Notice2024-21485
Pacific Gas and Electric Company; Notice of Application Accepted for Filing and Soliciting Motions To Intervene and Protests
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Published
September 20, 2024
Issuing agencies
Energy DepartmentFederal Energy Regulatory Commission
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 183 (Friday, September 20, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 183 (Friday, September 20, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77119-77121]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-21485]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Project No. 2735-104]
Pacific Gas and Electric Company; Notice of Application Accepted
for Filing and Soliciting 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: New Major License.
b. Project No.: 2735-104.
c. Date filed: April 18, 2024.
d. Applicant: Pacific Gas and Electric Company.
e. Name of Project: Helms Pumped Storage Project.
f. Location: The existing project is located 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
currently occupies 3,346.6 acres of federal land administered by the
U.S. Forest Service, 28.36 acres of federal land managed by the U.S.
Bureau of Reclamation, and 0.07 acre of land managed by the Bureau of
Land Management. The project, with the proposed project boundary
modifications, would occupy a total of 2,887.7 acres of federal land
administered by the U.S. Forest Service, 28.5 acres of federal land
managed by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and 2.22 acres of land
managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act 16 U.S.C. 791a-825r.
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
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#662207100f024801070404071402261601034805090b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="246045524d400a43454646455640645443410a474b49">[email protected]</span></a>.
i. FERC Contact: Evan Williams, Project Coordinator, West Branch,
[[Page 77120]]
Division of Hydropower Licensing; telephone at (202) 502-8138; email at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#470231262969102e2b2b2e262a34072122352469202831"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="541122353a7a033d38383d35392714323126377a333b22">[email protected]</span></a>.
j. Deadline for filing motions to intervene and protests: 60 days
from the issuance date of this notice.
The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file
motions to intervene and protests using the Commission's eFiling system
at <a href="https://ferconline.ferc.gov/FERC.aspx">https://ferconline.ferc.gov/FERC.aspx</a>. Commenters can submit brief
comments up to 6,000 characters, without prior registration, using the
eComment system at <a href="https://ferconline.ferc.gov/Quick.aspx">https://ferconline.ferc.gov/Quick.aspx</a>. For
assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#afe9eafdece0c1c3c6c1cafcdadfdfc0dddbefc9caddcc81c8c0d9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ebadaeb9a8a4858782858eb89e9b9b84999fab8d8e9988c58c849d">[email protected]</span></a>, (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, Maryland 20852. All filings must
clearly identify the project name and docket number on the first page:
Helms Pumped Storage Project (P-2735-104).
The Commission's Rules of Practice require all intervenors filing
documents with the Commission to serve a copy of that document on each
person 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. This application has been accepted but is not ready for
environmental analysis at this time.
l. The existing 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 average annual generation (2015 to 2020) was
736.6 gigawatt-hours.
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.
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:
[[Page 77121]]
(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.
m. A copy of the application can be viewed on the Commission's
website at <a href="http://www.ferc.gov">http://www.ferc.gov</a> 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 Online
Support at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c68083948589a8aaafa8a395b3b6b6a9b4b286a0a3b4a5e8a1a9b0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="377172657478595b5e595264424747584543775152455419505841">[email protected]</span></a> or call toll-free, (866) 208-3676
or (202) 502-8659 (TTY).
You may also register online at <a href="https://ferconline.ferc.gov/FERCOnline.aspx">https://ferconline.ferc.gov/FERCOnline.aspx</a> to be notified via email of new filings and issuances
related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC
Online Support.
n. Anyone may submit a protest or a motion to intervene in
accordance with the requirements of Rules of Practice and Procedure, 18
CFR 385.210, 385.211, and 385.214. In determining the appropriate
action to take, the Commission will consider all protests 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 protests
or motions to intervene must be received on or before the specified
deadline date for the particular application.
All filings must (1) bear in all capital letters the title
``PROTEST'' or ``MOTION TO INTERVENE''; (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 submitting the filing; and (4) otherwise comply
with the requirements of 18 CFR 385.2001 through 385.2005. 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.
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 <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#622d323222040710014c050d14"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="115e414151777463723f767e67">[email protected]</span></a>.
o. Procedural schedule: The application will be processed according
to the following preliminary schedule. Revisions to the schedule will
be made as appropriate.
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Milestone Date
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Issue Scoping Document 1................ September 2024.
Comments on Scoping Document 1 Due...... October 2024.
Issue Request for Additional Information October 2024.
(if necessary).
Issue Scoping Document 2 (if necessary). November 2024.
Issue Notice of Ready for Environmental November 2024.
Analysis.
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Dated: September 13, 2024.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-21485 Filed 9-19-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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