Pit 1 Hydroelectric Project, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Project No. 2687 - 401 Water Qu...
Pit 1 Hydroelectric Project, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Project No. 2687 - 401 Water Quality Certification, Condition 13 - Request for Temporary
Summary
SCH Number
2017068546
Lead Agency
State Water Resources Control Board
Document Title
Pit 1 Hydroelectric Project, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Project No. 2687 - 401 Water Quality Certification, Condition 13 - Request for Temporary
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Document Description
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) owns and operates the Pit 1 Hydroelectric Project as a peaking operation which generates 65.5 megawatts of energy from the Pit 1 Powerhouse on the Pit River. On March 19, 2003, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issues a renewed operating license for the Pit 1 Hydroelectric Project. The FERC license incorporates the 401 water quality certification (certification), issued by the State Water Resources Control Board on December 4, 2001, as part of the terms and conditions of the new FERC license. Per Condition 13 of the certification, PG&E is required to release summer flushing flows from the Pit 1 Forebay Dam to control nuisance aquatic vegetation and mosquito production in Fall River Pond. In this instance, the "Project" constitutes the temporary suspension of summer flushing flows required per Condition 13 of the Pit 1 Hydroelectric Project certification. The temporary suspension of summer flushing flows requested by PG&E and supported by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, is needed to reduce impacts to the Shasta crayfish, which is listed as endangered under both the California and Federal Endangered Species Acts.
The Pit 1 Hydroelectric Project is located on the Pit and Fall Rivers near the communities of Fall River Mills and McArthur in the northeastern portion of Shasta County, California. Summer flushing flows are released from the Pit 1 Forebay Dam located on the Pit River immediately upstream of the Fall River Pond. The Pit 1 forebay is a 222-acre impoundment immediately above the 0.7-mile long Fall River Pond.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
S: 15307, Class 7
Reasons for Exemption
The temporary suspension of summer flushing flows for one additional year will not have a significant adverse effect and is categorically exempt from the requirements to prepare environmental documents under California Code of Regulations section 15307 (Action by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of Natural Resources). The continued suspension of summer flushing flows is being implemented to protect the endangered Shasta crayfish (Pacifastacus fortis).
