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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05.08.2024 Board Correspondence - FW_ Environmental and Recreational Compliance Report submitted in FERC P-619-000 by Pacific Gas and Electric Company,et al. 2From:Clerk of the Board To:Bennett, Robin; Clerk of the Board; Connelly, Bill; Cook, Holly; Cook, Robin; Durfee, Peter; Jessee, Meegan; Kimmelshue, Tod; Kitts, Melissa; Lee, Lewis; Pickett, Andy; Ritter, Tami; Stephens, Brad J.; Sweeney, Kathleen; Teeter, Doug; Zepeda, Elizabeth; Loeser, Kamie Cc:Nevers, Dawn Subject:Board Correspondence - FW: Environmental and Recreational Compliance Report submitted in FERC P-619-000 by Pacific Gas and Electric Company,et al. Date:Wednesday, May 8, 2024 2:22:45 PM Please see Board correspondence - -----Original Message----- From: 'FERC eSubscription' <eSubscription@ferc.gov> Sent: Wednesday, May 8, 2024 1:35 PM Subject: Environmental and Recreational 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 5/8/2024, 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: Environmental and Recreational Compliance Report Description: Pacific Gas and Electric Company submits schedule update re the Recreation Management Plan Improvements and Concurrence from Forest Service re the Grizzly Forebay Dam of the Bucks Creek Projectunder P-619. To view the document for this Filing, click here https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_num=20240508- 5131__;!!KNMwiTCp4spf!AkZDu4_Qt-zu_x8pR4r54O3GWV5MRMMzeyzGdR0ZuYrzdzJtBQbp- R5cdygVUQ9PPB5rrdS-D07Dpj8U4jlDCWx0yn_IO5fNaFne$ To modify your subscriptions, click here: https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://ferconline.ferc.gov/eSubscription.aspx__;!!KNMwiTCp4spf!AkZDu4_Qt- zu_x8pR4r54O3GWV5MRMMzeyzGdR0ZuYrzdzJtBQbp-R5cdygVUQ9PPB5rrdS-D07Dpj8U4jlDCWx0yn_IO- EErhlX$ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Please do not respond to this email. Online help is available here: https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.ferc.gov/efiling-help.asp__;!!KNMwiTCp4spf!AkZDu4_Qt- zu_x8pR4r54O3GWV5MRMMzeyzGdR0ZuYrzdzJtBQbp-R5cdygVUQ9PPB5rrdS- D07Dpj8U4jlDCWx0yn_IO9XC8UW9$ or for phone support, call 866-208-3676. Power Generation 300 Lakeside Drive Oakland, CA 94612 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 28209 Oakland, CA 94604 May 8, 2024 Via Electronic Submittal (E-File) Debbie-Anne Reese , Acting Secretary Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 888 First Street, N. E. Washington, D.C. 20426 Re: Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. 619-CA-CA Schedule Update – Recreation Management Plan Improvements – Grizzly Forebay State Water Resources Control Board 401 Water Quality Certification Condition 21 and U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service’s section 4(e) Condition No. 55 Dear Secretary Reese: Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is writing to notify you of a schedule update to a portion of the Grizzly Forebay recreation area improvements identified in the Table 3.1-1 Implementation Schedule of the Recreation Management Plan (RMP) for PG&E and City of Santa Clara’s (Licensees ) Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) No. 619 . FERC issued a new license for the Bucks Creek Project on June 16, 2022. State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) 401 Water Quality Certification (WQC) Condition 21 and U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service’s (“Forest Service”) section 4(e) Condition No. 55 require the licensees implement the Bucks Creek RMP. Table 3.1-1 of the RMP identifies the following activities to be completed in license year 1: Facility Activity Grizzly Forebay Campground - Perform Trail Maintenance - Install Wildlife Resistant Food Lockers - Fuel Treatment Grizzly Forebay Gauging Station Trail - Perform Trail Maintenance Significant precipitation and unprecedented snowpack in 2022/2023 restricted access to the Bucks Creek project until June, therefore delaying site condition assessment and planning . PG&E implement ed the following RMP year 1 activities in 2023: • Grizzly Forebay Campground: Perform Trail Maintenance and Fuel Treatment • Grizzly Forebay Gauging Station Trail: Perform Trail Maintenance Document Accession #: 20240508-5131 Filed Date: 05/08/2024 Kimberly D. Bose, Acting Secretary May 8, 2024 Page 2 As stated in RMP Section 3.1.4, Planning and Designing for Construction