Document ID: FERC-2014-0812-0001
Agency: ferc
Document Type: Notice
Title: Environmental Assessments; Availability, etc.: Allison Creek Hydroelectric Project; Copper Valley Electric Association, Inc.
Posted Date: 2014-06-27T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 124 (Friday, June 27, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36505-36508]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-15088]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 13124-015]

Copper Valley Electric Association, Inc.; Notice of Availability 
of Supplemental Environmental Assessment

    In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (Commission or FERC's) 
regulations, 18 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 380 (Order No. 
486, 52 Federal Register 47897), the Office of Energy Projects has 
reviewed Copper Valley Electric Association, Inc.'s application to 
amend its license for the Allison Creek Hydroelectric Project (FERC 
Project No. 13124). The 6.5-megawatt (MW) project is located on Allison 
Creek near Valdez, Alaska. The project does not occupy any federal 
lands.
    The licensee is proposing to amend its powerhouse and tailrace to 
include a single 6.5 MW turbine generator unit instead of the two 
smaller 3.25 MW units that were licensed. This amendment would shift 
the powerhouse location and pivot the tailrace approximately 90 degrees 
to the north. In addition to the changes to the powerhouse and 
tailrace, the licensee proposes to shift the transmission line route 
south and uphill of the original licensed route along the Trans-Alaska 
Pipeline System right-of-way. In addition the voltage would change from 
34.5 kilovolts (kV) to 25 kV. Staff prepared a supplemental 
environmental assessment (EA) which analyzes the potential 
environmental effects of the proposed amendment, and concludes that 
amending the license, with appropriate environmental protective 
measures, would not constitute a major federal action that would 
significantly affect the quality of the human environment.
    A copy of the EA may be viewed on the Commission's Web site at 
http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/elibrary.asp. Enter the docket number 
(P-13124) 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 FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, for TTY, call (202) 502-
8659. A copy is also 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 (202) 502-8371.

    Dated: June 20, 2014.
 Kimberly D. Bose,
 Secretary.

SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR AMENDMENT OF LICENSE

Allison Creek Hydroelectric Project--FERC Project No. 13124--Alaska

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Office of Energy Projects, 
Division of Hydropower Administration and Compliance, 888 First 
Street NE., Washington, DC 20426

June 2014

SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Office of Energy Projects, 
Division of Hydropower Administration and Compliance, Washington, DC

Allison Creek Hydroelectric Project

FERC Project No. 13124--Alaska

Introduction

    On August 1, 2013, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 
(Commission) issued an original license for the unconstructed Allison 
Creek Hydroelectric Project No. 13124.\1\ On September 27, 2013, Copper 
Valley Electric Association, Inc. (licensee) filed an application to 
amend its license for the Allison Creek Hydroelectric Project to modify 
the penstock design, modify the temporary construction access roads, 
and construct a penstock/access tunnel. This amendment was approved by 
the Commission on November 20, 2013 \2\ and was supported by an 
Environmental Assessment (EA) issued concurrently with the order.
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    \1\ Order Issuing Original License, 144 FERC ] 62,089.
    \2\ Order Amending License, Approving Temporary Penstock Access 
Route Plan, and Deleting Article 415 (145 FERC ] 62,124).
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    On April 11, 2014, the licensee filed another application to amend 
its license. In its amendment application, the licensee proposes to 
change the powerhouse and tailrace to accommodate a single 6.5 megawatt 
(MW) turbine unit instead of the licensed two 3.25 MW units. The 
licensee is also requesting permission to change the transmission line 
from 34.5 kilovolts (kV) to 25 kV and to relocate the transmission line 
route south and uphill of the currently licensed route. As licensed, 
the project will be constructed on Allison Creek at river mile 1.89, 
about 10,000 feet upstream of the mouth of Allison Creek and about 
2,350 feet downstream of the outlet of Allison Lake near the city of 
Valdez, Alaska. The project does not occupy any lands of the United 
States.
    This supplemental EA is intended to analyze the environmental 
impacts of the licensee's most recent April 14, 2014 amendment request 
and relies, in part, on the EA that was issued by the Commission on 
November 20, 2013. Only the environmental impacts of the changes to the 
powerhouse, tailrace, and transmission line will be considered in this 
supplemental EA.

