HomeMy WebLinkAbout12.30.19 Email from FERC - P-619-167 Bucks Creek Project - Letter to US Fish & Wildlife Service Req. Concurrence with Determinations under Section 7 End. Species Act
FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION
Washington D.C. 20426
OFFICE OF ENERGY PROJECTS
Project No. 619-167—California
Bucks Creek Project
Pacific Gas and Electric Company and
City of Santa Clara
December 30, 2019
VIA USPS FIRST CLASS MAIL
Ms. Jennifer Norris
Field Supervisor
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
2800 Cottage Way
Room W-2605
Sacramento, CA 95825
Subject: Request for concurrence with endangered species determinations under
section 7 of the Endangered Species Act
Dear Ms. Norris:
The purpose of this letter is to request your concurrence with our endangered
species determination under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act for the Bucks Creek
Hydroelectric Project No. 619. The hydroelectric project is located on Bucks Creek,
Grizzly Creek, Milk Ranch Creek, and the North Fork Feather River in Plumas County,
California.
The licensees (Pacific Gas and Electric Company and City of Santa Clara) propose
to dewater Lower Bucks Reservoir to support the installation of a geomembrane liner on
the upstream face of the dam. The proposed action includes: site preparation and
installation of a geomembrane liner on the upstream face of lower Bucks Dam;
preparation and utilization of equipment and material staging areas; an extended
drawdown of Lower Bucks Reservoir; temporarily diverting water from Bucks Creek
around lower Bucks Dam; and temporarily reducing flows in Bucks Creek below Lower
Project No. 619-167 -2-
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Bucks Dam. The effects of the maintenance activities to Sierra Nevada yellow-legged
frog are fully described in an applicant-prepared biological assessment that is linked to
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this document. As you may be aware, the licensees also consulted with your office
previously on a set of protective measures to avoid adverse impacts to listed species as
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part of its relicensing effort. Many of these protective measures are incorporated into
the proposed action and are outlined in the biological assessment.
Since initial preparation of the biological analysis, the licensees have made some
minor changes to its proposed action, which include: removal of a plinth block from the
project design (which eliminates some concrete placement in a dewatered area at the base
of the dam); realignment of a flow bypass line across a cove (discussed in the biological
analysis as a proposed alternative); and an adjustment to the footprint of staging area
number 3 (located in an upland area away from aquatic resources). A detailed and
revised supplemental project description was prepared by the licensees and may also be
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found on the Commission’s eLibrary system. This project description replaces the one
found in the appendix of the August 22, 2019 biological assessment. Nonetheless, these
minor modifications do not alter the biological assessment or its conclusions.
We conclude that the proposed action, with the included best management
practices, “may affect but is not likely to adversely affect” the Sierra Nevada yellow-
legged frog or its critical habitat. Therefore, we do not believe that formal consultation is
required under the Endangered Species Act. Please tell us in writing within 30 days from
the date of receipt of this letter if you do or do not agree with our assessment.
The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file your response
using the Commission’s eFiling system at http://www.ferc.gov/docsfiling/efiling.asp. For
assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, (866)
208-3676 (toll free), or (202) 502-8659 (TTY). In lieu of electronic filing, please send a
paper copy to: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
888 First Street NE, Washington, D.C. 20426. The first page of any filing should include
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A bulleted list of project actions is found in Section 2.5.1 and further detailed in
Section 5.1 of the biological assessment, and also in the supplemental project description.
2
The document is available at:
https://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/common/opennat.asp?fileID=15333492
3
On December 23, 2019, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a biological
opinion for project relicensing.
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The document is available at:
https://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/common/opennat.asp?fileID=15431642
Project No. 619-167 -3-
docket number P-619-167.
Thank you for your assistance. If you have any questions concerning this letter,
please contact Mr. John Aedo at (415) 369-3335 or at john.aedo@ferc.gov.
Sincerely,
Thomas J. LoVullo
Chief, Aquatic Resources Branch
Division of Hydropower Administration
and Compliance