[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 17, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2942-2943]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-00768]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 2997-031]


South Sutter Water District; Notice of Material Amendment of 
License Application, Soliciting Comments and Associated Study Requests

    On July 1, 2019, South Sutter Water District (SSWD) filed, pursuant 
to sections 4(e) and 15 of the Federal Power Act, an application for a 
new major license to continue operating the Camp Far West Hydroelectric 
Project No. 2997 (Camp Far West Project) located on the Bear River in 
Yuba, Nevada, and Placer Counties, California. On July 8, 2019, 
Commission staff issued a Notice of Application Tendered for Filing 
with the Commission and Establishing Procedural Schedule for Licensing 
and Deadline for Submission of Final Amendments. On March 16, 2021, 
Commission staff issued a Notice of Application Ready for Environmental 
Analysis and Soliciting Comments, Recommendations, Terms and 
Conditions, and Prescriptions. On December 28, 2023, SSWD filed an 
amendment to the license application.
    The Camp Far West Project currently occupies about 2,864 acres. No 
federal or tribal lands occur within or adjacent to the project 
boundary or along the Bear River downstream of the project. The project 
operates to primarily provide water during the irrigation season, 
generate power, and meet streamflow requirements for the Bear River.
    Existing project facilities include: (1) a 185-foot-high, 40-foot-
wide, 2,070-foot-long, zoned, earth-filled main dam; (2) a 45-foot-
high, 20-foot-wide, 1,060-foot-long, earth-filled south wing dam; (3) a 
25-foot-high, 20-foot-wide, 1,460-foot-long earth-filled north wing 
dam; (4) a 15-foot-high, 20-foot-wide, 1,450-foot-long earth-filled 
dike; (5) a 1,886-acre reservoir with a gross storage capacity of about 
93,737 acre-feet at the normal maximum water surface elevation (maximum 
water elevation) of 300 feet (NGVD 29); (6) an overflow spillway with a 
15-foot-wide concrete approach apron, 300-foot-long ungated, ogee-type 
concrete structure, and a 77-foot-long downstream concrete chute with 
concrete sidewalls; (7) a 1,200-foot-long unlined rock channel that 
carries spill downstream to the Bear River; (8) a 22-foot-high concrete 
power intake tower with openings on three sides protected by steel 
trashracks; (9) a 760-foot-long, 8-foot-diameter concrete tunnel 
through the left abutment of the main dam that conveys water from the 
power intake to the powerhouse; (10) a steel-reinforced concrete 
powerhouse with a 6.8-megawatt vertical-shaft Francis-type turbine that 
discharges into the Bear River at the base of the main dam; (11) a 
25.3-foot-high concrete vertical intake tower with openings on three 
sides protected by steel trashracks that receives water for the outlet 
works; (12) a 350-foot-long, 48-inch-diameter steel pipe that conveys 
water from the intake structure to a valve chamber for the outlet 
works; (13) a 400-foot-long, 7.5-foot-diameter concrete-lined horseshoe 
tunnel that connects to the valve chamber; (14) a 48-inch-diameter 
outlet valve with a 500-cubic-feet-per-second release capacity at 
maximum water elevation on the downstream face of the main dam that 
discharges directly into the Bear River; (15) a switchyard adjacent to 
the powerhouse; (16) two recreation areas with campgrounds, day-use 
areas, boat ramps, restrooms, and sewage holding ponds; and (17) a 
recreational water system that includes two pumps in the reservoir that 
deliver water to a treatment facility that is piped to a 60,000-gallon 
storage tank to supply water to recreation facilities. The estimated 
average annual generation (2010 to 2017) is 22,637 megawatt-hours.
    In its amended license application, SSWD proposes to: (1) raise the 
maximum water elevation of the project reservoir from 300 feet to 304.8 
feet; (2) replace and restore several recreation facilities; (3) add an 
existing 0.25-mile road as a primary project road to access the project 
powerhouse and switchyard; and (4) modify the project boundary to 
account for (a) the removal of the 1.9-mile-long transmission line from 
the license in 1991, (b) corrections based on current project operation 
and maintenance, and (c) changes to project facilities.
    Additionally, to accommodate passage of the revised probable 
maximum flood (recalculated in 2005) and avoid overtopping the project 
dam, SSWD proposes to: (1) raise the crest of the existing spillway 
from an elevation of 300 feet to 304.8 feet; (2) construct a new 
reinforced-concrete secondary spillway consisting of an approximately

[[Page 2943]]

305-foot-long ungated ogee-type concrete structure and an unlined 300-
foot-wide (at minimum) spillway inlet channel within the reservoir; (3) 
construct an 805-foot-long unlined rock channel that carries spill 
downstream to the existing overflow spillway channel; (4) construct a 
new 300-foot-long, paved bridge constructed of concrete girders with 
side concrete barriers and guardrails for vehicles to drive over the 
dam and along Blackford Road; (5) grade and raise the existing 
Blackford Road to accommodate the approach to the new bridge; and (6) 
relocate an existing powerline segment (non-project) to accommodate the 
new secondary spillway in coordination with Pacific Gas and Electric 
Company.
    Pursuant to 18 CFR 4.35(f)(1)(ii)(A), the license application as 
amended constitutes a material amendment. Due to the material 
amendment, the application is no longer ready for environmental 
analysis at this time. With this notice, we are soliciting comments on 
SSWD's amended application as well as study requests. The deadline for 
filing comments and study requests is 60 days from the issuance date of 
this notice.
    The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file 
comments and study requests 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 Comment system at https://ferconline.ferc.gov/Quick.aspx. 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: Debbie-Anne Reese, Acting 
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, 
Rockville, Maryland 20852. The first page of any filing should include 
docket number P-2997-031.
    Copies of the application 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. For assistance, contact FERC at 
[email protected] or call toll-free, (866) 208-3676 or (202) 
502-8659 (TTY). 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, contact FERC Online Support.
    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].
    Applicant Contact: Hayden Cornwell, General Manager, South Sutter 
Water District, 2464 Pacific Avenue, Trowbridge, California 95659; 
Phone: (530) 656-2242; Email: [email protected].
    FERC Contact: Quinn Emmering, the Commission's project coordinator 
for relicensing the Camp Far West Project, at (202) 502-6382 or 
[email protected].
    The amended application will be processed according to the 
following preliminary schedule. Revisions to the schedule will be made 
as appropriate.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Milestone                           Target date
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FERC Issues Acceptance or Deficiency        March 2024.
 Letter (if necessary).
FERC Requests Additional Information (if    March 2024.
 necessary).
FERC Issues Notice that Application is      June 2024.
 Ready for Environmental Analysis.
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    Dated: January 10, 2024.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-00768 Filed 1-16-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P