2015-10573. Pacific Gas and Electric Company; Notice Of Application Accepted for Filing, 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 Application: Amendment of License.

b. Project No.: 1121-118.

c. Date Filed: March 2, 2015.

d. Applicant: Pacific Gas and Electric Company.

e. Name of Project: Battle Creek.

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. Applicant Contact: Ms. Lisa Whitman, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, P.O. Box No. 770000, San Francisco, CA 94177. Tel: [phone].

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

j. Deadline for filing comments, motions to intervene, and protests: June 1, 2015.

All documents may be filed electronically via the Internet. See, 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the Commission's Web site 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], or toll free at 1-866-208-3676, or for TTY, [phone]. Although the Commission strongly encourages electronic filing, documents may be paper-filed. To paper-file, mail an original and seven copies to: Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426. Please include the project number (P-1121-118) on any comments or motions filed.

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 Application: Pacific Gas and Electric Company (licensee or PG&E) is requesting that its license for the Battle Creek Hydroelectric Project be amended to support 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 Restoration Project will reestablish approximately 42 miles of prime salmon and steelhead habitat in the North and South Forks of Battle Creek, plus an additional six miles of habitat on the tributaries of Battle Creek. The Restoration Project will be accomplished in three phases. The licensee is filing this license amendment application for approval and implementation of Phase 2 (third phase) of the Restoration Project. Proposed work for Phase 2 includes: (1) Installing a new fish screen and fish ladder at Inskip Diversion Dam; (2) installing a tailrace connector tunnel from South Powerhouse to Inskip Canal; (3) removing Lower Ripley Creek Feeder, Soap Creek Feeder and Coleman diversion dams; and (4) removing the South Diversion Dam and associated conveyance system.

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 Web site (link: http://www.usbr.gov/​mp/​nepa/​nepa_​projdetails.cfm?​Project_​ID=​99).

l. Locations of the Application: A copy of the application is available for inspection and reproduction at the Commission's Public Reference Room, located at 888 First Street NE., Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426, Or by calling [phone]. This filing may also be viewed on the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov using the “eLibrary” link. Enter the docket number excluding the last three digits in the docket number field (P-1121) 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. A copy is also available for inspection and reproduction at the address in item (h) above.

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, and .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 a 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: April 30, 2015.

Kimberly D. Bose,

Secretary.