and Reconstruction of Project Recreation Facilities , “Construction and reconstruction generally involve a 5-year, three-step planning and implementation process. Steps in this process include (1) site planning (design narrative and site conceptual plan); (2) preparing a site development plan and constructi on plan; and (3) contracting and constructing each facility.” These critical steps ensure a quality project and safe, continuous, re liable long-term access to recreational facilities for the public . Standard engineering and construction practices require design, review, and consultation, which takes more time than the current implementation schedule allows . Unlike the fuel treatment and trail maintenance activities, the wildlife resistant food lockers require field reconnaissance, site planning, material lead time, project coordination, and approvals by both the Forest Service and FERC . Per RMP Section 3.1.4.3, Contracting and Construction, “For Project recreation facilities located on NFS land, the implementation schedule for constructing or reconstructing these facilities may be revised, as needed, upon agreement between Licensees and the Forest Service.” Based on the steps required to develop this work, obtain required approvals, and complete the construction , PG&E sought approval from the Forest Service to complete this work by December 31, 2024, in an email dated May 19, 2023 . The Forest Service provided a concurrence email on June 30, 2023 (Enclosure 1). For general questions, please contact PG&E’s Senior Land Planner , Jim McKay at (530) 896-4262 or PG&E’s Senior License Coordinator, Jamie Visinoni, at (530) 215-6676. Sincerely, Matthew Joseph Supervisor, Hydro License Management Enclosure: 1. Concurrence email from Forest Service Document Accession #: 20240508-5131 Filed Date: 05/08/2024 ENCLOSURE 1 Document Accession #: 20240508-5131 Filed Date: 05/08/2024 From:Brenzovich, Erika - FS, CA To:Visinoni, Jamie Cc:Alvarez, Dawn - FS, CA; Moghaddas, Emily - FS, CA; Edlund, Leslie - FS, CA; Gigliotti, Tony; Tarr, Holly; Joseph, Matthew; Carlton, Christopher - FS, CA; McKay, Jim; Petersen, Drew; Acosta, Monica; McCall, Dan Subject:RE: Request for Agency Approval of Extension of Time Re: Recreation Management Plan Year 1 Improvements – Grizzly Forebay Date:Friday, June 30, 2023 6:43:15 AM Attachments:image001.png image002.png image003.png image004.png BearBoxDetail.pdf CAUTION: EXTERNAL SENDER! This email was sent from an EXTERNAL source. Do you know this person? Are you expecting this email? Are you expecting any links or attachments? If suspicious, do not click links, open attachments, or provide credentials. Don't delete it. Report it by using the "Report Phish" button. Dear Ms. Visinoni, Chris Carlton approved a one-year extension, until 12/31/2024, for PG&E to install bear proof lockers at Grizzly Forebay campground; however, given that PG&E had from license issuance last summer to begin planning a contract, and installation is a standard design, we hope that PG&E will attempt to complete the installation on schedule, by 12/31/2023. Attached is a standard design from Bear Saver that the Forest is uses to install bear proof lockers in other campgrounds across the Forest. The Forest approves of PG&E using this same standard design. Thank you, Erika Brenzovich Erika Brenzovich Recreation and Lands Program Manager Forest Service Plumas National Forest, Supervisor's Office office: 530-283-7772 mobile: 530-927-8532 erika.brenzovich@usda.gov 159 Lawrence St. Quincy, CA 95971 www.fs.fed.us Caring for the land and serving people From: Visinoni, Jamie <JNVS@pge.com> Sent: Thursday, June 22, 2023 9:04 AM To: Brenzovich, Erika - FS, CA <erika.brenzovich@usda.gov>; Carlton, Christopher - FS, CA Document Accession #: 20240508-5131 Filed Date: 05/08/2024 <Christopher.Carlton@usda.gov> Cc: Alvarez, Dawn - FS, CA <dawn.alvarez@usda.gov>; Moghaddas, Emily - FS, CA <emily.moghaddas@usda.gov>; Edlund, Leslie - FS, CA <leslie.edlund@usda.gov>; Gigliotti, Tony <T1GF@pge.com>; Tarr, Holly <H1TC@pge.com>; Joseph, Matthew <MWJA@pge.com>; McKay, Jim <J11V@pge.com>; Petersen, Drew <DDP0@pge.com>; Acosta, Monica <M2A7@pge.com>; McCall, Dan <DCMv@pge.com> Subject: RE: Request for Agency Approval of Extension of Time Re: Recreation Management Plan Year 1 Improvements – Grizzly Forebay Classification: Public Thank you for the response and update Erika. We will stand by for Chris’s response. We