HomeMy WebLinkAbout03.17.21 Board Correspondence - FW_ License_Relicense Application submitted in FERC P-619-000 by Pacific Gas and Electric Company,et al.
From:Snyder, Ashley
To:Alpert, Bruce;Bennett, Robin;Clerk of the Board;Connelly, Bill;Cook, Holly;Cook, Robin;Kimmelshue, Tod;Lucero, Debra;Paulsen,
Shaina;Pickett, Andy;Ring, Brian;Ritter, Tami;Rodas, Amalia;Sweeney, Kathleen;Teeter, Doug
Subject:Board Correspondence - FW: License/Relicense Application submitted in FERC P-619-000 by Pacific Gas and Electric Company,et al.
Date:Wednesday, March 17, 2021 10:17:55 AM
Please see the below correspondence.
Ashley N. Snyder
Assistant Clerk of the Board
Butte County Administration
25 County Center Drive, Suite 200, Oroville, CA 95965
T: 530.552.3307 | F: 530.538.7120
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Subject: License/Relicense Application submitted in FERC P-619-000 by Pacific Gas and Electric Company,et al.
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On 3/17/2021, 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: Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Filing Type: License/Relicense Application
Description: Pacific Gas and Electric Company submits request for approval of 11 23 2020 application for Bucks Creek-Grizzly
Hydroelectric Project under P-619.
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245 Market Street
Power Generation
San Francisco, CA 94105
Mailing Address:
Mail Code N11D
P.O. Box 770000
March 17, 2021
San Francisco, CA 94177
Via Electronic Submittal (E-File)
Ms. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
888 First Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C., 20426
Re: Bucks Creek- Grizzly Hydroelectric Project,
FERC No. 619-169
Grizzly Powerhouse Reconnection Project,
Follow-Up Items
Dear Secretary Bose:
1
On November 23, 2020,pursuant to 18 C.F.R. Part 4, Subpart L of the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission’s (“Commission” or “FERC”) regulations, and the Commission’s
October 9, 2020 Information Request Relating to Grizzly Tap Conductor Removal, Pacific Gas
and Electric Company (“PG&E” or “Applicant”), on behalf of itself and joint licensee the City of
Santa Clara, California, applied to the Commission for a Non-Capacity Amendment of License
to reduce the length of a primary line by 900 feet at the Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project,
FERC No. 619 (“Project”). At the request of FERC staff, additional information regarding
agency consultation was also provided on February 10, 2021.
As stated in PG&E’s November 23, 2020 filing, the activities proposed in the Application affect
both PG&E and U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (“USFS”) lands within the
existing project boundary. PG&E notified the USFS of preliminary work associated with the
Grizzly Reconnection Project on October 6, 2020,and supplemented this material with a
project description that encompassed all phases of the Grizzly Reconnection Project on
October 23, 2020. By letter dated January 15, 2021, USFS staff provided concurrence for
Phase 2 of the proposed work described in the Application with the following conditions:
Botanical Resources:
Project work sites are within invasive plant populations documented during FERC relicensing
surveys. Continue eradication and control efforts per Vegetation Management Plan.
Infestations behind locked gates or fences that are inaccessible to weed crews shall be
controlled by O&M crews. Incorporate standard weed mitigations to prevent spreading existing
infestations and prevent introducing new infestations.
Heritage Resources:
Site 05115400434/CA-PLU-2826-H/ CA-PLU-2964-H, Bucks Tramway & Incline Railroad (also
recorded as FS Site 05115400790), is located within the Area of Potential Effect and is
1
Accession Number 20201124-5055
Ms. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary
March 17, 2021
Page 2
determined not NRHP eligible (SHPO concurrence dated 04/19/2006). However, avoidance of
this site is preferred.
In response to the USFS’ January 15, 2021 letter, PG&E again requested review of the Phase
3 proposed work within the substation yard. By letter dated March 17, 2021 (Attachment A),
USFS staff has also provided concurrence for Phase 3 of the proposed work described in the
application with the following conditions:
Botanical Resources:
Use agreement clauses to require contractors to meet Forest Service-approved vehicle
and equipment cleaning requirements/standards prior to using the vehicle or equipment in
the National Forest System to prevent and control the introduction, establishment, and
spread of aquatic and terrestrial invasive species.
Use weed-free equipment, mulches, and seed sources. Avoid seeding in areas where
revegetation will occur naturally unless noxious weeds are a concern. All activities that
require seeding or planting will need to use only native seed sources.
Post project monitoring will facilitate the early detection of new populations and allow for
developing proposals for treatment before populations get large.
Reduce the likelihood of spreading known infestations:
o Do not stage equipment, materials, or crews in noxious weed infested areas.
o Flag and avoid known weed sites in and near proposed treatment units.
o Flag and avoid noxious weed locations discovered during project implementation.
Conclusion
The Grizzly Powerhouse has been offline since the Camp Fire of November 2018. This has
been a significant financial burden to the City of Santa Clara and, thus, it is also a high priority
for PG&E to complete all construction associated with the Grizzly Powerhouse reconnection to
the grid as early in 2021 as possible. As PG&E understands from conversations with FERC
staff, receipt of USFS concurrence with Phase 3 of the work is the only remaining item needed
for FERC to make a determination on the application. Given the receipt of USFS comments
and concurrence of that work, PG&E respectfully requests that FERC approve the November
23, 2020 application as soon as possible.
If you have any questions regarding this application, please contact PG&E's senior license
coordinator, Jamie Visinoni, at JNVS@pge.com.
