HomeMy WebLinkAbout09.21.20 Email from FERG Project Safety Compliance Report PGE2020-0921_619_LowerBucksDam_MSR_August
From:Schuman, Amy
To:Alpert, Bruce;Bennett, Robin;Clerk of the Board;Connelly, Bill;Cook, Holly;Lambert, Steve;Lucero, Debra;McCracken, Shari;Paulsen, Shaina;Pickett, Andy;Ring, Brian;Ritter, Tami;
Rodas, Amalia;Sweeney, Kathleen;Teeter, Doug
Subject:Board Correspondence - FW: Project Safety Compliance Report submitted in FERC P-619-000 by Pacific Gas and Electric Company,et al.
Date:Monday, September 21, 2020 3:36:22 PM
Good afternoon,
Please see the email below from FERC.
Amy Schuman
Associate Clerk of the Board
Butte County Administration
25 County Center Drive, Suite 200, Oroville, CA 95965
O: 530.552.3300 |D: 530.552.3308 | F: 530.538.7120
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-----Original Message-----
From: 'FERC eSubscription' <eSubscription@ferc.gov>
Sent: Monday, September 21, 2020 3:25 PM
Subject: Project Safety Compliance Report submitted in FERC P-619-000 by Pacific Gas and Electric Company,et al.
.ATTENTION: This message originated from outside Butte County. Please exercise judgment before opening attachments, clicking on links, or replying..
On 9/21/2020, the following Filing was submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Washington D.C.:
Filer: Pacific Gas and Electric Company
No Organization Found (as Agent)
Docket(s): P-619-000
Lead Applicant: Alabama Power Company
Filing Type: Project Safety Compliance Report
Description: Monthly Construction Status Report No. 4 - Lower Bucks Dam Upstream Geomembrane Project re the Bucks Creek-Grizzly Hydro Project of Pacific Gas and Electric
Company under P-619.
To view the document for this Filing, click here https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_num=20200921-
5190__;!!KNMwiTCp4spf!RmVUratl2VDrvaQ0e1VK_tr0fVy98aD45IsrBUSrZPVlvNXyMk5MAw9vTWI6jH1f-sUxeih67ds$
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tƚǞĻƩ DĻƓĻƩğƷźƚƓ
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Mailing Address:
Mail Code N11D
P.O. Box 770000
San Francisco, CA 94177
September 21, 2020
Via Electronic Submittal (E-File)
Mr. Frank L. Blackett, P.E.
Regional Engineer
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Division of Dam Safety and Inspections
San Francisco Regional Office
100 First Street, Suite 2300
San Francisco, CA 94105
RE: Bucks Creek-Grizzly Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 619)
Monthly Construction Status Report No. 4 Lower Bucks Dam Upstream
Geomembrane Project
Dear Mr. Blackett:
This letter presents Pacific Gas and Monthly Construction
Status Report for the Lower Bucks Dam Upstream Geomembrane Project
Bucks Creek-Grizzly Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 619). A May 7, 2020 letter from the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) provided PG&E authorization to proceed
with the project and also requested that PG&E file monthly reports to document the
progress of construction.
Enclosed you will find a copy of the fourth monthly construction report for the Lower Bucks
Dam Upstream Geomembrane Project, which details the construction activities during the
month of August 2020.
Senior Project Engineer, Jeff Jukkola, at (530) 624-8640. For general questions, please
Jamie Visinoni, at (530) 215-6676.
Sincerely,
Elisabeth Rossi
Supervisor, Hydro Licensing
Enclosure
LOWER BUCKS DAM
UPSTREAM GEOMEMBRANE PROJECT
BUCKS CREEK HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT - FERC NO. 619
CONSTRUCTION MONTHLY STATUS REPORT NO. 4
SEPTEMBER 2020
PREPARED BY: JEFF JUKKOLA, PE
POWER GENERATION DEPARTMENT DATE: SEPTEMBER 17, 2020
Lower Bucks Dam Upstream Geomembrane Project – FERC Project No. 619
September 2020 - Construction Status Report
TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE
I. PROGRESS OF WORK 1
II. STATUS OF CONSTRUCTION 5
III. CONSTRUCTION DIFFICULTIES 5
IV. CONTRACT STATUS 5
V. CRITICAL EVENTS AND DATES 6
VI. FOUNDATIONS 6
VII. SOURCES OF MAJOR CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS 6
VIII. MATERIALS TESTING AND RESULTS 6
IX. INSTRUMENTATION 7
X. PHOTOGRAPHS 7
XI. EROSION CONTROL AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL MEASURES 7
XII. OTHER ITEMS 7
APPENDICES
A. Construction Photographs
Lower Bucks Dam Upstream Geomembrane Project – FERC Project No. 619
September 2020 - Construction Status Report
I.PROGRESS OF WORK
During the fourth month of construction, the following major items of work were performed for
the project:
Continued dewatering of Lower Bucks from shore-based pumps
Development of the reservoir access road on the north shore to the right abutment.
