[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 149 (Wednesday, August 5, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39066-39069]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-18634]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 2106-059]
Pacific Gas and Electric Company; Notice of Application Tendered
for Filing With the Commission and Establishing Procedural Schedule for
Licensing and Deadline for Submission of Final Amendments
July 29, 2009.
Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been
filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection.
a. Type of Application: New Major License.
b. Project No.: 2106-059.
c. Date Filed: July 16, 2009.
d. Applicant: Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E).
e. Name of Project: McCloud-Pit Hydroelectric Project.
f. Location: The existing project is located on the McCloud and Pit
Rivers in Shasta County, California. The project occupies lands of the
United States, managed by the United States Department of Agriculture--
Forest Service and the United States Department of Interior--Bureau of
Land Management.
g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act 16 U.S.C. 791(a)-825(r).
h. Applicant Contact: Randal S. Livingston, Vice President--Power
Generation, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, P.O. Box 770000, Mail
Code N11E, San Francisco, CA 94177-0001; Telephone (415) 973-7000.
i. FERC Contact: Emily Carter at (202) 502-6512 or
[email protected].
j. This application is not ready for environmental analysis at this
time.
k. The Project Description: The existing McCloud-Pit Project
consists of three existing developments (James B. Black, Pit 6, and Pit
7), which collectively include two storage reservoirs (McCloud and Iron
Canyon), two regulating reservoirs (Pit 6 and Pit 7), one afterbay (Pit
7), two tunnels, three powerhouses (James B. Black, Pit 6, and Pit 7),
and associated equipment and transmission facilities. The project has
an installed capacity of 368-megawatts (MW), produces an average annual
generation of 1,542 gigawatt-hours (GWh), and occupies 3,707.6 acres of
land. Approximately 1,651.4 of these acres are federally owned, with
1,621.9 managed by the Shasta-Trinity National Forest and 29.5 managed
by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. In addition to the existing
facilities, PG&E is proposing to construct two generation additions
consisting of powerhouses at the base of McCloud dam (5-8 MW) and at
the base of Pit 7 Afterbay dam (10 MW).
The project involves the transfer of water from the McCloud River
basin to the Lower Pit River basin via a tunnel from the McCloud
reservoir to Iron Canyon reservoir. Iron Canyon reservoir is on Iron
Canyon Creek, a tributary of the Pit River. Water flows from Iron
Canyon reservoir via a tunnel to the James B. Black powerhouse.
Although the project diverts water from the McCloud River basin to the
Lower Pit River basin, both basins drain to Shasta Lake.
James B. Black Development
McCloud Dam and McCloud Reservoir
McCloud dam is a 241-foot-high, 630-foot-long earth and rock filled
dam located on the McCloud River and impounds McCloud reservoir. The
McCloud reservoir has a surface area of 520 acres and a maximum storage
capacity of approximately 35,234 acre-feet (af). The spillway
[elevation 2,696.0 feet National Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD)] is on
the south side of the dam. The reservoir has a normal maximum water
surface elevation of 2,680 feet. The dam is equipped with three radial
gates measuring 27 feet by 24.5 feet, discharging into a spillway that
returns spillage flows to the McCloud River below the dam. The dam also
has a 12-foot diameter diversion/outlet tunnel that runs under the dam
to supply a 24-inch Howell-Bunger valve for releasing instream flows to
the McCloud River, as well as an 84-inch diameter butterfly valve for
emergency use to control reservoir levels. Controls for the diversion/
outlet tunnel are located at the intake within McCloud reservoir.
McCloud Tunnel
A 7.2-mile-long tunnel and a 563-foot-long pipeline at Hawkins
Creek crossing hydraulically link McCloud reservoir and Iron Canyon
reservoir. An intake tower within McCloud reservoir collects water for
the McCloud tunnel, which is approximately 17 feet in diameter and
heads easterly to Iron Canyon reservoir. The differential in water
surface elevations between the two reservoirs controls the amount of
water drafted through the tunnel.
