HomeMy WebLinkAbout06.17.2024 Board Correspondence - FW_ Dam Safety Compliance Report submitted in FERC P-619-000 by Pacific Gas and Electric Company,et al.From: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: Dam Safety Compliance Report submitted in FERC P-619-000 by Pacific Gas and
Electric Company,et al.
Date:Monday, June 17, 2024 1:27:53 PM
Please see Board Correspondence -
-----Original Message-----
From: 'FERC eSubscription' <eSubscription@ferc.gov>
Sent: Monday, June 17, 2024 5:26 AM
Subject: Dam 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 6/17/2024, 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: Dam Safety Compliance Report
Description: Pacific Gas and Electric Company submits Bucks Creek Transmission Line Raptor Protection
Evaluation Report re the Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project under P-619.
To view the document for this Filing, click here https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?
accession_num=20240617-5014__;!!KNMwiTCp4spf!D8de6FuLSNhP5anZ-
2pMNinWeSR7loJARy3umUzeTloxx4jEXEyKq30zCqMXJNkta5l7rSGMkz5bTK-BOtAWw_6uvlhQgJblBZzZ$
To modify your subscriptions, click here:
2pMNinWeSR7loJARy3umUzeTloxx4jEXEyKq30zCqMXJNkta5l7rSGMkz5bTK-BOtAWw_6uvlhQgE6y3CNO$
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please do not respond to this email.
Online help is available here:
https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.ferc.gov/efiling-help.asp__;!!KNMwiTCp4spf!D8de6FuLSNhP5anZ-
2pMNinWeSR7loJARy3umUzeTloxx4jEXEyKq30zCqMXJNkta5l7rSGMkz5bTK-BOtAWw_6uvlhQgBQI8bIO$
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
June 15, 2024
Via Electronic Submittal (E-File)
Debbie-Anne Reese, Acting Secretary
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
888 First Street, N.E.
Washington, DC 20426
RE: Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. 619-CA
Bucks Creek Transmission Line Raptor Protection Evaluation Report
Dear Acting Secretary Reese:
This letter presents the results of an evaluation of the Bucks Creek Grizzly PH 115 kV
transmission line for consistency with the design configurations recommended by the Avian
Powerline Interaction Committee (APLIC) in the Suggested Practices for Avian Protection on
Powerlines: The State of the Art in 2006 and Reducing Avian Collisions with Power Lines, The
State of the Art in 2012 (APLIC 2006, 2012). Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E)
received a new license from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to operate the
Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project (FERC Project No.619) on June 16, 2022. The license
included United States Forest Service 4(e) Condition No. 46 (Transmission Line Raptor
Protection) which required an evaluation be conducted.
The evaluation determined the Grizzly PH 115 kV transmission line has been rebuilt consistent
with the suggested guidelines provided by APLIC and therefore the development of a Raptor
Protection Plan as described in 4(e) Condition No. 46 is not required. PG&E provided the results
of the evaluation to the Forest Service, California Department of Fish and Wildlife and United
States Fish and Wildlife Service in an email dated May 1, 2024. To date, no responses have
been received.
Enclosed with this letter is a copy of the Bucks Creek Transmission Line Raptor Protection
Evaluation (Enclosure 1) and a record of agency notification (Enclosure 2). This letter serves as
documentation of completion of the evaluation required by 4(e) Condition No. 46.
If you have questions or comments regarding this matter, please contact Jamie Visinoni, senior
license coordinator for PG&E, at (530) 215-6676.
Sincerely,
Matthew Joseph
Supervisor, Hydro License Management
Enclosures:
1. Bucks Creek Transmission Line Raptor Protection Evaluation
2. Agency Notification via Email
Document Accession #: 20240617-5014 Filed Date: 06/17/2024
ENCLOSURE 1
Document Accession #: 20240617-5014 Filed Date: 06/17/2024
1
This memorandum presents the results of an evaluation of the Bucks Creek Grizzly PH 115 kV transmission
line for consistency with the design configurations recommended by the Avian Powerline Interaction
Committee (APLIC) in the Suggested Practices for Avian Protection on Powerlines: The State of the Art in
2006 and Reducing Avian Collisions with Power Lines, The State of the Art in 2012 (APLIC 2006, 2012).