Development of access and excavation on the south shore to the left abutment.
Completion and usage of dewatering filtration system
Mobilization of an Active Treatment System (ATS) to support further dewatering
A more detailed breakdown of the work performed onsite during the reporting period is further
described below:
Week Starting 8/3/20
Continued pumping to dewater reservoir.
End of week water surface elevation was 4958.5’
Carpi Geomembrane Liner Progress:
Carpi Geomembrane Liner Progress (8/3 - 8/9)
Tasks Percent Complete
Geocomposite Delivery 100%
GeoNet Delivery 100%
Fastening Materials Delivery 100%
Mobilization 100%
Drilling Top Seal89%
Completing Top Seal 62%
Drilling Top Submersible Seal 11%
Completing Top Submersible Seal 0%
Internal Tensioning Profiles 38%
Geonet 29%
Geomembrane Face22%
External Tensioning Profiles 4%
Weld Cover Strips Tensioning Profiles 0%
Drainage Plates 0%
Drilling Submersible Seal 17%
Completing Submersible Seal 0%
Demobilization 0%
Overall weighted completion 28%
Lower Bucks Dam Upstream Geomembrane Project – FERC Project No. 619
September 2020 - Construction Status Report
Week Starting 8/10/10
Continued pumping to dewater reservoir.
End of week water surface elevation was 4958.4
Carpi Geomembrane Liner Progress:
Carpi Geomembrane Liner Progress (8/10 - 8/16)
Tasks Percent Complete
Geocomposite Delivery 100%
GeoNet Delivery 100%
Fastening Materials Delivery 100%
Mobilization 100%
Drilling Top Seal 89%
Completing Top Seal 62%
Drilling Top Submersible Seal 50%
Completing Top Submersible Seal 0%
Internal Tensioning Profiles 62%
Geonet 41%
Geomembrane Face 28%
External Tensioning Profiles 8%
Weld Cover Strips Tensioning Profiles0%
Drainage Plates0%
Drilling Submersible Seal 17%
Completing Submersible Seal 0%
Demobilization 0%
Overall weighted completion 35%
Week Starting 8/17/20
Continued pumping to dewater reservoir. Bucks Storage Flows blended with
Pumping/Filtration from Lower Bucks to keep turbidity within compliance.
Approximate blend is 1 cfs from Lower Bucks to 8 cfs from Bucks Lake.
Lighting complex fires begin in the project area on 8/20.
End of week water surface elevation was 4957.2
Lower Bucks Dam Upstream Geomembrane Project – FERC Project No. 619
September 2020 - Construction Status Report
Carpi Geomembrane Liner Progress:
Carpi Geomembrane Liner Progress (8/17 - 8/23)
Tasks Percent Complete
Geocomposite Delivery100%
GeoNet Delivery 100%
Fastening Materials Delivery 100%
Mobilization 100%
Drilling Top Seal 89%
Completing Top Seal 82%
Drilling Top Submersible Seal 64%
Completing Top Submersible Seal 0%
Internal Tensioning Profiles 62%
Geonet 48%
Geomembrane Face 47%
External Tensioning Profiles 13%
Weld Cover Strips Tensioning Profiles0%
Drainage Plates0%
Drilling Submersible Seal 19%
Completing Submersible Seal 0%
Demobilization 0%
Overall weighted completion 44%
Week Starting 8/24/20
Dewatering from Lower Bucks has stopped due to challenges with turbidity. Project
team is making application for an Active Treatment System utilizing flocculent to treat
water.
On 8/26, project team switched to the backup water supply from Three Lakes due to
concerns with the Bucks Lake bypass source conveyance being vulnerable to fire,
constructed of HDPE and approximately two miles in length.
MC Environmental Services mobilization to site to set up ATS
End of week water surface elevation was 4957.3
Lower Bucks Dam Upstream Geomembrane Project – FERC Project No. 619
September 2020 - Construction Status Report
Carpi Geomembrane Liner Progress:
Carpi Geomembrane Liner Progress (8/24 - 8/30)
Tasks Percent Complete
Geocomposite Delivery 100%
GeoNet Delivery 100%
Fastening Materials Delivery 100%
Mobilization 100%
Drilling Top Seal100%
Completing Top Seal 100%
Drilling Top Submersible Seal 64%
Completing Top Submersible Seal 0%
Internal Tensioning Profiles 79%
Geonet 60%
Geomembrane Face 59%
External Tensioning Profiles 31%
Weld Cover Strips Tensioning Profiles15%
Drainage Plates0%
Drilling Submersible Seal 19%
Completing Submersible Seal 0%
Demobilization 0%
Overall weighted completion 52%
Week Starting 8/31/20
On 9/1, fire danger appeared stable, so IFR water delivery was switched back to Bucks
Storage flows with potential to blend with pumping/filtration/ATS from Lower Bucks
for Pumping/Filtration/ATS. Note: Bucks Storage Water recording higher turbidity.
