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`FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION
`WASHINGTON, D.C. 20426
`June 1, 2021
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`OFFICE OF ENERGY PROJECTS
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`Project No. 2310-193–California
`Upper Drum-Spaulding Hydroelectric Project
`Project No. 14531-000–California
`Lower Drum Hydroelectric Project
`Project No. 14530-000–California
`Deer Creek Hydroelectric Project
`Pacific Gas & Electric Company
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`VIA Electronic Mail
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`Debbie Powell
`Vice President, Power Generation
`Pacific Gas and Electric Company
`DWPT@pge.com
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`Reference: Extension of Time to Provide Additional Information
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`Dear Ms. Powell:
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`On March 8, 2020, Commission staff issued a letter requesting that Pacific Gas
`and Electric Company (PG&E) provide additional information needed to inform staff’s
`analysis in the supplemental environmental impact statement (EIS) and to prepare a
`revised biological assessment (BA) to reinitiate formal consultation with National Marine
`Fisheries Service (NMFS) for the Upper Drum-Spaulding, Lower Drum, and Deer Creek
`Hydroelectric Projects (projects). The letter requested that the additional information be
`filed by June 7, 2021. On May 7, 2021, PG&E filed a letter requesting an extension of
`time (EOT) until December 7, 2021 to file the requested additional information for item 4
`and until November 7, 2021 to provide a schedule for responding to item 5. PG&E noted
`that it will file its responses to items 1, 2, and 3 by the June 7, 2021 deadline.
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`Item 4 includes modifying its modeling simulations for flow and water
`temperature in West Placer County streams and in the Yuba River downstream to the
`Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to incorporate components of the California State Water
`Resources Control Board’s water quality certification and address issues raised by the
`NMFS regarding effects on listed anadromous fish. Item 5 includes an evaluation of the
`allocation of water in the Yuba River basin to protect Endangered Species Act (ESA)-
`listed fish species and their designated critical habitat, in consultation with Nevada
`Irrigation District (NID) and Yuba County Water Agency (YCWA). It also includes
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`consultation with NMFS, YCWA, and NID to determine that the potential operational
`actions at each project considered in the evaluation would be protective of ESA-listed
`fish species and their designated critical habitat in the Yuba River downstream of
`Englebright dam.
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`PG&E notes that the analysis in item 4 requires a significant amount of time
`because it includes modeling and evaluating various scenario alternatives and many of
`the aspects of item 5 cannot be completed until the results of the tasks pertaining to item
`4 are known. PG&E states that the requested additional time is needed to reach an
`agreement with YCWA and NID on a proposed action for all five projects and to
`subsequently consult with NMFS.
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`Due to the complexity of modeling the individual effects of PG&E’s projects and
`the combined effects of all five projects, and the need for the resulting information to
`inform our supplemental EIS and initiate formal ESA consultation with NMFS, the
`requested EOTs for item 4 and 5 are granted. Please file your response to item 4 by
`December 7, 2021, and a schedule by November 7, 2021 for providing your response to
`item 5.
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`The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file the requested
`information using the Commission’s eFiling system at https://ferconline.ferc.gov/
`FERCOnline.aspx. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at
`FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, (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, D.C. 20426.
`Submissions sent via any other carrier must be addressed to: Kimberly D. Bose,
`Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville,
`MD 20852. The first page of any filing should include docket numbers P-2310-193, P-
`14531-000, and P-14530-000.
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`If you have any questions regarding this letter, please contact Jim Hastreiter at
`(503) 552-2760 or via email at james.hastreiter@ferc.gov.
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`Sincerely,
`
`
`Vince Yearick
`Director
`Division of Hydropower Licensing
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`cc: VIA Electronic Mail
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`Mr. Willie Whittlesey
`General Manager
`Yuba County Water Agency
`wwhittlesey@yubawater.org
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`Mr. Greg Jones
`Interim General Manager
`Nevada Irrigation District
`jonesg@nidwater.com
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