FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR HYDROPOWER LICENSE SURRENDER Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Office of Energy Projects August 2011 KILARC-COW CREEK HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT – FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION FERC PROJECT NO. 606 OFFICE OF ENERGY PROJECTS CALIFORNIA 888 FIRST STREET, NE WASHINGTON, DC 20426 FERC/FEIS-F-0236 FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR HYDROPOWER LICENSE SURRENDER Kilarc-Cow Creek Hydroelectric Project—FERC Project No. 606 California Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Office of Energy Projects Division of Hydropower Administration & Compliance 888 First Street, NE Washington, DC 20426 August 2011 COVER SHEET a. Title: License Surrender for the Kilarc-Cow Creek Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 606 b. Subject: Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) c. Lead Agency: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission d. Abstract: On March 12, 2009, Pacific Gas and Electric filed an application to surrender its license for the Kilarc-Cow Creek Hydroelectric Project (FERC Project No. 606), located on Old Cow Creek, South Cow Creek, and tributaries in Shasta County, California. The project consists of two developments, Kilarc and Cow Creek. The two developments operate independently and are located in two different subwatersheds. The Kilarc development has an installed capacity of 3.23 megawatts (MW) and the Cow Creek development has an installed capacity of 1.44 MW. Of the total 184.32 acres of land within the project boundary, 1.87 acres of federal lands are administered by the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs. The project generates an average of about 31,100 megawatt hours (MWh) annually. The staff’s recommendation is for the license surrender as proposed, with additional staff recommendations. e. Contact: CarLisa Linton-Peters Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Office of Energy Projects 888 First Street, NE Washington, DC 20426 [email protected] (202) 502-8416 f. Transmittal: This FEIS was prepared by Commission staff on the application filed by PG&E to surrender the license for the existing Kilarc-Cow Creek Hydroelectric Project is being made available to the public on or about i August 16, 2011 as required by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.1 1 National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, amended (Public Law [Pub. L.] 91-190, 42 United States Code [U.S.C.] 4321-4347, January 1, 1970, as amended by Pub. L. 94-52, July 3, 1975, Pub. L. 94-83, August 9, 1975, and Pub. L. 97-258, §4(b), September 13, 1982). ii FOREWORD The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission), pursuant to the Federal Power Act (FPA)2 and the U.S. Department of Energy Organization Act,3 is authorized to issue licenses for up to 50 years for the construction and operation of non- federal hydroelectric developments subject to its jurisdiction, on the necessary conditions: That the project...shall be such as in the judgment of the Commission will be best adapted to a comprehensive plan for improving or developing a waterway or waterways for the use or benefit of interstate or foreign commerce, for the improvement and utilization of water-power development, for the adequate protection, mitigation, and enhancement of fish and wildlife (including related spawning grounds and habitat), and for other beneficial public uses, including irrigation, flood control, water supply, and recreational and other purposes referred to in section 4(3)...4 Moreover, section 6 of the FPA allows licensees to voluntarily surrender existing licenses to the Commission and cease operation of their facilities. The Commission may require such other conditions not inconsistent with the FPA as may be found necessary to provide for the various public interests to be served by the project.5 Compliance with such conditions during the license surrender period is required. The Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure allow any person objecting to a licensee’s compliance or noncompliance with such conditions to file a complaint noting the basis for such objection for the Commission’s consideration.6 2 16 U.S.C. §791(a)-825r, as amended by the Electric Consumers Protection Act of 1986, Pub. L. 99-495 (1986) and the Energy Policy Act of 1992, Pub. L. 102-486 (1992), and the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Pub. L. 109-58 (2005). 3 Pub. L. 95-91, 91 Stat. 556 (1977). 4 16 U.S.C. §803(a) (2008). 5 16 U.S.C. §803(g) (2008). 6 18 Code of Federal Regulations §385.206 (2008). iii This page intentionally left blank iv TABLE OF CONTENTS COVER SHEET ...................................................................................................................i FOREWORD......................................................................................................................iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ....................................................................................................v LIST OF FIGURES............................................................................................................xi LIST OF TABLES............................................................................................................xiii ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS..........................................................................xv EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..............................................................................................xix 1.0 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................1 1.1 APPLICATION .....................................................................................................1 1.2 PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION ...............................................................4 1.3 STATUTORY AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS..................................5 1.3.1 Federal Power Act ..........................................................................................5 1.3.1.1 Section 18 Fishway Prescriptions.............................................................5 1.3.1.2 Restoration of Federal Lands ...................................................................5 1.3.2 Clean Water Act .............................................................................................5 1.3.3 Endangered Species Act .................................................................................6 1.3.4 Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act...................7 1.3.5 National Historic Preservation Act.................................................................7 1.4 PUBLIC REVIEW AND CONSULTATION.......................................................8 1.4.1 Pre-Filing Consultation...................................................................................8 1.4.2 Responses to Public Notice ............................................................................9 1.4.3 Scoping .........................................................................................................11 1.4.4 Summary of Comments Received ................................................................15 1.4.5 Comments on DEIS ......................................................................................16 2.0 PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES................................................20 2.1 EXISTING PROJECT FACILITIES AND OPERATIONS...............................20 2.2 NO-ACTION ALTERNATIVE ..........................................................................24 2.3 PROPOSED ACTION.........................................................................................24 2.3.1 Proposed Decommissioning of Project Facilities.........................................24 2.3.2 Proposed Termination of Project Operation.................................................26 2.3.3 Proposed Environmental Measures ..............................................................26 2.3.4 Agency Response to Licensee’s Proposal ....................................................31 2.3.5 Discussion of Water Rights ..........................................................................32 2.4 ACTION ALTERNATIVE 1 ..............................................................................34 2.5 ACTION ALTERNATIVE 2 ..............................................................................35 2.6 ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED BUT ELIMINATED FROM FURTHER ANALYSIS..........................................................................................................37 3.0 ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS......................................................................45 3.1 GENERAL SETTING.........................................................................................45 3.2 SCOPE OF CUMULATIVE EFFECTS..............................................................46 v 3.2.1 Geographic Scope.........................................................................................46 3.2.2 Temporal Scope............................................................................................47 3.3 ANALYSIS OF PROPOSED ACTION AND ACTION ALTERNATIVES.....47 3.3.1 Geologic and Soil Resources........................................................................48 3.3.1.1 Affected Environment ............................................................................48 3.3.1.2 Environmental Effects of Proposed Action............................................51 3.3.1.3 Environmental Effects of Action Alternative 1......................................55 3.3.1.4 Environmental Effects of Action Alternative 2......................................56 3.3.1.5 Environmental Effects of No Action......................................................57