would greatly appreciate any help you or Leslie can provide to facilitate the Grizzly Campground fuels treatment proposal. Leslie did offer an alternate POC (David Kinateder) during the Bucks Creek annual meeting but we still have not received a response. Many thanks, Jamie Visinoni Hydro License Coordinator | Power Generation Pacific Gas and Electric Company d: (530) 894-4779 | m: (530) 215-6676 | e: jnvs@pge.com From: Brenzovich, Erika - FS, CA <erika.brenzovich@usda.gov> Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2023 4:02 PM To: Visinoni, Jamie <JNVS@pge.com>; Carlton, Christopher - FS, CA <Christopher.Carlton@usda.gov> Cc: Alvarez, Dawn - FS, CA <dawn.alvarez@usda.gov>; Moghaddas, Emily - FS, CA <emily.moghaddas@usda.gov>; Edlund, Leslie - FS, CA <leslie.edlund@usda.gov>; Gigliotti, Tony <T1GF@pge.com>; Tarr, Holly <H1TC@pge.com>; Joseph, Matthew <MWJA@pge.com>; McKay, Jim <J11V@pge.com>; Petersen, Drew <DDP0@pge.com>; Acosta, Monica <M2A7@pge.com> Subject: RE: Request for Agency Approval of Extension of Time Re: Recreation Management Plan Year 1 Improvements – Grizzly Forebay CAUTION: EXTERNAL SENDER! This email was sent from an EXTERNAL source. Do you know this person? Are you expecting this email? Are you expecting any links or attachments? If suspicious, do not click links, open attachments, or provide credentials. Don't delete it. Report it by using the "Report Phish" button. Jaime, We apologize for the delay in our response on the bear resistant food lockers. Based on the fact that installation of the lockers does not need any design, only for selection of the installation location, we believe that an extension until 2024 may not be necessary, but it is my understanding that Emily Document Accession #: 20240508-5131 Filed Date: 05/08/2024 Moghaddas was willing to approve the extension. We have a standard installation we use that we have used with our contracts we can send to PG&E that may make it possible for PG&E to complete the installation in 2023. We also apologize you did not receive a response from our fuels specialties on the fuels work – they are very busy with priority fuels planning projects as the Plumas NF was selected as a Wildfire Crisis Landscape project. Please let myself or Leslie know if you need us to help facilitate anything regarding the fuels work. Meanwhile, we will verify with Chris that he approves of the extension but we would still like PG&E to try to complete the locker installation by the end of 2023, if at all feasible. Thank you, Erika Erika Brenzovich Recreation and Lands Program Manager Forest Service Plumas National Forest, Supervisor's Office office: 530-283-7772 mobile: 530-927-8532 erika.brenzovich@usda.gov 159 Lawrence St. Quincy, CA 95971 www.fs.fed.us Caring for the land and serving people From: Visinoni, Jamie <JNVS@pge.com> Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2023 11:16 AM To: Carlton, Christopher - FS, CA <Christopher.Carlton@usda.gov> Cc: Alvarez, Dawn - FS, CA <dawn.alvarez@usda.gov>; Moghaddas, Emily - FS, CA <emily.moghaddas@usda.gov>; Edlund, Leslie - FS, CA <leslie.edlund@usda.gov>; Brenzovich, Erika - FS, CA <erika.brenzovich@usda.gov>; Gigliotti, Tony <T1GF@pge.com>; Tarr, Holly <H1TC@pge.com>; Joseph, Matthew <MWJA@pge.com>; McKay, Jim <J11V@pge.com>; Petersen, Drew <DDP0@pge.com>; Acosta, Monica <M2A7@pge.com> Subject: RE: Request for Agency Approval of Extension of Time Re: Recreation Management Plan Year 1 Improvements – Grizzly Forebay Classification: Public Document Accession #: 20240508-5131 Filed Date: 05/08/2024 Hello Christopher Carlton, I am emailing as a follow-up to the email below seeking Forest Service approval of an extension of time for Recreation Management Plan Year 1 Improvements at Grizzly Forebay. Many thanks, Jamie Visinoni Hydro License Coordinator | Power Generation Pacific Gas and Electric Company d: (530) 894-4779 | m: (530) 215-6676 | e: jnvs@pge.com From: Visinoni, Jamie Sent: Friday, May 19, 2023 8:29 AM To: Carlton, Christopher - FS <Christopher.Carlton@usda.gov> Cc: Alvarez, Dawn -FS <dawn.alvarez@usda.gov>; Moghaddas, Emily - FS <emily.moghaddas@usda.gov>; Edlund, Leslie - FS <leslie.edlund@usda.gov>; Brenzovich, Erika -FS <erika.brenzovich@usda.gov>; Gigliotti, Tony <T1GF@pge.com>; Tarr, Holly <H1TC@pge.com>; Joseph, Matthew <MWJA@pge.com>; McKay, Jim <J11V@pge.com>; Petersen, Drew <DDP0@pge.com>; Acosta, Monica <M2A7@pge.com> Subject: Request for Agency Approval of