HomeMy WebLinkAbout03.04.20 Email from FERC - Letter to CA Office of Historic Preservation RE Designation of Non-Federal Representative ... under Bucks Creek Project under P-619
FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION
Washington, D. C. 20426
OFFICE OF ENERGY PROJECTS
Project No. 619-000-California
Bucks Creek Project
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
March 4, 2020
VIA FIRST CLASS MAIL
Ms. Julianne Polanco
State Historic Preservation Officer
California Office of Historic Preservation
1725 23rd Street, Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95816
Subject: Designation of non-federal representative for consultation under the National
Historic Preservation Act
Dear Ms. Polanco:
By letter dated December 10, 2019 (attached), Pacific Gas and Electric Company,
licensee for the Bucks Creek Project No. 619, requested designation as our non-federal
representative for the purpose of consultation with the California State Historic
Preservation Officer (California SHPO), appropriate Indian Tribes, and other consultation
parties, pursuant to section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).
The licensee proposes to upgrade the low-level outlet works at the Grizzly
Forebay Dam. Among the proposed activities, the licensee would remove the current
flow control valve, demolish the existing concrete encased piping, install new low-level
outlet piping and valve, and construct redirection features. The work would also involve
temporarily closing the intake works and installing a bypass pumping system to maintain
instream flow releases. The work is expected to occur during July and August 2020. The
project is located on the North Fork Feather River, Bucks Creek, and Grizzly Creek in
Plumas County, California.
By this letter, we designate the licensee as our non-federal representative for the
purpose of conducting consultation with the California SHPO, appropriate Indian tribes,
and other consultation parties pursuant to the regulations at 36 C.F.R. §800.2(c)(4)
implementing section 106 of the NHPA. As our non-federal representative, the licensee
Project No. 619-000 - 2 -
can perform tasks in support of our compliance with section 106. Such tasks may
include, for example: performing cultural resource surveys and studies, determining
areas of potential effect, identifying eligible properties, determining any adverse effects
to those properties, proposing mitigation to address adverse effects if needed, and
developing a draft Memorandum of Agreement in order to memorialize any proposed
mitigation. However, the Commission remains ultimately responsible for all findings and
determinations made pursuant to section 106.
We appreciate your assistance with section 106 consultation regarding the
proposed work at the Bucks Creek Project. If you have any questions concerning this
matter, please contact me at (415) 369-3335 or by email at john.aedo@ferc.gov.
Sincerely,
John Aedo
Fishery Biologist
Division of Hydropower
Administration and Compliance
cc: VIA SERVICE LIST
Ms. Debbie Powell
Senior Director
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Mail Code: N13E
P.O. Box 770000
San Francisco, CA 94177