Proposed Action

    As licensed, the powerhouse would be 65 feet by 65 feet and would 
contain two 3.25 MW generator units that discharge into a 120 feet long 
concrete tailrace that exits the powerhouse to the west. This amendment 
would slightly shift the powerhouse location and would pivot the 
tailrace approximately 90 degrees to the north. This would allow for a 
shorter, shallower, and steeper tailrace. The tailrace would still 
return flow to Allison Creek above the natural salmon barrier known as 
``The Chutes.'' The new powerhouse would be 55 feet by 65 feet and 
would contain a single 6.5 MW turbine generator unit. The new tailrace 
would be a 70.5 feet long concrete channel exiting the powerhouse to 
the north.
    The project's transmission line, as licensed, is a 34.5 kV line 
that runs for 3.8 miles along the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) 
right-of-way,

[[Page 36506]]

including 1 mile of the Solomon Gulch trail. The Solomon Gulch trail is 
a recreational feature of Copper Valley Electric's Solomon Gulch 
Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 2742). This amendment would change the 
transmission line to a 25 kV line that would run 3.8 miles south and 
uphill of the original route along the TAPS right-of-way terminating at 
the Petro Star refinery. The revised transmission line route would 
utilize a designated section line utility corridor for a portion of the 
route. The line would no longer follow the Solomon Gulch trail; 
however, it would cross the trail at one location. No changes to 
project operations are proposed.

Pre-Filing Consultation and Public Comment

Pre-Filing Consultation

    Prior to filing the application, the licensee consulted with the 
Alaska State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO), National Marine 
Fisheries Service (NMFS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Alaska 
Department of Fish and Game (Alaska DFG). On May 8, 2013, the SHPO 
concurred that no historic properties would be affected. The FWS stated 
that it had no objection to the proposed amendment by email dated March 
11, 2014. On April 3, 2014, NMFS replied by email and stated that the 
proposed license amendment does not pose any risk to salmon or other 
aquatic resources. The NMFS also pointed out that the new transmission 
line route reduces the possibility of some sensitive wetland impacts. 
The NMFS had no objections to the proposed amendment.
    Alaska DFG commented in its email dated April 3, 2014, that it had 
no objection to the amendment and specifically stated it had no 
concerns with the new alignment of the transmission line or with the 
change in the footprint and location of the powerhouse. However, the 
Alaska DFG requested the single generator powerhouse be designed with a 
generator water bypass system to maintain immediate flow in the 
downstream reach in the event of a project shutdown. This would allow 
for bypass reach ramping and reduce effects on fish in the downstream 
reach, if the penstock must also be dewatered.

Public Notice

    On May 1, 2014, the Commission issued a public notice that the 
amendment application was accepted for filing and soliciting comments, 
motions to intervene, and protests. On May 29, 2014, the U.S. 
Department of the Interior (Interior) filed comments pursuant to the 
public notice. In its letter, the Interior expressed concerns about the 
licensee's lack of analysis in support of its license amendment 
application with regard to potential recreation and aesthetic impacts 
associated with the new routing of the transmission line. Because the 
new route is a significant change from the route analyzed in the June 
21, 2013 EA issued by the Commission, Interior, recommends that the 
Commission scope, study, and analyze potential impacts related to the 
proposed new route as appropriate and that the licensee subsequently 
revise its April 14, 2014 application for amendment of license. 
Interior also stated in its letter that it had no comments on the 
proposed changes to the powerhouse and the tailrace.
    In a letter dated June 3, 2014, the licensee responded to the 
Interior's comments on the revised transmission line route and provided 
an expanded explanation of the aesthetic and recreational effects of 
the proposed revised line. Interior's comments and the licensee's 
responses will be further discussed in the environmental analysis 
section of this supplemental EA.