Iron Canyon Dam and Reservoir
An earth-filled dam 214 feet high and 1,130 feet long impounds Iron
Canyon reservoir. The reservoir has a maximum storage capacity of
24,241 af with an approximate 500-acre surface area. The dam has a
slide gate leading to a 48-inch diameter pipe for instream flow
releases to Iron Canyon Creek. Normal maximum water surface elevation
within the reservoir is 2,664 feet. When the water surface of Iron
Canyon reservoir is lowered, water flows through the McCloud tunnel
from McCloud reservoir to Iron Canyon reservoir.
Iron Canyon Tunnel and Penstock
Iron Canyon reservoir is connected to James B. Black powerhouse via
the 2.9-mile long, 18-foot diameter Iron Canyon Tunnel, an associated
1,194-foot-long, 11.5-foot diameter pipeline at the Willow Spring Creek
crossing, and a
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5,467-foot-long, 11.5-foot diameter steel penstock. The penstock
bifurcates before James B. Black powerhouse to deliver water flow to
the two turbine generator units. The tunnel and penstock have a total
flow capacity of 2,000 cfs.
James B. Black Powerhouse
James B. Black powerhouse is located on the northwest bank of the
Pit River, approximately 0.5 miles upstream of the non-Project Pit 5
powerhouse (FERC Project No. 233). The powerhouse is a three-level,
reinforced concrete structure containing two vertical shaft impulse
turbines rated at 104,000 hp each. They operate at a normal maximum
gross head of 1,226 feet. Unit 1 was commissioned in 1966 and Unit 2 in
1965. Two vertical axis outdoor generators, Unit 1 rated at 94.8
megavolt-ampere (MVA) and Unit 2 rated at 92.6 MVA, are connected to a
three phase, 86 MVA transformer bank. Their combined maximum capacity
is 172 MW. Average annual generation within the past 25 years at the
station is 656.3 GWh.
Transmission
Transmission lines (230 kilovolt [kV]) extend approximately 0.5
mile from the transformer bank in the switchyard adjacent to the James
B. Black powerhouse to the switchyard adjacent to the Pit 5 powerhouse.
Pit 6 Development
Pit 6 Dam and Reservoir
Pit 6 dam and reservoir are located on the Pit River downstream of
James B. Black powerhouse. The 183-foot-high, 560-foot-long concrete
gravity Pit 6 dam has a crest elevation of 1,432 feet. The top of the
dam contains a trash rake, motors for two 42-foot-high by 49-foot-long
slide gates and a control building. The control building houses a
hydraulic system for two low-level, eight-foot diameter outlets at the
base of the dam. The Pit 6 reservoir has a maximum storage capacity of
approximately 15,619 af and a maximum surface area of approximately 268
acres. The normal maximum water surface elevation within the reservoir
is 1,425 feet. The reservoir serves as the forebay for the Pit 6
powerhouse. Two 18-foot diameter steel penstocks with a total flow
capacity of 6,470 cfs extend 602 feet from the dam to the turbines in
the powerhouse located at the base of the dam.
Pit 6 Powerhouse
Pit 6 powerhouse, commissioned in August 1965, is located along the
east bank of the Pit River at the base of Pit 6 dam. The powerhouse is
a four-level reinforced concrete structure, three levels of which are
below grade. The structure contains two vertical shaft, Francis
reaction turbines, rated at 53,000 hp each and operating at a normal
maximum gross head of 155 feet. There are two outdoor vertical axis
generators, rated at 44 MVA each, with each unit connected to a three-
phase 44 MVA transformer bank that steps up plant output to 230 kV. The
maximum generator capacity is 80 MW. Average annual generation over the
last 25 years is 373.8 GWh.
Transmission
Transmission lines extend approximately 3.3 miles from the
switchyard adjacent to the Pit 6 powerhouse to the Applicant's
interconnected transmission system.
Pit 7 Development
Pit 7 Dam and Reservoir
Pit 7 dam and reservoir are located on the Pit River downstream of
Pit 6 powerhouse. The Pit 7 dam is a 228-foot-high and 770-foot-long
concrete gravity dam. The top of the dam contains a trash rake, motors
for two 49-foot by 42-foot slide gates at the crest of the dam, and a
control building. The control building houses hydraulic controls for
two eight-foot in diameter, low-level outlets at the base of the dam.