Extension of Time Re: Recreation Management Plan Year 1 Improvements – Grizzly Forebay Classification: Public Dear Christopher Carlton, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is writing to seek approval for an extension of time to complete a portion of the year 1 improvements identified in the Table 3.1-1 Implementation Schedule of the Recreation Management Plan (RMP) for PG&E and City of Santa Clara’s (Licensees) Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) No. 619. FERC issued a new license for the Bucks Creek Project on June 16, 2022. State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) 401 Water Quality Certification (WQC) Condition 21 and U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service’s (“Forest Service”) section 4(e) Condition No. 55 require the licensees implement the Bucks Creek Recreation Management Plan (RMP). Table 3.1-1 of the RMP identifies the following activities to be completed in license year 1: Facility Activity Grizzly Forebay Campground - Perform Trail Maintenance - Install Wildlife Resistant Food Lockers - Fuel Treatment Grizzly Forebay Gauging Station Trail - Perform Trail Maintenance Document Accession #: 20240508-5131 Filed Date: 05/08/2024 Significant precipitation and unprecedented snowpack in 2022/2023 have restricted access to the Bucks Creek project. PG&E hopes to have access to Grizzly Forebay in mid to late June. Until accessible, site conditions are unknown and site planning is on hold. On September 7th, September 29th and October 27th 2022 and March 31st and April 17, 2023, PG&E emailed Forest Service Fuels Specialists regarding the Grizzly Forebay Campground fuel treatment proposal, to date PG&E has not received a response. Contingent on access and approval from the Forest Service, PG&E would like to implement the following RMP year 1 activities, all of which have a significant vegetation component: Grizzly Forebay Campground: Perform Trail Maintenance and Fuel Treatment Grizzly Forebay Gauging Station Trail: Perform Trail Maintenance As stated in RMP Section 3.1.4, Planning and Designing for Construction and Reconstruction of Project Recreation Facilities, “Construction and reconstruction generally involve a 5-year, three-step planning and implementation process. Steps in this process include (1) site planning (design narrative and site conceptual plan); (2) preparing a site development plan and construction plan; and (3) contracting and constructing each facility.” These critical steps ensure a quality project and safe, continuous, reliable long-term access to recreational facilities for the public. Standard engineering and construction practices require design, review, and consultation which takes more time than the current implementation schedule allows. Unlike the fuel treatment and trail maintenance activities, the wildlife resistant food lockers require field reconnaissance, site planning, material lead time, project coordination, and approvals by both the Forest Service and FERC. Per RMP Section 3.1.4.3, Contracting and Construction “For Project recreation facilities located on NFS land, the implementation schedule for constructing or reconstructing these facilities may be revised, as needed, upon agreement between Licensees and the Forest Service.” Based on the steps required to develop this work, obtain required approvals, and complete the construction, PG&E respectfully requests an extension to December 31, 2024, complete the installation of wildlife food lockers at Grizzly Forebay Campground. PG&E is seeking Forest Service approval of this extension of time by June 19, 2023 (31 days from today) to allow us time to route internally and file with FERC for final approval. For general questions, please contact PG&E’s Senior Land Planner, Jim McKay at (530) 896-4262 or PG&E’s Senior License Coordinator, Jamie Visinoni, at (530) 215-6676. Thank you, Jamie Visinoni Hydro License Coordinator | Power Generation Pacific Gas and Electric Company d: (530) 894-4779 | m: (530) 215-6676 | e: jnvs@pge.com You can read about PG&E’s data privacy practices here or at PGE.com/privacy. Document Accession #: 20240508-5131 Filed Date: 05/08/2024 This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately. Document Accession #: 20240508-5131 Filed Date: 05/08/2024 Document Content(s) PGE20240508_619_RMP_Year1_Sched_Update.pdf ................................1Document Accession #: 20240508-5131 Filed Date: 05/08/2024