Pit 1 Hydroelectric Project, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Project No. 2687 Section 401 Water Quality Certification~ Condition 13 - Request for Te
Summary
SCH Number
2020070045
Public Agency
State Water Resources Control Board
Document Title
Pit 1 Hydroelectric Project, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Project No. 2687 Section 401 Water Quality Certification~ Condition 13 - Request for Te
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/25/2020
Document Description
PG&E owns and operates the Pit 1 Hydroelectric Project (Hydroelectric Project) as a peaking operation that generates 65.5 megawatts of energy from the Pit 1 Powerhouse on the Pit River. On March 19, 2003, FERC issued a renewed operating license for the Hydroelectric Project The FERC license incorporates the 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 FaU River Pond. In this instance, the "Project" constitutes the temporary suspension of summer flushing flows required per Condition 13 of the 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 protect the Shasta crayfish (Pacifastacus forlis), which is listed as endangered under both the federal and California Endangered Species Acts.
Contact Information
Name
Andrea Sellers
Agency Name
State Water Resources Control Board
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
Agency Name
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E)
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Location
Cities
Fall River Mills
Counties
Shasta
Other Location Info
The Pit 1 Hydroelectric Project is located on the Pit and Fall Rivers near the communities of Fall River Mms 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 Fan River Pond. The Pit 1 forebay is a 222-acre impoundment immediately above the 0. 7-mile-long Fan River Pond.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 7, § 15307
Reasons for Exemption
Temporary suspension of summer ·flushing flows for one additional year wm not have a significant adverse effect and is categorically exempt from the requirements to prepare environmental document,; under California Code of Regulations~ title 14, section 15307 (Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of Natural Resources). Continued suspension of summer flushing flows is being implemented to protect the endangered Shasta crayfish.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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