[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 90 (Wednesday, May 8, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38888-38890]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-10039]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 2735-104]
Pacific Gas and Electric Company; Notice of Application Tendered
for Filing With the Commission and Soliciting Additional Study Requests
and Establishing Procedural Schedule for Relicensing and a Deadline for
Submission of Final Amendments
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.: 2735-104.
c. Date Filed: April 18, 2024.
d. Applicant: Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E).
e. Name of Project: Helms Pumped Storage Project.
f. Location: About 50 miles northeast of the city of Fresno, on the
North Fork Kings River and Helms Creek, in Fresno and Madera Counties,
California. The project occupies 3,346.6 acres of National Forest
Service land, 28.36 acres of Bureau of Reclamation land, 0.07 acre of
Bureau of Land Management land.
g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791(a)-825(r).
h. Applicant Contact: Dave Gabbard, Vice President Power
Generation, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, 300 Lakeside Drive,
Oakland, CA 94612; telephone at (650) 207-9705; email at
[email protected].
i. FERC Contact: Evan Williams, Project Coordinator, West Branch,
Division of Hydropower Licensing; telephone at (202) 502-8138; email at
[email protected].
j. Cooperating agencies: Federal, state, local, and tribal agencies
with jurisdiction and/or special expertise with respect to
environmental issues
[[Page 38889]]
that wish to cooperate in the preparation of the environmental document
should follow the instructions for filing such requests described in
item l below. Cooperating agencies should note the Commission's policy
that agencies that cooperate in the preparation of the environmental
document cannot also intervene. See 94 FERC ] 61,076 (2001).
k. Pursuant to section 4.32(b)(7) of 18 CFR of the Commission's
regulations, if any resource agency, Indian Tribe, or person believes
that an additional scientific study should be conducted in order to
form an adequate factual basis for a complete analysis of the
application on its merit, the resource agency, Indian Tribe, or person
must file a request for a study with the Commission not later than 60
days from the date of filing of the application, and serve a copy of
the request on the applicant.
l. Deadline for filing additional study requests and requests for
cooperating agency status: June 17, 2024.
The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file
additional study requests and requests for cooperating agency status
using the Commission's eFiling system at https://ferconline.ferc.gov/FERCOnline.aspx. 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:
Debbie-Anne A. Reese, Acting 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 A. Reese, Acting Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, MD 20852. All filings must clearly
identify the project name and docket number on the first page: Helms
Pumped Storage Project (P-2735-104).
m. The application is not ready for environmental analysis at this
time.
n. Project Description: The Helms Pumped Storage Project (project)
includes: (1) a 132-foot-long, by 89-foot-wide, by 58.5-foot-high
concrete intake-discharge structure (Courtright Intake-Discharge
Structure), with metal trash racks, in Courtright Lake; (2) one 4,243-
foot-long tunnel (Tunnel 1) composed of two sections: (a) a 3,312-foot-
long, 27-foot-diameter concrete-lined section; and (b) a 931-foot-long,
22-foot-diameter steel-lined section; (3) a 32.5-foot-long, by 38-foot-
wide, by 45-foot-high gatehouse; (4) a 206-foot-long, 22-foot-diameter,
above-ground steel pipe that connects Tunnel 1 and Tunnel 2; (5) one
9,016-foot-long tunnel (Tunnel 2) composed of two sections: (a) a 764-
foot-long, 22-foot-diameter steel-lined section; and (b) a 8,252-foot-
long, 27-foot-diameter concrete-lined section; (6) a 600-foot-long adit
of an unknown diameter, with an adit plug with frame and gate; (7) a
535-foot-high, vertical shaft surge chamber for Tunnel 2 with a 47-
foot-diameter lower section and 60-foot-diameter upper section, with 12
feet of the chamber exposed above grade; (8) a 2,205-foot-long penstock
