2021-23660. Southern California Edison Company; Notice of Application Accepted for Filing and 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. Application Type: Application for Temporary Variance of Minimum Flow and Minimum Pool Requirements.

b. Project No: 67-137.

c. Date Filed: October 7 and 20, 2021.

d. Applicant: Southern California Edison Company (licensee).

e. Name of Project: Big Creek 2A, 8, and Eastwood Hydroelectric Project.

f. Location: The project is located on Big Creek and the South Fork San Joaquin River in Fresno County, California.

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

h. Applicant Contact: Ms. Stephanie Fincher, Southern California Edison Company, 626-302-0945, [e-mail]

i. FERC Contact: John Aedo, [phone], [e-mail]

j. Deadline for filing comments, motions to intervene, and protests: November 19, 2021.

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 the docket number P-67-137. 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: The licensee requests a temporary variance of its minimum pool requirements in Florence Lake and its minimum flow requirements in the South San Joaquin River below Florence Lake. Specifically, the licensee requests Commission approval to reduce Florence Lake reservoir levels to as much as 10 percent below the minimum pool elevation requirement of 7232.6 feet msl. In addition, the licensee requests Commission approval to reduce flows below Florence Lake below the 11 cubic feet per second (cfs) minimum flow requirement and/or the alternate inflow matching requirement during inflows less than 11 cfs. The licensee instead proposes to approximate flow releases with lake inflows, with occasional departures from the minimum flow requirement, but to maintain flows above 3 cfs. The licensee requests the variance as a result of low lake storage resulting from ongoing drought conditions at the project. Finally, the licensee requests the variance from November 8, 2021 through March 31, 2022.

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 20, 2021.

Kimberly D. Bose,

Secretary.