Sincerely,
Teri Smyly
Manager, FERC Compliance
Ms. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary
March 17, 2021
Page 3
Attachment A: USFS Phase 3 Concurrence
United StatesForestPlumas159 Lawrence Street
Department of Service National Quincy, CA 95971-6025
Agriculture Forest (530)283-2050 Voice
(530)534-7984 Text (TDD)
File Code: 2770
Date: March , 2021
Doug Edwards
Senior Land Planner
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
2730 Gateway Oaks Drive
Sacramento, California 95818
Re: PG&E Grizzly Tap Reconnection project, Phase 3 - FERC No. 619
D
ear Mr. Edwards,
I havereviewed Pacific Gas & Electric’s (PG&E’s) request for Phase 3 of the Grizzly Tap
Reconnection project which will re-establish transmission of power to the Caribou Palermo line,
and ultimately to the City of Santa Clara.
Background:
Shortly after the Camp Fire, in December 2018, PG&E de-energized the 56-mile-long, Caribou-
Palermo transmission line in the Feather River canyon. The Grizzly Powerhouse connects to the
Caribou-Palermo line via the 4.2-mile-long 115 kV Grizzly Tap line. Since de-energizing the
Caribou-Palermo line, PG&E identified a potential public safety risk associated with the de-
energized line, determining that energized lines in the same vicinity as the Caribou-Palermo line
may still have the potential to induce voltage and current on to the Caribou-Palermo line through
induction. Given this risk, PG&E took immediate mitigation steps by isolating and grounding
sections of the Caribou-Palermo line itself. PG&E now plans to re-energize that line by
removing a section of the Grizzly Tap line and reconnecting the Grizzly Powerhouse to the grid
by interconnecting the Grizzly Tap to the existing, non-Project Bucks Creek-Cresta 230-kV line
located in the Bucks Creek substation yard. This is a three- phase project, and this letter responds
to Phase 3 of the proposal.
Phase One was the removal of the Grizzly Tap line between the Caribou-Palermo line and the
Bucks Creek substation yard. Phase Two includes removal of an additional 300 feet of the line,
that lies within and to the southeast of the Bucks Creek substation yard. Phase Three is detailed
below.
Current Project request:
The proposed project area is on National Forest System lands within the Mt. Hough Ranger
District, Plumas National Forest, under FERC jurisdiction within the Bucks Creek Hydroelectric
Project (FERC No. 619). The Bucks Creek substation is located in T24N, R6E, Section 29,
MDBM.
Caring for the Land and Serving People Printed on Recycled Paper
Phase Three involves demolition and removal of the existing 115 kV lattice tower, partial
overhead line (to be run underground), a telecom cabinet, an 11 kV bus section, 12 kV CTs, and
certain abandoned foundations, concrete culverts, trenches, conduits, cables, and fencing. This
work is necessary before reconnection of the remaining Grizzly Tap line to the Caribou-Palermo
line. The Bucks Creek substation yard will be re-configured to incorporate a new transformer so
that the 115 kV Grizzly Tap may be stepped up to 230 kV and connected to the existing Bucks
Creek-Cresta 230 kV within the same yard. Major items to be installed within the existing yard
footprint include new foundations and oil spill containment, new 230kV/115kV transformer, new
115kV and 230kV breakers, and related equipment. The only work not constrained to the
existing Bucks Creek substation yard footprint will be the installation of guy wires for enhanced
support to three existing poles, and the installation of a new weather station north of the existing
substation yard fencing.
PG&E has conducted due diligence environmental reviews and does not expect the proposed
activity to result in significant impacts to sensitive resources in the area. A project proposal
including biological and cultural resource assessment summaries and proposed avoidance and
minimization measures was provided to the Forest Service on January 26, 2021.
Based on a review by resource specialists, I concur with PG&E’s request for the proposed
reconfiguration of the Bucks Creek substation yard and the addition of new equipment to
complete the reconnection of the Caribou Palermo line. As a condition of my concurrence,
PG&E shall address the following to protect Forest Service resources.
Botanical Resources:
Project work sites are within invasive plant populations documented during FERC relicensing
surveys. Continue eradication and control efforts per Vegetation Management Plan. Infestations
behind locked gates or fences that are inaccessible to weed crews shall be controlled by O&M
crews. Incorporate standard weed mitigations to prevent spreading existing infestations and
prevent introducing new infestations.
Prevent the introduction of new invaders by following measures below:
Use agreement clauses to require contractors to meet Forest Service-approved vehicle
and equipment cleaning requirements/standards prior to using the vehicle or equipment in
the National Forest System to prevent and control the introduction, establishment, and
spread of aquatic and terrestrial invasive species.
Use weed-free equipment, mulches, and seed sources. Avoid seeding in areas where
revegetation will occur naturally unless noxious weeds are a concern. All activities that
require seeding or planting will need to use only native seed sources.
Post project monitoring will facilitate the early detection of new populations and allow
for developing proposals for treatment before populations get large.
Reduce the likelihood of spreading known infestations:
Do not stage equipment, materials, or crews in noxious weed infested areas.
Flag and avoid known weed sites in and near proposed treatment units.
Flag and avoid noxious weed locationsdiscovered during project implementation.
Heritage Resources:
Phase 3 of this project will have no adverse effect on the Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Historic
District (FS Site 05115601004), the Feather River Highway Historic District (Site 05115000002/
CA-PLU-970H) and FS 05115601043 (Camp1 in support of the Bucks Creek Power House
construction) per 36 CFR § 800.5(b). SHPO concurred with the No Adverse Effect
determination for this project, letter dated 01/20/2021.
Please contact Public Service Staff Officer, Leslie Edlund at 530-283-7620 or at
leslie.edlund@usda.gov if you have any questions regarding this letter or this project approval.
Sincerely,
CHRISTOPHER CARLTON
Forest Supervisor
cc: Micki Smith, Emily Moghaddas, Amy Lind