The Pit 7 reservoir has a maximum storage capacity of 34,611 af and a
surface area of approximately 471 acres at a normal maximum water
surface elevation of 1,270 feet. As with Pit 6, the Pit 7 reservoir
serves at the forebay for the Pit 7 powerhouse. Two penstocks, 15 feet
in diameter, extend 572 feet from the dam to the turbines in the
powerhouse, located at the base of the dam. Total flow capacity within
the penstocks is 7,440 cfs.
Pit 7 Powerhouse
Pit 7 powerhouse, commissioned in September 1965, is located along
the east bank of the Pit River at the base of Pit 7 dam. The powerhouse
consists of a four-level, reinforced concrete structure, three levels
of which are below grade. The powerhouse contains two vertical-shaft
reaction turbines that are rated at 70,000 hp each and operate at a
normal maximum gross head of 205 feet. Two vertical axis generators are
rated at 52.2 (Unit 2) and 62.1 MVA (Unit 1), respectively. Their
maximum combined capacity is 112 MW. Each unit is connected to a three-
phase, 58 MVA transformer bank that steps up plant output to 230 kV.
The average annual generation over the last 25 years is 512 GWh.
Transmission
Transmission lines extend approximately 3.5 miles from the
switchyard adjacent to the Pit 7 powerhouse to the Applicant's
interconnected transmission system.
Pit 7 Afterbay
Pit 7 afterbay has a surface area of approximately 69 acres at a
normal ``maximum'' water surface elevation of 1,067 feet (maximum water
surface of Shasta Lake). The afterbay dam is a 30-foot-high, steel-
reinforced, rock-fill structure, including a variable width concrete
gravity weir section. Pit 7 afterbay serves to attenuate changes in the
water flow from Pit 7 dam and powerhouse before entering Shasta Lake.
Proposed Facilities
McCloud Development
PG&E proposes to construct a powerhouse located at the base of
McCloud dam. Generation output from the proposed powerhouse would be
connected to a new transmission line that would be routed from the
proposed powerhouse to connect to an existing Pacific Power and Light
(PP&L) Substation located approximately 14 miles to the north, in the
town of McCloud, California. McCloud Development would use water stored
in McCloud Reservoir and released into the Lower McCloud River to meet
instream flow requirements and no new impoundments are proposed. With a
flow range of 150 cfs to 400 cfs, the turbine and generator set would
have an installed capacity of about 5 to 8 MW. The proposed McCloud
Development would have an average range of annual energy production of
30 to 40 GWh and average monthly generation would be approximately 2.5
to 3.3 GWh. PG&E proposes to base the final size of the unit,
powerhouse hydraulic capacity, and average annual energy production on
instream flow requirements included in the new project license.
The proposed powerhouse would be positioned to the south of the
current outlet works control building and would be a reinforced
concrete-and-block masonry structure designed to enclose and protect
the electro-mechanical generation equipment, withstand area snow loads,
and prevent possible vandalism. It would be accessed via the existing
project road that connects to Forest Road 38N11. The powerhouse would
be equipped with a single vertical-axis Francis turbine. The
[[Page 39068]]
turbine, which would have a discharge diameter of approximately 54
inches, would operate at about 450 revolutions per minute. The direct-
coupled synchronous generator rating would range from 5,600 to 7,500
kW.
The proposed transmission line route from the powerhouse would
follow Forest Road 38N11 and then county roads to the existing PP&L
Substation approximately 14 miles north in the town of McCloud.
Pit 7 Afterbay Development
PG&E proposes to construct at Pit 7 Afterbay Development, including
a powerhouse located on the west side of Pit 7 Afterbay dam at the
regulating weir. Generation output from the proposed powerhouse would
be connected to a new transmission line that would be routed from the
powerhouse to connect to the switchyard located approximately 1.6 miles
to the east at Pit 7 powerhouse. The proposed facilities would have no
meaningful storage and would operate in a run-of-the-river mode. The
available flows for energy production would be dictated by the
operation of the upstream Pit 7 powerhouse.
