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Home My WebLink About12.2.2024 Board Correspondence - FW_ Request for Delay of Action_Extension of Time submitted in FERC P-619-000 by Pacific Gas and Electric Company,et al.From:Clerk of the Board To:BOS Cc:Nuzum, Danielle; Loeser, Kamie Subject:Board Correspondence - FW: Request for Delay of Action/Extension of Time submitted in FERC P-619-000 by Pacific Gas and Electric Company,et al. Date:Monday, December 2, 2024 4:47:49 PM Please see Board Correspondence below. -----Original Message----- From: 'FERC eSubscription' <eSubscription@ferc.gov> Sent: Monday, December 2, 2024 3:25 PM Subject: Request for Delay of Action/Extension of Time 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 12/2/2024, 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: Request for Delay of Action/Extension of Time Description: Pacific Gas and Electric Company submits request for extension of time until 10/31/2025 to complete gravel augmentation at 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=20241202- 5294__;!!KNMwiTCp4spf!BAfnJ7EXZa7jGCzKJS5Uk86HwNF_YXRhDOkTvarZK3Zu-47W7qoxY87a- fFeiCYVAMuS96HVy3NfrEng_XLJy_QeMg9E10KxRhQV$ To modify your subscriptions, click here: 47W7qoxY87a-fFeiCYVAMuS96HVy3NfrEng_XLJy_QeMg9E1-jg9ByB$ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Please do not respond to this email. Online help is available here: https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.ferc.gov/efiling-help.asp__;!!KNMwiTCp4spf!BAfnJ7EXZa7jGCzKJS5Uk86HwNF_YXRhDOkTvarZK3Zu- 47W7qoxY87a-fFeiCYVAMuS96HVy3NfrEng_XLJy_QeMg9E1_LkczWy$ 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 December 2, 2024 Via Electronic Submittal (E-File) Debbie-Anne Reese, Secretary Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 888 First Street, N. E. Washington, D.C. 20426 Re: Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. 619-CA-CA Request for Extension of Time – Gravel Augmentation State Water Resources Control Board 401 Water Quality Certification Condition 14 and U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service’s section 4(e) Condition No. 41 Dear Secretary Reese: Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is writing to seek approval for an extension of time to complete gravel augmentation as described in the Gravel Augmentation Plan (GAP) 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 14 and U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service’s (“Forest Service”) section 4(e) Condition No. 41 require the licensees to implement the Bucks Creek GAP. Section 3 of the GAP requires gravel augmentation at two locations: • Bucks Creek downstream of Lower Bucks Dam Spillway upstream of the right bank mass wasting site. • Grizzly Creek downstream of the Grizzly Creek gaging weir. PG&E requested an extension of time (EOT) until August 1, 2024, to conduct the baseline topographic surveys required by the GAP according to Section 401 Water Quality Certification Condition 14 and Forest Service 4(e) Condition No. 41. FERC issued an order granting the EOT on January 16, 2024. The baseline monitoring topographic surveys were completed June 27–28, 2024. PG&E submitted the Bucks Creek 2024 Gravel Augmentation Monitoring Survey Report, which included topographic survey results to FERC and the agencies on July 30, 2024. PG&E internally discussed the permitting strategy for executing the gravel augmentation work at length and assessed all options and requirements carefully. PG&E verified permitting requirements and confirmed that either (1) the necessary permits/permissions have been obtained, or (2) certain permits are not required; however, the process to reach a final Document Accession #: 20241202-5294 Filed Date: 12/02/2024 Debbie-Anne Reese, Secretary December 2, 2024 Page 2 determination from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) regarding the Section §404 review and authorization under the Clean Water Act required a significant amount of time as it included confirmation on whether it was necessary given the work would be conducted within the context of the Bucks Creek FERC License and standard L form, L-05, “For constructed major projects that affect the lands and navigable waters of the United States”, L Form Article 21. PG&E recently received communication from the USACE, they determined