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and the City of Santa Clara, together the Licensees, received a
new license from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to operate the Bucks Creek
Hydroelectric Project (FERC Project No. 619) on June 16, 2022. The United States Forest Service 4(e)
Condition No. 46 (Transmission Line Raptor Protection) of the new license states the following:
“Within two years of license issuance, the Licensees shall conduct an evaluation of the Project
transmission line (Grizzly PH 115 kV) to determine the line’s consistency with design
configurations as recommended by the Avian Power Line Interaction Committee (APLIC 2006
and 2012) guidance documents, or updated versions of these documents as they are issued.
If it is determined that the configurations are inconsistent with APLIC guidelines, the Licensees
shall, within one year following the evaluation, file with the Commission, a Raptor Protection
Plan (“Plan”) approved by the Forest Service, USFWS, and CDFW. The Plan shall summarize
the evaluation and describe the approach to upgrade the Project transmission line (Grizzly PH
115 kV) for consistency with APLIC guidelines. The Plan shall include the following elements,
at a minimum:
• Design of Modifications - develop design proposals including detailed specifications
• Repair Schedule - complete (1) minor repairs or retrofits (e.g., changing conductor
spacing, installing bird flight diverters or new insulators) within three years of Plan
approval, and/or (2) major repairs as appropriate (e.g., pole replacement or retrofit)
within 10 years of license issuance
• Consultation Process - provide proposed design modifications to the Forest Service,
USFWS, and CDFW for review, to ensure consistency with APLIC guidelines
Regardless of whether a Plan is required, throughout the term of the new license, the Licensees
shall:
• Ensure all newly installed powerlines, poles, conductors, and other transmission
infrastructure and associated equipment conform to current APLIC guidelines.
• Record all incidental observations of bird electrocutions and/or collisions, and dead
birds found by the Licensees’ O&M staff within the FERC Project Boundary.”
The Grizzly PH 115 kV transmission line runs from Bucks Creek Powerhouse at the North Fork Feather
Date: File#
To:
From:
Subject:
Document Accession #: 20240617-5014 Filed Date: 06/17/2024
PG&E Bucks Creek Transmission Line Raptor Protection Evaluation
2
River to the Grizzly Powerhouse at the Grizzly Forebay in Plumas County, CA (Figure 1). On July 13, 2021,
the Dixie fire started within the Feather River watershed. The fire, which burned 963,309 acres, burned
the entire Grizzly PH 115kV transmission line. In 2023, PG&E executed Phase I of the project to rebuild
the Grizzly PH 115 kV transmission line.
Pre-fire, the Grizzly PH 115kV transmission line was composed of 115 kV transmission line conductor on
wood poles. There was electric distribution under-build (i.e., distribution line below transmission line on
the same structures) on 21 structures from the Bucks Creek Powerhouse switchyard to the top of the
ridge towards Grizzly Powerhouse. The remaining structures from the top of the ridge to the Grizzly
Powerhouse switchyard only held transmission conductor.
Considering the fire risk in the Bucks Creek Project area and PG&E’s efforts to increase fire safety
associated with electric facilities, the decision was made to rebuild the line using light duty steel poles.
There are several recommendations for reducing the risk of avian interactions with transmission and
distribution lines provided in the two APLIC documents (APLIC 2006, 2012). Examples of some of the
recommendations include appropriate conductor spacing and orientation of the conductor relative to the
crossarm and pole. When a crossarm is used, the APLIC guidelines for steel poles recommend that the
conductors be suspended below the crossarm (APLIC 2006). This allows for birds to perch on the crossarm
without risk of electrocution. When the line is attached to the pole without a cross arm, the
recommendation is to install the line with several insulators to increase the distance between the steel
pole and the energized conductor (APLIC 2006). The recommended conductor spacing for 115kV
transmission lines is 71 inches of horizontal space and 51 inches of vertical space between the energized
conductors (APLIC 2006). Distribution lines covered with tree wire helps prevent collision-based injuries
and electrocutions, when large birds momentarily contact more than one conductor as they fly between
lines, as well as preventing electrocution for perching birds (APLIC 2012).
