[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 140 (Thursday, July 21, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47380-47381]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-17220]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 77-282]


Pacific Gas and Electric Company; Notice of Application Accepted 
for Filing, Soliciting Comments, Motions To Intervene, and Protests

    Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been 
filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection:
    a. Type of Application: Application for Temporary Variance of 
Minimum Flow Requirements.
    b. Project No.: 77-282.
    c. Date Filed: July 6, 2016.
    d. Applicant: Pacific Gas and Electric Company (licensee).
    e. Name of Project: Potter Valley Project.
    f. Location: Eel River and East Fork Russian River in Lake and 
Mendocino Counties, California.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791(a)-825(r).
    h. Applicant Contact: Ms. Elizabeth Rossi, Senior License 
Coordinator, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Mail Code: N13E, P.O. 
Box 770000, San Francisco, CA 94177, Phone: (415) 973-2032.
    i. FERC Contact: Mr. John Aedo, (415) 369-3335, or 
[email protected].
    j. Deadline for filing comments, motions to intervene, protests, 
and recommendations is 30 days from the issuance date of this notice by 
the Commission (August 15, 2016). The Commission strongly encourages 
electronic filing. Please file motions to intervene, protests, 
comments, or recommendations using the Commission's eFiling system at 
http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp. Commenters can submit 
brief comments up to 6,000 characters, without prior registration, 
using the eComment system at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ecomment.asp. You must include your name and contact information at the 
end of your comments. For assistance, please contact FERC Online 
Support at [email protected], (866) 208-3676 (toll free), or 
(202) 502-8659 (TTY). In lieu of electronic filing, please send a paper 
copy to: Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First 
Street NE., Washington, DC 20426. Please include the project number (P-
77-282) on any comments, motions to intervene, protests, or 
recommendations filed.
    k. Description of Request: The licensee requests a temporary 
variance of the minimum flow requirements in the Eel River below Scott 
Dam and the East Branch of the Russian River. The licensee explains 
that Lake Pillsbury only filled to 80 percent this year due to: Dry 
spring conditions; the April 1, 2016 closure schedule of the spillway 
gates for dam safety purposes; and minimum and supplemental flow 
releases. Therefore, in order to conserve water resources, ensure that 
adequate water is available for minimum flow releases and regular water 
deliveries later in the year, and avoid Lake Pillsbury bank sloughing 
and water turbidity, the licensee proposes to reduce minimum flow 
releases at the project. Specifically, the licensee proposes to reduce 
flows in the Eel River below Scott Dam from the required 60 cubic feet 
per second (cfs) normal year requirement to the 20 cfs critical year 
requirement. The licensee

[[Page 47381]]

would also reduce minimum flows in the East Branch Russian River from 
the 75 cfs normal year requirement to the 25 cfs dry year requirement, 
and possibly the 5 cfs critical year requirement, depending on storage 
conditions and in consultation with the resource agencies and 
stakeholders. In conjunction with the proposed variance, the licensee 
proposes to provide no more than 50 cfs to the Potter Valley Irrigation 
District (PVID) through the East Branch Russian River.
    The licensee also proposes to establish a Potter Valley Drought 
Working Group, comprised of the resource agencies and stakeholders, 
which would meet twice monthly during the variance to determine 
appropriate release levels within the framework of the proposed 
variance. The licensee requests that once a flow is established, that a 
24-hour average flow be used as the compliance criteria for the 
corresponding compliance point. Finally, the licensee proposes to file 
monthly compliance reports with the Commission, and to provide bi-
monthly email reports to the resource agencies and stakeholders.
    l. Locations of the Application: A copy of the application is 
available for inspection and reproduction at the Commission's Public 
Reference Room, located at 888 First Street NE., Room 2A, Washington, 
DC 20426, or by calling (202) 502-8371. This filing may also be viewed 
on the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/elibrary.asp. Enter the docket number excluding the last three digits 
in the docket number field to access the document. You may also 
register online at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp to 
be notified via email of new filings and issuances related to this or 
other pending projects. For assistance, call 1-866-208-3676 or email 
[email protected], for TTY, call (202) 502-8659. A copy is 
also available for inspection and reproduction at the address in item 
(h) above.
    m. Individuals desiring to be included on the Commission's mailing 
list should so indicate by writing to the Secretary of the Commission.
    n. Comments, Protests, or Motions To Intervene: Anyone may submit 
comments, a protest, or a motion to intervene in accordance with the 
requirements of Rules of Practice and Procedure, 18 CFR 385.210, .211, 
.214. In determining the appropriate action to take, the Commission 
will consider all protests or other comments filed, but only those who 
file a motion to intervene in accordance with the Commission's Rules 
may become a party to the proceeding. Any comments, protests, or 
motions to intervene must be received on or before the specified 
comment date for the particular application.
    o. Filing and Service of Responsive Documents: Any filing must (1) 
bear in all capital letters the title ``COMMENTS'', ``PROTEST'', or 
``MOTION TO INTERVENE'' as applicable; (2) set forth in the heading the 
name of the applicant and the project number of the application to 
which the filing responds; (3) furnish the name, address, and telephone 
number of the person protesting or intervening; and (4) otherwise 
comply with the requirements of 18 CFR 385.2001 through 385.2005. All 
comments, motions to intervene, or protests must set forth their 
evidentiary basis and otherwise comply with the requirements of 18 CFR 
4.34(b). All comments, motions to intervene, or protests should relate 
to project works which are the subject of proposed action. Agencies may 
obtain copies of the application directly from the applicant. A copy of 
any protest or motion to intervene must be served upon each 
representative of the applicant specified in the particular 
application. If an intervener files comments or documents with the 
Commission relating to the merits of an issue that may affect the 
responsibilities of a particular resource agency, they must also serve 
a copy of the document on that resource agency. A copy of all other 
filings in reference to this application must be accompanied by proof 
of service on all persons listed in the service list prepared by the 
Commission in this proceeding, in accordance with 18 CFR 4.34(b) and 
385.2010.

    Dated: July 15, 2016.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-17220 Filed 7-20-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P