Environmental Analysis

Powerhouse and Tailrace

    The environmental impacts of the powerhouse would be essentially 
the same as those considered during the preparation of the June 21, 
2013, EA to support the license. Construction would essentially occur 
in the same location but the footprint of the new powerhouse would be 
slightly smaller than the powerhouse originally licensed. The new 
tailrace would also be about 45.5 feet shorter than the currently 
licensed tailrace, but it would also be constructed with a higher 
grade.
    The concrete tailrace channel outfall would be constructed about 
\1/4\ mile upstream of Dayville Road on the south side of Allison 
Creek, above the high water mark. A bar grate barrier with 1-inch 
spacing would be installed across the channel to prevent fish from 
swimming up the tailrace channel to the turbine. During construction a 
cofferdam would be utilized and after installation, fish would be 
removed from behind the cofferdam in accordance with a valid Fish 
Resource Permit from the Alaska DFG and placed back in the flowing 
water of the creek.
    During project construction, best management practices would be 
followed to protect Allison Creek. The only work that would be 
conducted in flowing water is the installation and removal of the 
cofferdam. Disturbed areas would be stabilized with erosion control 
blankets and revegetated with native grasses. During in-water 
construction, daily turbidity monitoring would be conducted by an 
environmental compliance monitor upstream and downstream of the work 
area. If downstream turbidity measures greater than 25 Nephelometric 
Turbidity Units (NTUs) higher than upstream measurements, then related 
construction activities would be stopped and appropriate protection 
measures would be taken. Alaska DFG would be notified of any non-
compliance event that may affect fish resources. To further protect 
aquatic species, the licensee would comply with the Commission's 
December 20, 2013, Order Approving Phase I of the Biotic Monitoring 
Plan Pursuant to License Article 407.\3\
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    \3\ 145 FERC ] 62,223.
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    On February 7, 2014, the Alaska DFG issued a Fish Habitat Permit 
for the project. This permit contains additional fish protection and 
enhancement measures that must be followed by the licensee. Any other 
environmental impacts of the construction and operation of the 
powerhouse and tailrace would be similar to those considered in the 
September 27, 2013 license and associated EA.

Our Analysis

    In, its comments, Alaska DFG requested the single generator 
powerhouse be designed with a generator water bypass system to maintain 
immediate flow in the downstream reach in the event of a project 
shutdown. This would allow for bypass reach ramping and reduce effects 
on fish in the downstream reach, if the penstock must also be 
dewatered.
    The Alaska DFG made a similar 10(j) request during licensing. In 
the final license order, the Commission concluded that the constant 
delivery of minimum flows at the project's diversion, required by 
Article 403, would provide a stable amount of flow to protect fishery 
resources downstream of the powerhouse. Therefore, an additional 
failsafe provision for the powerhouse was not needed.\4\ Since there 
are no changes in this amendment that would alter this determination, 
we have not incorporated this recommendation. The licensee is still 
required to comply with article 403, which should provide adequate 
protection for downstream fisheries.
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    \4\ Order Issuing Original License, 144 FERC ] 62,089.

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[[Page 36507]]