During the planning phase, it was confirmed that the rebuild design would be consistent with APLIC
guidelines. The vertical and horizontal spacing of the conductors were more than 71 inches and 51 inches,
respectively. The distribution under build was to install tree wire, and for poles with crossarms, the
conductors were installed suspended below the cross arm, as applicable. Each conductor was to be
installed with 8 to 9 glass insulators, creating at least 46 to 52 inches of separation between the conductor
and either the crossarm or the pole. After reviewing the as-built drawings, the Grizzly PH 115 kV
transmission line was built to the specifications is the design drawings. The conductors have at least 90
inches horizontal separation between adjacent conductors or adjacent poles (Figure 2). The conductors
have at least 150 inches of separation between the 115 kV transmission line and the under build
distribution line (Figure 2). Structures with crossarms were installed with the conductor suspended below
the crossarm. Conductors installed on poles without crossarms, had 9 insulators attached between the
pole and conductor, creating at least 52 inches of clearance between the pole and the line (Figure 3).
The Grizzly PH 115 kV transmission line has been rebuilt consistent with the suggested guidelines provided
by APLIC. The development of a Raptor Protection Plan as described in 4(e) Condition No. 46 is not
required at this time. As required by the license, the new construction was installed consistent the APLIC
recommendations and any incidental observations of avian electrocutions will be recorded.
Document Accession #: 20240617-5014 Filed Date: 06/17/2024
3
Figure 1. Grizzly PH 115 kV Transmission line and FERC No. 619 Project Vicinity
Document Accession #: 20240617-5014 Filed Date: 06/17/2024
4
Figure 2. As-built drawing of Grizzly PH 115 kV Transmission line showing an example of a transmission
structure with crossarm, suspended conductors, and under build distribution line.
Document Accession #: 20240617-5014 Filed Date: 06/17/2024
PG&E Bucks Creek Transmission Line Raptor Protection Evaluation
5
Figure 3. As-built drawing of Grizzly PH 115 kV Transmission line showing an example of a transmission
structure with conductor connected to insulators without a crossarm.
Document Accession #: 20240617-5014 Filed Date: 06/17/2024
ENCLOSURE 2
Document Accession #: 20240617-5014 Filed Date: 06/17/2024
From:Visinoni, Jamie
To:Edlund, Leslie - FS; Sable, Kurt A -FS; Alvarez, Dawn -FS; Hamilton, David - FS, CA; Weintraub, Kelly - FS
Cc:"Aondrea_Bartoo@fws.gov"; Michael Maher; Wise Jr., Larry; Johnson, Shannon
Subject:FERC 619 - Bucks Creek Transmission Line Raptor Protection Evaluation, Condition No. 46
Date:Wednesday, May 01, 2024 1:37:00 PM
Attachments:PG&E_BucksCreek_T-line_RaptorProtectionEvaluation_FINAL_30Apr2024.docx
Hello Forest Service,
This email presents the results of an evaluation of the Bucks Creek Grizzly PH 115 kV transmission
line for consistency with the design configurations recommended by the Avian Powerline Interaction
Committee (APLIC) in the Suggested Practices for Avian Protection on Powerlines: The State of the
Art in 2006 and Reducing Avian Collisions with Power Lines, The State of the Art in 2012 (APLIC 2006,
2012). Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) received a new license from the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC) to operate the Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project (FERC Project No.
619) on June 16, 2022. The license included United States Forest Service 4(e) Condition No. 46
(Transmission Line Raptor Protection) which required an evaluation be conducted. Please see
attached results of the evaluation.
The evaluation determined the Grizzly PH 115 kV transmission line has been rebuilt consistent with
the suggested guidelines provided by APLIC and therefore the development of a Raptor Protection
Plan as described in 4(e) Condition No. 46 is not required. This email serves as documentation of
completion of the evaluation required by 4(e) Condition No. 46.
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
Document Accession #: 20240617-5014 Filed Date: 06/17/2024
Document Content(s)
PGE20240615_619_BC_APLIC_Trans_Line_Rap_Pro_Eval_Rpt.pdf .................1
Document Accession #: 20240617-5014 Filed Date: 06/17/2024