The proposed Pit 7 Afterbay powerhouse would use water released
upstream from Pit 7 powerhouse and dam and no new impoundments are
proposed. The proposed powerhouse would be configured for two
horizontal-axis synchronous generating units, each rated at 5,500 kW
and housed in an approximately 30-foot-wide x 110-foot-long intake
approach bay. Each of the generating bays would have a design flow of
2,500 cfs. The upstream entrance to each intake bay would include a
trashrack to stop large debris from entering the unit. Two radial gates
approximately 26-foot-wide by 52-foot-high would be constructed
upstream of the unit to regulate flow and for dewatering the turbine
pit. A roller gate would be constructed at the downstream end of each
bay or the tailrace to prevent backwatering during maintenance. A
combination of ramps, walkways, and ladders would be used in each bay
to allow for maintenance access and support the gate operator
mechanism. A 20-foot-wide bypass flow bay, which would house a radial
gate and operator, would be built in the first phase of construction.
The bypass flow bay would be used to pass river flows during the second
phase of construction and during times of non-generation. The bypass
flow bay also would require a walkway to allow maintenance and
operation access and support the gate operator mechanism. A new access
road would be constructed to access the powerhouse for construction,
operation, and maintenance. The access road would extend between
Fenders Ferry Road and the afterbay, just west of Fenders Ferry Bridge.
Based on a flow range of 2,500 cfs to 5,000 cfs, the 2-unit powerhouse
would accommodate turbine and generator sets capable of an installed
capacity of about 5 MW each for a total of 10 MW. The average monthly
generation from this proposed powerhouse would be approximately 4.2
GWh.
The proposed powerhouse substation would be fenced and located on
the ground near the control house, but above the maximum anticipated
flood and tailwater levels. Substation equipment would include a step-
up substation to transform energy for the transmission line. Powerhouse
controls and switchgear would be installed in a separate building
located on the right bank of the river, positioned above the maximum
anticipated water level and inside the substation fence. The building
would house the required equipment for control and protection of the
generation units and would be equipped with electric heating and
cooling. The transmission line would be a 1.6-mile-long, 34.5-kV,
wooden-pole line connecting the proposed powerhouse to a new 34.5- to
230-kV transformer, positioned at or near the existing 230-kV Pit 7
switchyard. A new 230-kV circuit breaker and disconnect switch would be
connected by a short span to the main bus of the existing Pit 7
switchyard.
l. Locations of the Application: A copy of the application is
available for review at the Commission in the Public Reference Room or
may be viewed on the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov using
the ``eLibrary'' link. Enter the docket number, excluding the last
three digits, into the docket number field to access the document. For
assistance, contact FERC Online Support at [email protected]
or toll-free at 1-866-208-3676, or for TTY, (202) 502-8659. A copy is
also available for inspection and reproduction at the address in item
(h) above.
m. You may also register online at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp to be notified via e-mail of new filings and
issuances related to this or other pending projects. For assistance,
contact FERC Online Support.
n. Procedural Schedule:
The application will be processed according to the following Hydro
Licensing Schedule. Revisions to the schedule may be made as
appropriate.
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Milestone Target date
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Tendering Notice..................... July 29, 2009.
Notice of Acceptance/Notice of Ready October 30, 2009.
for Environmental Analysis (when
FERC approved studies are complete).
Filing of recommendations, December 29, 2009.
preliminary terms and conditions,
and fishway prescriptions.
Commission issues Draft EA or EIS.... August 11, 2010.
Comments on Draft EA or EIS.......... September 10, 2010.
Modified Terms and Conditions........ November 9, 2010.
Commission Issues Final EA or EIS.... February 7, 2011.
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o. Final amendments to the application must be filed with the
Commission no later than 30 days from the issuance date of the notice
of ready for environmental analysis.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9-18634 Filed 8-4-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P