Lee Vining Hydroelectric Project (P-1388) Relicensing Stakeholder Introduction Meeting May 2020 1 Project Team Introductions • Southern California Edison • Kleinschmidt • ERM • Psomas • Stillwater Sciences • Historic Research Associates 2 Overview • 30-year license expires January 31, 2027 • Formal FERC process to begin fall 2021 (Pre-Application Document [PAD] & Notice of Intent [NOI] filing) • Draft License Application (DLA) to be filed early 2025 • No changes to operations or facilities anticipated 3 Project Location • East slope of Sierra Nevada Mountains • Eastern boundary of Yosemite National Park • Within the Inyo National Forest • Mono County, California • On Lee Vining Creek • Three Lakes ‒ Saddlebag Inyo National Forest, USFS ‒ Tioga ‒ Ellery 4 Project Facilities • Saddlebag Dam and Lake ‒ Headwaters of Lee Vining Creek ‒ 297-acre reservoir • Tioga Dam and Lake ‒ Headwaters of Glacier Creek ‒ 2 dams: Main and Auxiliary ‒ 73-acre reservoir • Rhinedollar Dam and Ellery Lake ‒ Both Tioga and Saddlebag drain here ‒ 61-acre reservoir • Poole powerhouse ‒ 11.25 megawatts • Flowline and penstock connecting Ellery Lake and Poole Powerhouse See the project description sheet for more details 5 Minimum Flow Requirements • Below Saddlebag Dam ‒ Wet years: 14 cubic feet per second (cfs) ‒ Normal years: 9 cfs ‒ Dry years: 6 cfs • Below Tioga Dam ‒ May-Sept • Wet or normal year • Inflow <2 cfs: inflow • Inflow >2 cfs: 2 cfs until elev. is 2 ft of crest, then 60% of inflow • Dry year • Inflow <2 cfs: inflow • Inflow >2 cfs: 2 cfs until elev. is 2 ft of crest, then natural inflow ‒ Oct-Nov: 2 cfs or inflow ‒ Dec-Apr: natural inflow • Below Rhinedollar Dam ‒ Aug-May: 27 cfs or natural flow ‒ June-July: 89 cfs or natural flow 6 Resource Areas 7 Potential Resource Questions – Rare, Threatened, and Endangered (RTE) Species ‒ North American wolverine – proposed threatened ‒ Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep – endangered, final critical habitat ‒ Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog – endangered, final critical habitat ‒ Yosemite toad – threatened, final critical habitat ‒ Whitebark pine – candidate ‒ Sierra Nevada red fox – state threatened ‒ Willow flycatcher – state endangered ‒ Fisher (West Coast Distinct Population Segment) – state endangered ‒ Great gray owl – state endangered ‒ Mono milk vetch – state rare 8 Potential Resource Questions - Recreation ‒ Inyo National Forest • All recreation in upper Lee Vining Canyon is managed by Inyo National Forest ‒ Yosemite National Park • Project is adjacent to entrance of Yosemite ‒ Hoover Wilderness and Ansel Adams Wilderness • Surround the Project ‒ Fishing • Project reservoirs and Lee Vining Creek are stocked by California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) ‒ Camping • Three campgrounds adjacent to Project, several more downstream ‒ Hiking • Eight trailheads/trails adjacent to Project ‒ Boating, sightseeing, and picnicking also popular in area Much of the recreational use is an indirect result of people traveling to nearby recreation areas since the Tioga Pass connects the eastern Sierras and Mono Lake to the western Sierras 9 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) 101 10 10 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) WHAT IS FERC? WHAT DOES FERC REGULATE? A‒ federal,. independent Electrical transmission, agency (formally the hydroelectric dam Federal Power Commission) licensing and safety, natural gas and oil pipelines HOW DOES FERC WHEN DOES IMPACT YOU? RELICENSING START? FERC manages the The relicensing process participation of the public, officially starts 5 to 5.5 agencies, NGOs, and other years before license interested stakeholders. expiration 11 What is FERC Relicensing? • Complex, multiyear • Involves multiple participant with public involvement opportunities • Develops an evidentiary record • Provides FERC with decision-making information • Determines license term and requirements 12 Three Basic Stages of Relicensing • Stage 1: Initial Consultation (ask questions) • Stage 2: Studies and Application (answer questions and file license application) • Stage 3: Post-Filing (FERC conducts environmental review) 13 What sorts of questions will be addressed in relicensing? • Must have “nexus” to project​ • Must relate to public interest or specific resource agency goals​ • Relate to an appropriate study area/area of potential effects​ • Avoid academic questions​ • Use commonly accepted study methods​ • Reference existing data or studies, if available​ 14 FERC Public Involvement • FERC’s website (www.ferc.gov) contains a public database with all FERC issuances and all submissions from other parties. • Stakeholders means state and federal agencies, Indian/Native Tribes, local landowners and residents, and NGOs. • www.sce.com/leevining 15 Lee Vining Hydroelectric Project Relicensing Schedule For planning purposes only, dates subject to change. April 2020 Pre-relicensing Activities • Develop Website • Confirm Licensed Project Works / Features • Draft Preliminary Information Document (PID) • Draft Pre-Application Document (PAD) sections • Future Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Activities Joint Agency Meeting SCE Final License Application Early Stakeholder Technical Working Group November 2021 (FLA) Due Engagement Conduct Technical Studies (TWG) Meeting January 2025 Phone Calls October 2020 License May 2020 Expiration SCE Distribute SCE File Notice of Intent / SCE Draft License January 2027 Survey and Preliminary Pre-Application Document Finalize Study Application Information Document (NOI/PAD) Plans (DLA) Due Public Open House (PID) August 2021 March 2022 Study Report Meeting August 2024 July 2020 November 2020 November 2023 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 -- 2027 Bishop Bishop TWG Bishop 2nd Year Studies File DLA Meeting Bishop USR January 2022 Rush File FLA May 2020 Meeting January 2025 Bishop ISR March 2021 Bishop File Rush File DLA Meeting FLA August 2024 November 2020 June 2022 Bishop Remaining Studies File Rush PAD/NOI Legend Lee Vining Relicensing Team Milestones Lee Vining Technical Working Group (TWG) or Stakeholder Involvement Bishop Creek Relicensing Milestones Rush Creek Relicensing Milestones 16 Questions 17.