that the gravel augmentation project requires a Section §404 permit, irrespective of the intent of the fill or the land management provisions outlined in the Bucks Creek FERC license and the standard L-form. PG&E remains committed to adhering to all applicable regulations and requirements and is currently reviewing the implications of this determination on the project’s scope and timeline. For that reason, PG&E is seeking an extension to perform gravel augmentation by October 31, 2025, License Year 3. PG&E sought approval from the agencies in an email dated November 7, 2024. The Forest Service provided a concurrence letter via email on November 15, 2024 (Enclosure 1). PG&E anticipates receiving a concurrence letter from the SWRC very soon and will promptly file with FERC upon receipt. For general questions, please contact PG&E’s Senior Consulting Scientist, Rohit Salve, at (925) 719-2110 or PG&E’s Senior License Coordinator, Jamie Visinoni, at (530) 215-6676. Sincerely, Matthew Joseph Supervisor, Hydro License Compliance Enclosure: 1. EOT Concurrence email from agencies Document Accession #: 20241202-5294 Filed Date: 12/02/2024 United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service National Forest Quincy, CA 95971-6025 (530)283-2050 Voice Caring for the Land and Serving People Printed on Recycled Paper File Code: 2770 Date: November 15, 2024 Jamie Visinoni Hydro License Coordinator/Power Generation Pacific Gas and Electric Company jnvs@pge.com Re: Bucks Creek Gravel Augmentation Plan Extension of Time Dear Ms. Visinoni, I have reviewed Pacific Gas & Electric’s (PG&E’s) request for an extension of time to complete gravel augmentation as described in the Gravel Augmentation Plan (GAP) for PG&E and City of Santa Clara’s (Licensees) Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) No. 619. PG&E is requesting to extend the gravel augmentation completion date to October 31, 2025. Under the new Bucks Creek License #619, 4(e) Condition No. 41 requires the licensees to implement the Bucks Creek GAP. Section 3 of the GAP requires gravel augmentation at two locations: •Bucks Creek downstream of Lower Bucks Dam Spillway, upstream of the right bank mass wasting site. •Grizzly Creek downstream of the Grizzly Creek gaging weir. Last November, PG&E requested an extension of time (EOT) until August 1, 2024, to conduct the baseline topographic surveys required by the GAP according to Section 401 Water Quality Certification Condition 14 and Forest Service 4(e) Condition No. 41. The Forest Service concurred on November 3, 2023, and FERC issued an order granting the EOT on January 16, 2024. The baseline monitoring topographic surveys were completed June 27 - 28, 2024. PG&E submitted the Bucks Creek 2024 Gravel Augmentation Monitoring Survey Report, which included topographic survey results to FERC and the agencies on July 30, 2024. Executing the gravel augmentation work has yet to be completed. PG&E has verified permitting requirements and confirmed that Section 404 review and authorization under the Clean Water Act for the gravel augmentation will be needed. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has determined that this project requires a Section §404 permit, irrespective of the intent of the fill or the land management provisions outlined in the Bucks Creek FERC license. PG&E is currently reviewing the implications of this permitting requirement on the timeline for completion of the Document Accession #: 20241202-5294 Filed Date: 12/02/2024 augmentation, but with winter weather approaching, gravel augmentation will not be completed this year. Due to the additional permitting requirements, I approve this extension of time through October 31, 2025. If you have any questions or need anything further, please contact Leslie Edlund, Acting Recreation and Land Program Manager at (530) 283-7620, or by email at leslie.edlund@usda.gov. Sincerely, RICK HOPSON Forest Supervisor cc: Joseph Hoffman, Erika Brenzovich Document Accession #: 20241202-5294 Filed Date: 12/02/2024 RICHARD HOPSON Digitally signed by RICHARD HOPSON Date: 2024.11.18 17:34:28 -08'00' Document Content(s) 20241202_619_Gravel_Augmentation_EOT_Ltr.pdf..............................1 20241202_619_Gravel_Augmentation_EOT_Enc1.pdf.............................3 Document Accession #: 20241202-5294 Filed Date: 12/02/2024