Project Engineer believes this may be due to ash.
On 9/4, pumping commenced using the ATS. System functioning as planned with
favorable turbidity and pH results.
End of week water surface elevation was 4957.5
Lower Bucks Dam Upstream Geomembrane Project – FERC Project No. 619
September 2020 - Construction Status Report
II. STATUS OF CONSTRUCTION
Throughout the month of August, construction has been held up due to issues with dewatering.
Due to challenges with turbidity and reduced pumping, construction is several weeks behind
schedule.
III. CONSTRUCTION DIFFICULTIES
The Bear Fire/North Complex is located on the Mt. Hough Ranger District on the Plumas National
Forest and consists of numerous lightning fires being managed as one incident. The fires were
ignited during a lightning storm that moved over the Plumas National Forest on the morning of
August 17, 2020. The fire exists in remote areas southeast of Bucks Lake about 4 miles and mostly
on the north side of the Middle ForkFeather River. An Evacuation Advisory has been in place
(effective 0900 on Aug 26) for the Bucks Lake area.
Turbidity in the reservoir has caused the dewatering activity to reduce, and eventually stop in late
August. The project team hired MC Environmental Services to support the permitting process and
implementation of an Active Treatment System (ATS). The intent of the ATS will support
removing turbidity from the water allowing pumping to continue and the dewatering effort to
proceed.
IV. CONTRACT STATUS
PG&E GC is the prime contractor on the project. Traditional expertise and equipment are being
used for the project.
Rain for Rent is supporting the gravity bypass pipe, dewatering pumps, and filtration system
construction and maintenance. Rain for Rent is subcontracting to MC Environmental Services for
installation, operation and reporting of the ATS.
Carpi USA Inc is responsible for the geomembrane liner.
Mead & Hunt (M&H) are the EOR for the overall project, providing technical support and is
performing site visits during key elements of construction related to dam safety.
Ballard Marine is off site until the cofferdam is fully exposed. Ballard and Schnabel will support
maintenance and acceptance activities prior to allowing any workers below the cofferdam. Ballard
is subcontracting toSummit Crane (Summit) for crane support, to Schnabel Engineering as the
cofferdam Engineer of Record (EOR), and to Art Anderson as the Marine Architect supporting
barge stability analysis, mooring, etc.
Lower Bucks Dam Upstream Geomembrane Project – FERC Project No. 619
September 2020 - Construction Status Report
V. CRITICAL EVENTS AND DATES
Construction work continues through the reporting period. The following important dates are
noted below;
MAJOR MILESTONE BASELINE FORECAST ACTUAL
Construction Kickoff Meeting4/30/204/30/20
ERTC Issued 5/1/20 5/1/20
All Permits / Concurrence Issued Milestone (FERC) 5/1/20 5/7/20
Begin Mobilization Milestone 5/4/20 5/4/20
Milk Ranch -Install New T and Valves Complete5/18/205/27/20
Bypass Pipeline & Discharge Complete 5/28/20 6/24/20
Barge Pump System Setup Complete 5/28/20 6/9/20
Cofferdam Install Complete 5/28/20 6/18/20
Carpi USA -Liner Installation Mobilization 6/7/20 6/15/20
Filtration System Setup Complete 6/13/20 7/28/20
Nuisance Water System Setup Complete 7/19/20 7/28/20
Draw down of Reservoir Complete 7/19/20 10/1/20
Lakebed Access Roads Start 7/19/20 7/8/20
Sediment Removal at Dam Face Start 8/19/20 7/11/20
Sediment Removal Complete 9/10/20 10/19/20
Sediment Off Haul Complete 9/20/20 10/17/20
Liner Installation Complete 10/7/20 10/7/20
Rewater Reservoir Start 10/8/20 10/15/20
Site Restoration Complete 11/20/20 11/20/20
Demobilize11/30/20 11/30/20
RTS 11/30/20 11/30/20
VI. FOUNDATIONS
There is no foundation work to report during this period.
VII.SOURCES OF MAJOR CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
There are no major construction materials to report during this period.
VIII. MATERIALS TESTING AND RESULTS
There is no material testing to report during this period.
Lower Bucks Dam Upstream Geomembrane Project – FERC Project No. 619
September 2020 - Construction Status Report
IX. INSTRUMENTATION
No permanent instrumentation is being installed as part of this project. Temporary turbidity
monitors have been installed for the duration of the project to monitor baseline for comparison to
a downstream compliance point.
Within the temporary IFR bypass line, instrumentation has been installed to record turbidity, flow
and temperature.
