[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 131 (Tuesday, July 11, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44124-44125]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-14609]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 77-313]


Pacific Gas and Electric Company; Notice of Application Accepted 
for Filing and 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. Application Type: Application for Temporary Variance of Flow 
Requirements.
    b. Project No: 77-313.
    c. Date Filed: May 23, 2023.
    d. Applicant: Pacific Gas and Electric Company (licensee).
    e. Name of Project: Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project.
    f. Location: The project is located on the Eel River and East Fork 
of the Russian River in Lake and Mendocino counties, California.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791a--825r.
    h. Applicant Contact: Jackie Pope, License Coordinator; Pacific Gas 
and Electric Company; Mail Code N11D, P.O. Box 770000, San Francisco, 
CA 94177; Phone: (530) 245-4007.
    i. FERC Contact: Alicia Burtner, (202) 502-8038, 
[email protected].
    j. Deadline for filing comments, motions to intervene, and 
protests: August 4, 2023.
    The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file 
comments, motions to intervene, and protests 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, you may 
submit a paper copy. Submissions sent via the U.S. Postal Service must 
be addressed to: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, 888 First Street NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426. 
Submissions sent via any other carrier must be addressed to: Kimberly 
D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins 
Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852. The first page of any filing should 
include the docket number P-77-313. Comments emailed to Commission 
staff are not considered part of the Commission record.
    The Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure require all 
intervenors filing documents with the Commission to serve a copy of 
that document on each person whose name appears on the official service 
list for the project. Further, if an intervenor 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.
    k. Description of Request: The licensee requests a temporary 
variance of its minimum flow requirements in the East Fork of the 
Russian River. Due to seismic risk at Scott Dam, the licensee does not 
intend to close the dam's gates, reducing the storage capacity in Lake 
Pillsbury by approximately 20,000 acre-feet. The licensee proposes to 
reclassify the water year type to reduce flow releases to Eel River 
below Scott Dam from the current normal water year requirement of 60 
cfs to a critical water year flow floor set by the minimum opening of 
the low-level outlet of approximately 20 cubic feet per second (cfs). 
Minimum flows into the Eel River below Cape Horn Dam would be 15 cfs, 
consistent with a wet water year classification. Minimum flow releases 
to the East Fork of the Russian River would be reduced from normal 
water year requirements of 75 cfs to 25 cfs, as required during a dry 
water year, but the proposed variance includes the flexibility to 
adjust these flows to critically dry year releases of 5 cfs if daily 
average Lake Pillsbury release water temperatures at gage E-2 exceed 16 
degrees Celsius or as needed to maintain the reservoir elevation for 
facility safety. The licensee additionally requests that compliance 
with flow requirements to the Eel River below Cape Horn Dam be measured 
as a 24-hour average versus instantaneously to allow for a tighter 
compliance buffer. The request includes provisions for water 
temperature monitoring and monthly consultation throughout 
implementation of the proposed variance. The licensee requests that the 
variance would begin immediately upon Commission approval and conclude 
when Lake Pillsbury storage exceeds 36,000 acre-feet following October 
1, 2022 or is superseded by another variance. The licensee states it is 
also developing a proposal for Commission approval, for a long-term 
flow regime to assure compliance of environmental requirements with the 
spill gates remaining open.
    l. Locations of the Application: This filing may be viewed on the 
Commission's website at http://www.ferc.gov using the ``eLibrary'' 
link. 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. Agencies may 
obtain copies of the application directly from the applicant.
    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, respectively. 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 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 commenting, 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. Any filing made by an intervenor must be accompanied 
by proof of service on all

[[Page 44125]]

persons listed in the service list prepared by the Commission in this 
proceeding, in accordance with 18 CFR 385.2010.
    p. The Commission's Office of Public Participation (OPP) supports 
meaningful public engagement and participation in Commission 
proceedings. OPP can help members of the public, including landowners, 
environmental justice communities, Tribal members and others, access 
publicly available information and navigate Commission processes. For 
public inquiries and assistance with making filings such as 
interventions, comments, or requests for rehearing, the public is 
encouraged to contact OPP at (202) 502-6595 or [email protected].

    Dated: July 5, 2023.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-14609 Filed 7-10-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P