HomeMy WebLinkAbout4.29.22 Board Correspondence - FW_ Part 12 Consultant Safety Inspection Reports submitted in FERC P-619-000 by Pacific Gas and Electric Company,et al. (2)
From:Paulsen, Shaina
To:BOS
Subject:Board Correspondence - FW: Part 12 Consultant Safety Inspection Reports submitted in FERC P-619-000 by
Pacific Gas and Electric Company,et al.
Date:Friday, April 29, 2022 8:03:24 AM
Please see Board Correspondence below.
Shaina Paulsen
Associate Clerk of The Board
Butte County Administration
25 County Center Drive, Suite 200, Oroville, CA 95965
T: 530.552.3304 | F: 530.538.7120
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From: 'FERC eSubscription' <eSubscription@ferc.gov>
Sent: Friday, April 29, 2022 4:45 AM
Subject: Part 12 Consultant Safety Inspection Reports submitted in FERC P-619-000 by Pacific Gas and Electric
Company,et al.
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On 4/28/2022, 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: Part 12 Consultant Safety Inspection Reports
Description: Pacific Gas and Electric Company submits 11th Part 12D Safety Inspection, Status Update to
Address Recommendations 10, 11, and 13 for the Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project under P-619.
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245 Market Street
tƚǞĻƩ DĻƓĻƩğƷźƚƓ
San Francisco, CA 94105
Mailing Address:
Mail Code N11D
P.O. Box 770000
San Francisco, CA 94177
April 28, 2022
Via Electronic Submittal (E-File)
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: Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. 619-CA
Bucks Storage Dam, NATDAM No. CA00332
11th Part 12D Safety Inspection Status Update to Address Recommendations 10,
11, and 13
ENCLOSURES CONTAIN CUI//CEII DO NOT RELEASE
Dear Frank L. Blackett:
This letter presents an update on the status of
efforts to address Recommendations 10, 11, and 13 (R-10, R-11, and R-13) from the 11th 5-
year Part 12D safety inspection report (dated October 2020) for Bucks Storage Dam, which is
part of PG&E Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
(FERC) No. 619. PG&E submitted its original plans and schedules for addressing R-10, R-11,
and R-13 in a letter to your office dated December 31, 2020 and provided its most recent update
regarding the recommendations on October 29, 2021.
R-10, R-11, and R-13 is provided with this letter (Enclosure 1).
Should you have any technical questions concerning this matter,
safety engineer, Ben Fontana, at (530) 762-9459. For general questions, please contact
Jamie Visinoni, at (530) 215-6676.
Sincerely,
Robert O. Ellis, P.E., G.E.
Deputy Chief Dam Safety Engineer
Enclosure:
1. Status Update to Address Recommendations from the 11th Part 12D Safety Inspection
Report
2. 2021 Bathymetry & LIDAR Surveys, Bucks Storage Dam, prepared by PG&E, Gas
Transmission Integrity Management, and dated April 2022 - CUI//CEII DO NOT RELEASE
3. Bridge Inspection and Evaluation Report, Bucks Storage Dam, prepared by Baseline
Designs, Inc., and dated July 23, 2021 - CUI//CEII DO NOT RELEASE
cc: List Attached
Frank L. Blackett, P.E. Regional Engineer
April 28, 2022
Page 2
cc: With Enclosures
Sharon Tapia, Chief
Department of Water Resources
Division of Safety of Dams
2720 Gateway Oaks Drive, Suite 300
Sacramento, CA 95833
Enclosure 1
Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. 619-CA
Bucks Storage Dam, NATDAM No. CA00332
Status Update to Address Recommendations 10, 11, and 13 from the
11th Part 12D Safety Inspection Report
Recommendations 10, 11, and 13 (R-10, R-11, and R-13) were provided in the 11th 5-
year Part 12D safety inspection report (dated October 2020) for Bucks Storage Dam,
which is part of Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission (FERC) No. 619. PG&E submitted its original plans and schedules to
address the recommendations from the report in a letter to your office dated December
31, 2020 and provided its most recent update regarding the recommendations on
October 29, 2021. For reference, the recommendations are copied below, followed by
updates on the status m and updated plans and
schedules (in italics).
R-10: The IC recommends that PG&E perform an inspection of the upstream face slab
to identify areas of damage to the concrete and areas that warrant repair or
continued monitoring. The inspection should be performed by direct human or
drone observation above the reservoir level and via ROV below the reservoir
level. See Section 5.1.2 and PFM 9.
PG&E inspected the upstream face of Bucks Storage Dam using bathymetric-
and LiDAR-based survey in 2021. The results of the survey are enclosed with
this filing. The survey identified several areas with minor concrete spalling on the
, as shown in Table 1 of the enclosed survey report. These
areas appear to be relatively smalland are likely caused by seasonal freeze-
thaw. Based on the thickness of the concrete liner remaining, PG&E believes
these areas do not immediately impact the safety of the dam. In response to
findings from the survey, PG&E will develop a repair plan to address the concrete
spalls and will provide the plan to FERC for review by June 30, 2023.
R-11: The IC recommends that PG&E remove vegetation around and near weir NF-
16B to ensure unconstrained flow of water across the entrance and discharge
channels and proper operation of the weir. See Section 5.1.2.
PG&E removed vegetation from the areas around all weirs at Bucks Storage
Dam in 2021, including NF-16B, as shown in Photograph 1 below. Vegetation is
removed on an annual basis or more frequently, as needed, to allow
unconstrained flow of water across the entrance and discharge channels and
facilitate proper operation of the weirs. PG&E will continue to review the condition
of the vegetation on the dam and in the weirs during routine dam safety
vegetation removal measures
and address any specific concerns, as necessary. PG&E believes the routine
annual vegetation management at Bucks Storage Dam is sufficient and believes
that this recommendation has been satisfactorily addressed.
1
Enclosure 1
Photograph 1: Vegetation removal around Weir NF-16B
R-13: The IC recommends that PG&E perform an inspection and evaluation of the
spillway bridge for comparison with the last inspection of the bridge in 2013, as
soon as practical. The load rating for the bridge should be updated based on the
findings of the new inspection and should be posted at the bridge entrance to
reflect the load limits for the bridge. See Section 5.1.3 and PFM 1.
PG&E inspected the Bucks Storage Dam spillway bridge (Bridge BR #18) in
2021 and the results of the inspection are provided with this filing. The results of
the inspection indicate that the bridge superstructure is in fair condition but the
decking over the superstructure is in poor condition. Per recommendations in the
enclosed report, PG&E has restricted vehicular access to light service vehicles
weighing less than 5 tons.
To address the recommendations presented in Section 4 of the inspection report,
PG&E will perform the required maintenance related recommendations in the
summer of 2022 and will discuss the repairs during the 2022 FERC dam safety
inspection scheduled for September 2022. PG&E believes the bridge inspection
and evaluation performed satisfies the intent of the recommendation and
believes that this recommendation has been satisfactorily addressed.
2