composed of three sections: (a) a 1,070-foot-long, 27-foot-diameter
concrete-lined section; (b) a 300-foot-long, 27-foot-diameter concrete-
lined section; and (c) a 330-foot-long, 27-foot-diameter concrete-lined
manifold section, that branches into three, 505-foot-long steel-lined
penstocks, that reduce in diameter from 15.5 feet, to 11.5 feet, to
10.5 feet until connecting to the turbine-generator; (9) a 336-foot-
long, by 83-foot-wide, by 125-foot-high excavated rock chamber
underground powerhouse that includes three, 360-megawatt (MW) vertical
Francis-type pump-turbine units, for a total installed capacity of
1,080 MW, and three, vertical indoor generators with an approximate
total nameplate capacity of 1,212 MW; (10) a 3,727-foot-long, 27-foot-
diameter concrete-lined tunnel (Tunnel 3); (11) a 984-foot-tall,
vertical shaft surge chamber for Tunnel 3 with a 27-foot-diameter lower
section and a 44-foot-diameter upper section that transitions into a
10-foot-diameter air shaft topped by a 10-foot-tall, 14-foot-diameter
protective device above grade; (12) an 88-foot-long, by 78-foot-wide,
by 51-foot-high concrete intake-discharge structure (Wishon Intake-
Discharge Structure), with metal trash racks, in Lake Wishon; (13) a
220-foot by- 265-foot above ground, fenced switchyard; (14) an
underground transformer bank of 10 transformers with a capacity of
150,000 kilo-volt-amperes each; (15) a 3,723-foot-long, 30-foot-wide,
25-foot-high powerhouse access tunnel; and (16) appurtenant facilities.
Although the project facilities do not include any dam or
reservoir, PG&E operates the project for power generation using
Courtright Lake (upper reservoir) and Lake Wishon (lower reservoir),
impounded by Courtright Dam and Wishon Dam, respectively, which are
licensed project facilities of the Hass-Kings River Hydroelectric
Project (Project No. P-1988). Courtright Lake has a usable storage area
of approximately 123,184 acre-feet and normal maximum and minimum water
surface elevations of 8,184 feet and 8,050 feet, respectively. Lake
Wishon has a usable storage area of approximately 128,606 acre-feet and
normal maximum and minimum water surface elevations of 6,550 feet and
6,428.9 feet, respectively. To generate power, water is released from
Courtright Lake through the Courtright Intake-Discharge Structure,
Tunnel 1, Tunnel 2, and the penstock, into the powerhouse and is
discharged through Tunnel 3 and the Wishon Intake-Discharge Structure
into Lake Wishon. During periods of low energy demand, water is pumped
through these project facilities in reverse (i.e., from Lake Wishon to
Courtright Lake).
The project generators are connected to the regional electric grid
by: (1) an underground transformer bank of 10 transformers with a
capacity of 150,000 kilo-volt-amperes each; (2) a 220-foot by- 265-foot
above ground, fenced switchyard; and (3) a 60.7-mile-long, double-
circuit 230-kilovolt (kV) transmission line that connects the Helms
switchyard to PG&E's interconnection point with the grid at the non-
project Gregg Substation. The project also includes an approximately
1.8-mile-long, 21-kV distribution line from the non-project Woodchuck
Substation to the Helms Headquarters and Helms Powerhouse and an
approximately 2-mile-long, 21-kV distribution line from the non-project
Woodchuck Substation to the Helms Support Facility and non-project
Wishon Village Recreational Vehicle Park.
The project also includes: (1) the Helms Headquarters facility with
ancillary facilities; (2) the Helms Support Facility with ancillary
facilities; (3) project recreation facilities including the: (a)
Courtright Boat Launch; (b) Trapper Springs Campground; (c) Marmot Rock
Campground; (d) Wee-Mee-Kute Fishing Access; (e) Wishon Boat Launch;
(f) Lily Pad Campground; (g) Upper Kings River Group Campground; (h)
Wishon Dam Fishing Access; (i) Short Hair Creek Fishing Access; (j)
Coolidge Meadow Fishing Access; (k) Helms Picnic Area; (l) Upper Kings
River Fishing Access, and their ancillary facilities and amenities; (3)
an approximately 80-acre Wildlife Habitat Management Area; (4) three,
approximately 87-foot-diameter asphalt-surfaced helicopter landing
pads; (5) 36.45 miles of non-recreation, vehicular project roads and
trails; and (6) 1.08 miles of non-recreation, pedestrian project
trails.