Transmission Line

    The licensed project would be located in a scenic, largely 
undeveloped area above the south shore of Port Valdez and at the base 
of the Chugach Mountains. The dramatic natural landscape provides an 
important scenic backdrop to the Valdez community, and is integral to 
the multiple recreation and tourism activities occurring in the region, 
such as boating, fishing, camping, and sightseeing. The project area is 
most visible from Port Valdez, the city of Valdez, a portion of the 
Richardson Highway (a designated scenic byway), and from the Solomon 
Gulch Trail.
    The project's transmission line, as licensed, is a 34.5 kV line 
that runs for 3.8 miles with a 30-foot-wide right-of-way along the TAPS 
right-of-way, including 1 mile of the Solomon Gulch trail which is a 
cleared route that runs through a Sitka spruce and mountain hemlock 
forest, low on the slopes above Dayville Road. The wooden power poles 
would match the scale and appearance of existing transmission lines 
associated with the nearby Solomon Gulch Project. The transmission line 
and poles would be camouflaged by dense vegetation and forest canopy 
along the TAPS right-of-way which is not visible from Dayville Road. 
The visual impacts from the licensed transmission line route would be 
greatest where it follows the Solomon Gulch Trail for approximately 1 
mile. See Commission's staff's EA issued June 21, 2013 for a complete 
description of the anticipated environmental effects of the licensed 
transmission line.
    The proposed new transmission line would be a 25 kV line that would 
run 3.8 miles with a 30-foot-wide right-of-way, south and uphill while 
paralleling the licensed route along the TAPS right-of-way. The 
proposed new transmission line route would utilize a designated section 
line utility corridor for a portion of the route. The line would no 
longer follow the Solomon Gulch trail; however, it would cross the 
trail at one location. The existing environment surrounding the 
proposed new transmission line route is very similar to the licensed 
route. A wetland survey was conducted for the new route and no new 
waters or wetland types were found. Wetlands accounted for 2.29 acres 
within the proposed new transmission line corridor. The U.S. Army Corps 
of Engineers issued a wetland permit for the project on October 22, 
2013. The licensee is also required to conduct restoration activities 
and mange invasive species pursuant to the Commission's Order Approving 
Vegetation Management Plan Pursuant to License Article 410.\5\
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    \5\ Issued January 3, 2014 (146 FERC ] 62,004).
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    The proposed new transmission line route would be farther from 
previously identified active raptor nests than the licensed line. The 
proposed new line would also be designed to protect resident and 
migratory birds similar to the licensed line.
    In its comments, Interior notes that the proposed new transmission 
line route would run much higher on the mountainside, above the forest 
and in a new right-of-way that has less vegetation to shield the line 
from view. Since the licensee is proposing to clear and maintain a new 
30-foot-wide right-of-way, Interior says the licensee would be creating 
a new linear feature that could be visible from the three key Valdez 
viewpoints (Alaska State Marine Highway Ferry Dock, Valdez Convention 
and Civic Center, and scenic pullout along Richardson Highway) that 
were used to analyze the original project's potential impacts.
    Interior points out that, although the proposed new transmission 
line would no longer follow the Solomon Gulch trail, it would be 
visible from long stretches of the trail, from the edge of the forest 
up to the dam and beyond. While users of the trail encounter non-
natural features like the TAPS pipeline, access road, and the Solomon 
Gulch Project penstock, Interior states that since trail users 
eventually climb out of the forest and into subalpine and alpine 
environments, they eventually leave these features behind. Interior 
concludes that the new higher elevation proposed transmission line 
would be more intrusive. Aside from where the proposed new line crosses 
the Solomon Gulch Trail, Interior states the new line may be visible 
from other vantage points on the trail, both above and below the 
crossing location, particularly because the new line does not run 
through a forest. Interior says there is virtually no way to mitigate 
the appearance of the proposed new transmission line.
    In its June 3, 2014, response to Interior, the licensee provides 
additional aesthetic and recreational analysis of the proposed new 
transmission line route, following the Recreation and Aesthetic 
Resources Report that was filed during licensing of the project. The 
licensee states that the proposed new transmission line is still 
camouflaged by thick vegetation and has a similar visual impact from 
the three key Valdez viewpoints that look across the Port of Valdez to 
Allison Creek. The licensee points out that the Allison Creek Project 
is located adjacent to the largest industrial complex in Alaska, the 
Valdez Marine Terminal. In addition, the viewing distance from these 
three key viewpoints is so great that the visibility of both the 
licensed and proposed new transmission lines would be very low. The 
terminus of the proposed new line is the Petro Star refinery which 
already impacts the view with its industrial complex. The existing 
transmission line for the nearby Solomon Gulch Project is not visible 
to the naked eye from these three key viewing sites.
    The fourth viewpoint that was analyzed for the licensed 
transmission line is the view from Allison Point Campground. The 
Allison Point Campground is the closest recreation area to the project 
site, located approximately 0.7 mile away. Because there is a steep 
embankment on the south side of the park the entire view of the 
licensed and proposed new transmission lines would be blocked.
    The final viewpoint which was analyzed prior to licensing is the 
view from the Solomon Gulch Trail and the TAPS right-of-way. The 
licensee concludes that the proposed new line would dramatically 
improve this viewpoint because the 1 mile stretch of poles that would 
have followed the trail via the licensed line is eliminated. The 
proposed new line which would only be visible at one section of the 
Solomon Gulch Trail where the proposed line would be perpendicular to 
the Solomon Gulch transmission line. However, the licensee points out 
that in this area, hikers already see the utility line and poles from 
Solomon Gulch Project that parallel the penstock. Hikers cross over a 
bridge and under the penstock and Solomon Gulch transmission line to 
continue to the lake. Since there are already so many manmade 
structures in this area, the routing of the proposed new line through 
this area should not be considered more intrusive. The proposed new 
line would only be visible from Solomon Gulch Lake if a hiker is 
standing on the Solomon Gulch Dam looking away from the lake. However 
the Solomon Gulch poles and lines are already present there and the 
licensed line would be visible from that location also.
    The licensee also states that Interior's comment that hikers 
``eventually climb out of the forest and into subalpine and alpine 
environments,'' is inaccurate because the trail ends at the lake and 
does not extend into higher elevations.

