Document ID: FERC-2022-1071-0001
Agency: ferc
Document Type: Notice
Title: Water Quality Protection Plan: Puget Sound Energy, Inc.
Posted Date: 2022-08-23T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 162 (Tuesday, August 23, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51663-51664]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-18130]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 2150-153]

Puget Sound Energy, Inc.; Notice of Water Quality Protection Plan 
Accepted for Filing and Soliciting Comments, Motions To Intervene, and 
Protests

    Take notice that the following amendment application has been filed 
with the Commission and is available for public inspection:
    a. Application Type: Water Quality Protection Plan.
    b. Project No: P-2150-153.
    c. Date Filed: September 15, 2021.
    d. Applicants: Puget Sound Energy, Inc. (licensee).
    e. Name of Projects: Baker River Hydroelectric Project.
    f. Locations: The project is located on the Baker River in Skagit 
and Whatcom counties, Washington. The project occupies federal lands 
administered by the U.S. Forest Service within the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie 
National Forest.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791a-825r.
    h. Applicant Contact: Mr. Jory Oppenheimer, Consulting Engineer, 
Puget Sound Energy, P.O. Box 97034, Bellevue, WA 98009-9734; telephone: 
(425) 462-3556 and email [email protected].
    i. FERC Contact: Marybeth Gay, (202) 502-6125, 
[email protected].
    j. Deadline for filing comments, motions to intervene, and 
protests: September 16, 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 [email protected], (866) 208-3676 (toll 
free), or (202) 502-8659

[[Page 51664]]

(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-2150-153. 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 proposes to conduct the 
Upper Baker Dam Spillway Stabilization and Tailrace Rock Debris Removal 
Project (spillway project) over a 12-week period, from April 1 through 
August 31, 2023. The proposed project is needed because: (1) the 
existing spillway slope has been identified as a potential failure mode 
for the Upper Baker Dam; and (2) rockfall debris in the tailrace 
channel downstream of the dam contributes to flooding of the powerhouse 
at the dam during flow spill events, which has reduced power 
generation. As required by Article 401(a) of the project license, and 
condition 5.10 of the Washington Department of Ecology's (Washington 
DOE) May 11, 2007 Water Quality Certificate (WQC), attached to the 
license as Appendix C, the licensee developed the Water Quality 
Protection Plan (Plan) for the spillway project, and has filed the Plan 
for the Commission's approval. The Plan addresses the requirements set 
forth in condition 5.10 of the WQC, and includes: (1) an In-Water Work 
Protection Plan that specifies the best management practices (BMPs) for 
activities that require work within surface waters; (2) a Construction 
Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan that addresses land-disturbing 
activities along with BMPs and other control measures to prevent 
pollutants from entering the project's surface water and groundwater; 
and (3) procedures for monitoring water quality, and actions to 
implement if a water quality violation were to occur. By email dated 
August 10, 2021, Washington DOE acknowledged receipt of and approved 
the Plan.
    The licensee previously filed a draft Biological Assessment (BA) 
with the Commission on August 12, 2021 for the proposed spillway 
project. On July 14, 2022, the licensee filed a revised draft BA, and 
requested to withdraw the previously filed draft BA. On August 17, 
2022, Commission staff adopted the licensee's July 14, 2022 draft BA 
without modification as the Commission's final BA and requested formal 
consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National 
Marine Fisheries Service.
    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 
[email protected], for TTY, call (202) 502-8659. 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: August 17, 2022.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2022-18130 Filed 8-22-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P