In generating mode, each pump-turbine unit has a rated capacity of
3,400 cubic feet per second (cfs), at the
[[Page 38890]]
design head of 1,625 feet. The maximum hydraulic capacity of the
powerhouse in generating mode when all three units are operating at or
near full load is 10,500 cfs. In pumping mode, each pump-turbine has a
rated capacity of 2,400 cfs at a design head of 1,500 feet, with a
total maximum capacity of 7,350 cfs and 7,530 cfs. The average annual
energy production of the project from 2015 through 2020 was 736.6
gigawatt-hours.
The current license requires PG&E to maintain water levels as high
as possible, to the extent consistent with efficient project operation,
in Courtright Lake on weekends during the recreation season for the
benefit of recreational use at the lake, and to coordinate operational
use of Courtright Lake and Lake Wishon with its Haas-Kings River
Hydroelectric Project No. 1988 (Haas-Kings River Project). PG&E
currently maintains the surface elevation of the impoundment between
363.5 feet and 364.0 feet BCD, with a normal impoundment elevation of
363.8 feet BCD. PG&E currently coordinates operation of the project
with its Haas-Kings River Hydroelectric Project No. 1988 and Balch
Hydroelectric Project No. 175.
PG&E proposes to continue operating the project in a manner that is
consistent with current operation. Additionally, PG&E proposes the
following plans and measures to protect and enhance environmental
resources: (1) Recreation Management Plan; (2) Coordination Between P-
2735 and P-1988; (3) Biological Resources Management Plan; (4)
Hazardous Substance Plan; (5) Ownership of P-2735 and/or P-1988; (6)
Visual Resources Management; (7) Fire Management and Response Plan; (8)
Transportation System Management; (9) Historic Properties Management
Plan; and (10) Supplemental Fish Stocking.
PG&E proposes to modify the existing project boundary to encompass
all facilities necessary for operation and maintenance of the project.
Conversely, PG&E proposes to modify the boundary to remove lands and
facilities from the existing project boundary that are not necessary
for operation and maintenance of the project. PG&E proposes to modify
the project boundary around the Haas-Kings River Project's Courtright
Lake and Lake Wishon to remove land from the boundary around the
reservoirs that is not required for project operations and maintenance.
PG&E also proposes to modify the project boundary around: Trapper
Springs Campground; Marmot Rock Water Pipe Access Road; Lost Canyon
Pipe; Lost Canyon Crossing Road; Helms Switchyard; Haas 21-kV
distribution line #1; Helms Headquarters, including water tank and
water tank access road; Lily Pad Campground; and numerous project
access roads and trails. With these proposed changes, the area of PG&E-
owned land within the project boundary will decrease to 807.74 acres,
and federal lands will decrease to 2,918.42 acres. The area of private
lands encompassed by the project boundary will increase to 583.1 acres.
o. In addition to publishing the full text of this notice in the
Federal Register, the Commission provides all interested persons an
opportunity to view and/or print the contents of this notice, as well
as other documents in the proceeding (e.g., license application) via
the internet through the Commission's Home Page (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 (P-
4113). For assistance, contact FERC at [email protected],
(866) 208-3676 (toll free), or (202) 502-8659 (TTY).
You may also register online at https://ferconline.ferc.gov/FERCOnline.aspx to be notified via email of new filings and issuances
related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC
Online Support.
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].
q. Procedural Schedule: The application will be processed according
to the following preliminary schedule. Revisions to the schedule will
be made as appropriate.
Issue Deficiency Letter and Request Additional Information--June 2024
Issue Scoping Document 1 for comments--August 2024
Request Additional Information (if necessary)--September 2024
Issue Acceptance Letter--September 2024
Issue Scoping Document 2 (if necessary)--November 2024
Issue Notice of Ready for Environmental Analysis--November 2024
r. 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.
Dated: May 2, 2024.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-10039 Filed 5-7-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P