Our Analysis

    We've reviewed Commission staff's original EA issued for this 
project and staff's EA issued November 20, 2013 for

[[Page 36508]]

the licensee's previous amendment application. We've also reviewed the 
Recreation and Aesthetic Resources report that was included in Volume 
III of the original license application filed on August 25, 2011, 
Interior's comments and the licensee's response to those comments. We 
agree with the licensee that the proposed new transmission line would 
have similar aesthetic and recreation effects as the licensed line. 
From key viewpoints, the proposed new line would be difficult to see, 
similar to the licensed line, and routing the line away from a 1 mile 
stretch of the Solomon Gulch trail could improve aesthetics. We 
disagree with Interior that additional scoping and studies are 
warranted for the licensee's proposed changes. We recommend approving 
the licensee's proposed new transmission line with existing mitigation 
measures already required by the license.

Conclusions

    The environmental effects of construction and operation of the 
amended powerhouse and tailrace are not significantly different from 
those that were already considered and approved in the project license.
    Based on our review, the proposed transmission line route would not 
result in any significant changes in recreation or aesthetics from the 
route that was previously studied and licensed. For a majority of its 
length the transmission line would not be visible to recreationists and 
in the areas where it would be visible the new line would be in 
character with the other manmade intrusions surrounding it. 
Implementation of environmental measures already required by the 
project license would minimize or avoid identified impacts.
    On the basis of our independent analysis, the approval of the 
proposed amendment to the Allison Creek Hydroelectric Project would not 
constitute a major federal action significantly affecting the quality 
of the human environment.

Literature Cited

Copper Valley Electric Association, Inc. 2011. License Application. 
August, 2011.
Copper Valley Electric Association, Inc. 2014a. Application to Amend 
License. April 11, 2014.
Copper Valley Electric Association, Inc. 2014b. Letter from Robert 
Wilkinson, CEO of Copper Valley Electric Association, Inc. Filed 
June 3, 2014.
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 2013. Final Environmental 
Assessment for Hydropower License, Allison Creek Hydroelectric 
Project. June 2013.

List of Preparers

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Steven Sachs--Project Coordinator (Civil Engineer; B.S., Environmental 
Systems Engineering)
Rebecca Martin--Environmental Coordinator (Environmental Biologist; 
Master of Science, Environmental Science; B.S., Environmental Science)

[FR Doc. 2014-15088 Filed 6-26-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P