained in California DWR's pending environmental resources report. We have been
informed several times in November and December 2017 that the resource report would
be completed by a specified date and filed in the Commission's record. Unfortunately,
those commitments have passed, and the resource report is still outstanding.
In order to ensure the timely completion of the Commission's environmental
document, we require that you prioritize the completion and filing of the important
environmental resource report. Based on verbal communications with California DWR
staff, it is our understanding that the resource report is nearly complete, and undergoing
internal review and editing.' Therefore, we require that you accelerate your preparation
of the environmental resources report and file it with the Commission no later than
January 25, 2018.
Thank you for your cooperation. If you have any questions concerning this letter,
please contact Mr. John Aedo at (415) 369-3335.
Sincerely,
0��)-/*,"
Thomas J. LoVullo
Chief, Aquatic Resources Branch
Division of Hydropower Administration
and Compliance
On January 5, 8 and 10, 2018, Commission staff spoke with California DWR's
chief of regulatory compliance regarding the status of the resource report.