PG&E typically monitors flow through the LLO at Lower Bucks Dam using an Acoustic Velocity
Pipe Flow Meter (AVM) referred to as NF82. Lower Bucks will be temporarily dewatered during
the project, the LLO will not be operational, and IFR deliveries will be routed around the lake and
into Bucks Creek downstream of Lower Bucks Dam. Data continuity is provided by a temporary
stage monitor, located in Bucks Creek downstream of the dam, referred to as NF118. The gage
logs 15-minute record and transmits polls in 5-minute intervals to the Rock Creek Operators Board.
The site was rated using the AVM, from 0-130 cfs.
X. PHOTOGRAPHS
Periodic progress photographs have been taken of work to date. These are generalphotos are
taken during the reporting period and included in Appendix A.
XI. EROSION CONTROL AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL MEASURES
Typical best management practices (BMPs) have been placed around the perimeter of the primary
staging area andwork sites, including gravel bags, and straw wattles. There have been no instances
where sediments or construction materials have left the site nor entered the reservoir or
downstream channel.
XII. OTHER ITEMS
There are no other significant events to report during this period.
Lower Bucks Dam Upstream Geomembrane Project – FERC Project No. 619
September 2020 - Construction Status Report
APPENDIX A
CONSTRUCTION PHOTOGRAPHS
Lower Bucks Dam Upstream Geomembrane Project – FERC Project No. 619
September 2020 - Construction Status Report
8/3/2020: Installing temporary rockfall netting to mitigate risks of rock hazards to
liner contractor at right abutment.
Appendix A – Construction Photographs
Lower Bucks Dam Upstream Geomembrane Project – FERC Project No. 619
September 2020 - Construction Status Report
8/9/2020: GC began excavations on the south side of the dam.
8/12/2020: Filtration pumps and cofferdam starting to show. Gas trapped under pond liner.
Appendix A – Construction Photographs
Lower Bucks Dam Upstream Geomembrane Project – FERC Project No. 619
September 2020 - Construction Status Report
8/15/2020:Looking downstream at the upstream face.
Appendix A – Construction Photographs
Lower Bucks Dam Upstream Geomembrane Project – FERC Project No. 619
September 2020 - Construction Status Report
8/18/2020: Scaffolding at right abutment to support liner installation.
Appendix A – Construction Photographs
Lower Bucks Dam Upstream Geomembrane Project – FERC Project No. 619
September 2020 - Construction Status Report
8/125/2020:Capri placing inner profiles down to water elevation.
Appendix A – Construction Photographs
Lower Bucks Dam Upstream Geomembrane Project – FERC Project No. 619
September 2020 - Construction Status Report
8/26/2020: GC excavating on the southern abutment near service spillway.
8/27/2020: Progress of liner placement.
Appendix A – Construction Photographs
Lower Bucks Dam Upstream Geomembrane Project – FERC Project No. 619
September 2020 - Construction Status Report
8/29/2020:GC continued excavations
Appendix A – Construction Photographs
Lower Bucks Dam Upstream Geomembrane Project – FERC Project No. 619
September 2020 - Construction Status Report
8/31/2020: Continued liner placement and left abutment excavations.
Appendix A – Construction Photographs
From:Schuman, Amy
To:BOS
Subject:Board Correspondence - FW: Project Safety Compliance Report submitted in FERC P-619-000 by Pacific Gas and Electric Company,et al.
Date:Monday, September 21, 2020 3:36:22 PM
Good afternoon,
Please see the email below from FERC.
Amy Schuman
Associate Clerk of the Board
Butte County Administration
25 County Center Drive, Suite 200, Oroville, CA 95965
O: 530.552.3300 |D: 530.552.3308 | F: 530.538.7120
Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Pinterest
-----Original Message-----
From: 'FERC eSubscription' <eSubscription@ferc.gov>
Sent: Monday, September 21, 2020 3:25 PM
Subject: Project Safety Compliance Report submitted in FERC P-619-000 by Pacific Gas and Electric Company,et al.
.ATTENTION: This message originated from outside Butte County. Please exercise judgment before opening attachments, clicking on links, or replying..
On 9/21/2020, the following Filing was submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Washington D.C.:
Filer: Pacific Gas and Electric Company
No Organization Found (as Agent)
Docket(s): P-619-000
Lead Applicant: Alabama Power Company
Filing Type: Project Safety Compliance Report
Description: Monthly Construction Status Report No. 4 - Lower Bucks Dam Upstream Geomembrane Project re the Bucks Creek-Grizzly Hydro Project of Pacific Gas and Electric
Company under P-619.
To view the document for this Filing, click here https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_num=20200921-
5190__;!!KNMwiTCp4spf!RmVUratl2VDrvaQ0e1VK_tr0fVy98aD45IsrBUSrZPVlvNXyMk5MAw9vTWI6jH1f-sUxeih67ds$
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