Chili Bar Project (FERC Project 2155-024) Purchase

Summary

SCH Number
2019090187
Public Agency
Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Document Title
Chili Bar Project (FERC Project 2155-024) Purchase
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
9/6/2019
Document Description
The activity consists of the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) purchasing the Chili Bar Project from Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E). In addition, once the property purchase is complete SMUD will take over operation and maintenance of the Chili Bar Project.The Chili Bar Project is located on the South Fork American River immediately downstream of SMUD's Upper American River Project (UARP) in El Dorado County near Placerville, California. The Chili Bar Project consists of a concrete gravity dam, dam spillway, a reservoir with a surface area of 110 acres and a single turbine 7 MW powerhouse. The project boundary includes all the land PG&E currently owns ranging from about 50 to 250 feet either side of the river and starting about 320 feet downstream of the project dam to about 3.2 miles upstream of the project dam. The project boundary does not include the reach downstream of the Chili Bar dam. Operation of the Chili Bar Project will not change in response to the transfer of ownership; operation of Chili Bar Project will continue in accordance with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) license number 2155-024 and the coordination agreement between the UARP and the Chili Bar Project. There will be no change in minimum and recreational flow releases to downstream reaches.

Contact Information

Name
Kim Crawford
Agency Name
Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency

Name
Agency Name
Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Contact Types
Project Applicant

Location

Cities
Placerville
Counties
El Dorado
Other Location Info
The Chili Bar Project is located on the South Fork American River immediately downstream of SMUD's Upper American River Project (UARP) in El Dorado County near Placerville, California.

Notice of Exemption

Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
Common Sense Exemption (CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3))
Reasons for Exemption
When it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. In this case, the project will be operated by SMUD as it has been operated by PG&E prior to the sale, subject to both FERC licensing and a conservation easement and with no new construction occurring to integrate the project into SMUD's electrical system. No special circumstances exist that the proposed Project would create a significant adverse effect on the environment (i.e., no sensitive species or habitats, no hazardous sites, no scenic highways, no historic resources, etc.). See NOE for Details.

Attachments

Notice of Exemption

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