HomeMy WebLinkAbout12.29.20 BOS Correspondence - FW_ Request for Delay of Action_Extension of Time submitted in FERC P-803-000 by Pacific Gas and Electric Company,et al.
From:Schuman, Amy
To:Alpert, Bruce;Bennett, Robin;Clerk of the Board;Connelly, Bill;Cook, Holly;Kimmelshue, Tod;Lambert, Steve;Lucero, Debra;McCracken, Shari;Paulsen, Shaina;Pickett, Andy;Ring, Brian;Ritter,
Tami;Rodas,
Amalia;Sweeney, Kathleen;Teeter, Doug
Subject:BOS Correspondence - FW: Request for Delay of Action/Extension of Time submitted in FERC P-803-000 by Pacific Gas and Electric Company,et al.
Date:Tuesday, December 29, 2020 3:56:30 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: Tuesday, December 29, 2020 3:45 PM
Subject: Request for Delay of Action/Extension of Time submitted in FERC P-803-000 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 12/29/2020, 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-803-000
Lead Applicant: Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Filing Type: Request for Delay of Action/Extension of Time
Description: Request for extention to file to SFRO of Pacific Gas and Electric Company under P-803, DeSabla-Centerville Hydro Project, etc. to Resubmit Geotechnical Investigation Plans
for Philbrook
and Round Valley Dams
To view the document for this Filing, click here https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_num=20201229-
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December 29, 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 94105-3084
RE: DeSabla-Centerville Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. 803-CA
Philbrook Dams, NATDAM No. CA00345 and CA83035
Tenth Part 12D Safety Inspection, Recommendation Nos. 15 and 17
Round Valley Dam, NATDAM No. CA00346
First Part 12D Safety Inspection, Recommendation Nos. 8 and 18
Request for Extension of Time
Dear Mr. Blackett:
This letter presents a status update and request for extension of time to revise and resubmit
geotechnical investigation work plans for
Philbrook and Round Valley Dams, which are part of the DeSabla-Centerville Hydroelectric
Project, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Project No. 803. PG&E is pursuing
the geotechnical investigations to address independent consultant (IC) recommendations from
the tenth Part 12D safety inspection of Philbrook Dam and the first Part 12D safety inspection
of Round Valley Dam, which were completed in 2015.
In a July 20, 2020 letter to PG&E, FERC requested that PG&E provide updated plans and
schedules to complete the proposed geotechnical investigation work, including preparation of
revised drilling program plans (DPP) for planned exploration at the two dams. For reference,
each of the IC recommendations pertaining to the proposed geotechnical investigations is
copied below, followed by a repoand updated plan
and schedule to address the recommendation(in italics).
Philbrook Dam - Recommendations from the Tenth Part 12D Safety Inspection
R-15 PG&E should complete the currently proposed geotechnical evaluations and possibly
other investigations that may be determined necessary to complete a seismic stability
evaluation of the Main and Auxiliary Dams.
PG&E is in the process of obtaining FERC authorization for geotechnical
investigations at several of its dams. Because of delays in reviewing and
preparing multiple revisions to the DPPs for the investigations, PG&E elected
Mr. Frank L. Blackett, P.E., Regional Engineer
December 29, 2020
Page 2
to focus its efforts in the fall of 2020 on securing FERC acceptance of the
DPP and completion of geotechnical exploration at Cape Horn Dam, which is
part of Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 77).
Now that the exploration at Cape Horn Dam is complete, PG&E is revising
the DPP for Philbrook Main and Auxiliary Dams to reflect updates to the Cape
Horn Dam DPP that were necessary for FERC authorization of that effort.
PG&E plans to submit the updated DPP for the Philbrook Dams to FERC by
May 31, 2021, and, pending FERC acceptance of the DPP, perform the
geotechnical investigation in the fall of 2021. PG&E respectfully requests an
extension of time to complete and submit the geotechnical investigation
report for Philbrook Main and Auxiliary Dams to FERC by April 30, 2022.
Based on the results of the geotechnical investigation, PG&E will perform
updated stability analyses of the Philbrook Main and Auxiliary Dams. The
updated analyses are the subject of a subsequent IC recommendation (R-1)
from the eleventh Part 12D inspection, which was conducted in 2020. PG&E
expects to complete and submit the results of the updated stability analyses
to FERC by early 2023.
R-17 Section 8 of the STID should be updated to include the results of the updated stability
analyses after the additional field and laboratory investigations are performed and the
stability analyses are finalized and accepted by FERC.
As noted in the status update for R-15 above, PG&E expects to complete and submit
the results of the updated stability analyses to FERCby early 2023. Within 90 days
after receiving notice that FERC has accepted the updated analyses, PG&E will
prepare and submit a plan and schedule for updating Section 8 of the supporting
technical information document (STID) to include relevant information from the field
investigation and analyses. If FERC has not accepted the analyses before the twelfth
Part 12 safety inspection, PG&E will review the status of the analyses with the next Part
12D IC by November 30, 2025.
Round Valley Dam - Recommendations from the First Part 12D Safety Inspection
R-8 PG&E should review the existing Threshold and Action Levels for the active
piezometers once the updated stability analyses recommended below are completed
and accepted by the FERC.
As noted in the status update for R-18 below, PG&E expects to complete and
submit the results of the updated stability analyses to FERC by the end of April
2022. After FERC accepts the updated stability analyses, PG&E will review
existing threshold and action levels for the piezometers at Round Valley Dam.
PG&E respectfully requests an extension of time to March 31, 2023, to review
(and update, if necessary) the existing threshold and action levels and
incorporate them into the dam safety surveillance and monitoring plan
(DSSMP). Alternatively, if FERC acceptance of the stability analysis is
Mr. Frank L. Blackett, P.E., Regional Engineer
December 29, 2020
Page 3
delayed, PG&E will submit an updated schedule for revising the threshold and
action levels by March 31, 2023.
R-18 PG&E should perform an updated stability analysis for the embankment section of the
dam. As part of an updated stability analysis, PG&E should collect more information
regarding embankment and subsurface material properties (e.g., density, strength,
erodibility). The updated analysis for the embankment section should address the
potential for liquefaction in both the embankment material and dam foundation.
PG&E is in the process of obtaining FERC authorization for geotechnical
investigations at several of its dams. Because of delays in reviewing and
preparing multiple revisions to the DPPs for the investigations, PG&E elected
to focus its efforts in the fall of 2020 on securing FERC acceptance of the
DPP and completion of geotechnical exploration at Cape Horn Dam, which is
Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 77).
Now that the exploration at Cape Horn Dam is complete, PG&E is revising
the DPP for Round Valley Dam to reflect updates to the Cape Horn Dam DPP
that were necessary for FERC authorization of that effort. PG&E plans to
submit the updated DPP for Round Valley Dam to FERC by May 31, 2021,
and, pending FERC acceptance of the DPP, perform the geotechnical
investigation in the fall of 2021. Following completion of the field work, PG&E
will use the results of the investigation to complete the updated stability
analysis. PG&E respectfully requests an extension of time to April 30, 2022,
to complete and submit to FERC the geotechnical investigation report and
updated stability analysis for Round Valley Dam.
safety engineer, Ms. Aimee Corn, at (530) 894-4792. If you have general questions, please
-6676.
Sincerely,
David L. Ritzman, P.E., G.E.
Chief Dam Safety Engineer