HomeMy WebLinkAbout09.18.26 Board Correspondence - FW_ Delegated Order issued in FERC P-619-186From:Clerk of the Board
To:Clerk of the Board; Connelly, Bill; Cook, Holly; Cook, Robin; Dubose, Teri; Durfee, Peter; Jessee, Meegan; Kimmelshue, Tod; Kitts,
Melissa; Krater, Sharleen; Lee, Lewis; Pickett, Andy; Ritter, Tami; Stephens, Brad J.; Sweeney, Kathleen; Teeter, Doug; Zepeda,
Elizabeth
Cc:Cannon, Jamie; Loeser, Kamie
Subject:Board Correspondence - FW: Delegated Order issued in FERC P-619-186
Date:Friday, September 18, 2026 4:02:21 PM
Please see Board Correspondence -
Lewis Lee
Administrative Technician - Confidential
Butte County Administration
25 County Center Drive, Suite 200 • Oroville, CA 95965
T: 530.552.3326
www.buttecounty.ca.gov | lelee@buttecounty.ca.gov
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Subject: Delegated Order issued in FERC P-619-186
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On 9/18/2026, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Washington D.C., issued this document:
Docket(s): P-619-186
Lead Applicant: Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Filing Type: Delegated Order
Description: Order Revising Forest Service 4(E) Condition 51 re Pacific Gas and Electric Company's et al. Bucks Creek
Hydroelectric Project under P-619.
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196 FERC ¶ 62,144
1 filed a request to revise
U.S. Forest Service (Forest Service) 4(e) Condition No. 51 for the protection of Willow
Flycatchers. The project is located in Plumas County, California on Bucks, Grizzly, and
Milk Ranch creeks, tributaries of the North Fork Feather River. The project occupies
federal land within the Plumas National Forest managed by the Forest Service.
1 Order Issuing New License (179 FERC ¶ 61,202), issued June 16, 2022.
Document Accession #: 20260918-3048 Filed Date: 09/18/2026
Project No. 619-186 - 2 -
commence within 350 ft of an active nest any sooner than August 31 unless the
Licensees can confirm that either (1) the nest successfully fledged young, or (2)
the nest is unoccupied or failed, and or early commencement of activities has been
approved by the Forest Service, U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS), and
California Department of Fish & Wildlife (CDFW).”
4. The licensees propose to modify condition 51’s language to allow for tree removal
if certain nesting survey parameters are met during the breading season. The proposed
revision are as follows in italics:
“If disruptive Project activities cannot be avoided within 350 ft of suitable willow
flycatcher nesting habitat during the breeding season, then the Licensees shall
conduct protocol-level pre-construction surveys for nesting willow flycatcher and
establish a 350 ft protective buffer around active nests, with the exception that one
survey need not be conducted in the mandatory period of June 15 to 25. Habitat
can be assumed to be unoccupied if two surveys are conducted separated by at
least 5 days anytime within the entire protocol survey window of June 1 to July 15.
If no nesting territories are found during the surveys, trees shall be targeted for
removal within 2 calendar days of the last survey, but may be allowed within 5
calendar days if unusual circumstances prevent their earlier removal. If nesting
territories are found, project activities will not commence within 350 ft of an
active nest any sooner than August 31 unless the Licensees can confirm that either
(1) the nest successfully fledged young, or (2) the nest is unoccupied or failed, or
early commencement of activities has been approved by the Forest Service, FWS,
and CDFW.”
5. On May 20, 2024, the licensees submitted the revised condition language to Forest
Service, FWS, California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), and CDFW
for review and comment. On May 21, 2024, FWS approved the revisions via email.
CDFW concurred with the revision on June 5, 2024 via email. Alse on June 4, 2024,
SWRCB responded via email without objection. The Forest Service filed an approval
letter2 with the Commission on October 1, 2024.
6. Commission staff’s review of the proposed revision concludes that the revised
condition will not result in a change in project operation or environmental effects and are
reasonable. Moreover, there is no opposition to the revision, it has received explicit
approval from the Forest Service as the conditioning agency, and it would reduce
unnecessary monitoring efforts. As such, it should be approved.
The Director orders:
2 Accession Number 20241001-5227.
Document Accession #: 20260918-3048 Filed Date: 09/18/2026
Project No. 619-186 - 3 -
(A) Pacific Gas and Electric Company and City of Santa Clara’s October 31,
2024 request to revise U.S. Forest Service 4(e) Condition No. 51, as incorporated into the
license in Appendix B, for the Bucks Creek Hydroelectric Project No. 619, is approved.
(B) This order constitutes final agency action. Any party may file a request for
rehearing of this order within 30 days from the date of its issuance, as provided in section
313(a) of the Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. § 825l, and the Commission’s regulations at
18 CFR § 385.713 (2025). The filing of a request for hearing does not operate as a stay
of the effective date of this order, or of any other date specified in this order. The
licensee’s failure to file a request for rehearing shall constitute acceptance of this order.
Alicia Jackson
Chief, Land Resources Branch
Division of Hydropower Administration
and Compliance
Document Accession #: 20260918-3048 Filed Date: 09/18/2026
Document Accession #: 20260918-3048 Filed Date: 09/18/2026
Document Content(s)
P-619-186 Order Forest Service 4(e) Condition 51.docx ....................1