2022-21951. Pacific Gas and Electric Company; Notice of Application for Amendment of License, Soliciting Comments, 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 Proceeding: Application for non-capacity amendment of license.

b. Project No.: 1121-135.

c. Date Filed: September 9, 2022.

d. Licensee: Pacific Gas and Electric Company.

e. Name of Project: Battle Creek Hydroelectric Project.

f. Location: On the mainstem Battle Creek, and on the North Fork and South Fork Battle Creek in Shasta and Tehama Counties, California.

g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791a-825r.

h. Licensee Contact: Richard Doble, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Mail Code N11D, P.O. Box 770000, San Francisco, CA 94177, [phone], [e-mail].

i. FERC Contact: Rebecca Martin, [phone], [e-mail].

j. Deadline for filing comments, interventions, and protests: November 2, 2022.

The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file comments, motions to intervene, and protests using the Commission's eFiling system at http://www.ferc.gov/​docs-filing/​efiling.asp. Commenters can submit brief comments up to 6,000 characters, without prior registration, using the eComment system at http://www.ferc.gov/​docs-filing/​ecomment.asp. You must include your name and contact information at the end of your comments. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at [e-mail], [phone] (toll free), or [phone] (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, DC 20426. Submissions sent via any other carrier must be addressed to: Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852. The first page of any filing should include docket number P-1121-135. Comments emailed to Commission staff are not considered part of the Commission record.

The Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure require all intervenors filing documents with the Commission to serve a copy of that document on each person whose name appears 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. Description of Request: Pacific Gas and Electric Company (licensee or PG&E) is requesting that its license for the Battle Creek Hydroelectric Project be amended to support a new Phase 2 of the Battle Creek Salmon and Steelhead Restoration Project (Restoration Project). The Restoration Project is a collaborative effort to restore fish habitat on Battle Creek and some of its tributaries through modification of the project facilities and operations, including instream flow releases. This collaborative effort is between PG&E, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries Service, and the California Department of Fish and Game. The new Phase 2 amendment requires the removal of the South Diversion Dam, Soap Creek Feeder Diversion Dam, Lower Ripley Creek Feeder Diversion Dam, and Coleman Diversion Dam.

The licensee has submitted the Battle Creek Salmon and Steelhead Restoration Project Final Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR), prepared in July 2005, as part of its application. The referenced EIS/EIR was a collaborative effort between PG&E, the Bureau of Reclamation, California State Water Resources Control Board, California Bay-Delta Authority, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission), to fulfill National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and California Environmental Quality Act requirements. The Commission intends to use the EIS/EIR to meet the NEPA requirements under the proposed action to amend the Battle Creek Project. The EIS/EIR is available for review at the Restoration Projects website (link: http://www.usbr.gov/​mp/​nepa/​nepa_​projdetails.cfm?​Project_​ID=​99).

l. Locations of the Application: This filing may be viewed on the Commission's website at http://www.ferc.gov using the “eLibrary” link. Enter the docket number excluding the last three digits in the docket number field to access the document. You may also register online at http://www.ferc.gov/​docs-filing/​esubscription.asp to be notified via email of new filings and issuances related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, call 1-866-208-3676 or email [e-mail], for TTY, call [phone]. Agencies may obtain copies of the application directly from the applicant.

m. Individuals desiring to be included on the Commission's mailing list should so indicate by writing to the Secretary of the Commission.

n. Comments, Protests, or Motions to Intervene: Anyone may submit comments, a protest, or a motion to intervene in accordance with the requirements of Rules of Practice and Procedure, 18 CFR 385.210, 211, 214, respectively. In determining the appropriate action to take, the Commission will consider all protests or other comments 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 comments, protests, or motions to intervene must be received on or before the specified comment date for the particular application.

o. Filing and Service of Documents: Any filing must (1) bear in all capital letters the title “COMMENTS”, “PROTEST”, or “MOTION TO INTERVENE” as applicable; (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 commenting, protesting or intervening; and (4) otherwise comply with the requirements of 18 CFR 385.2001 through 385.2005. All comments, motions to intervene, or protests must set forth their evidentiary basis. Any filing made by an intervenor must be accompanied by proof of service on all persons listed in the service list prepared by the Commission in this proceeding, in accordance with 18 CFR 385.2010.

Dated: October 3, 2022.

Kimberly D. Bose,

Secretary.