Pacific Gas and Electric Company; Notice of Application Accepted for Filing, Soliciting Comments, Motions To Intervene, and Protests

Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection:

a. Type of Application: Application for Temporary Variance of Minimum Flow Requirement.

b. Project No.: 77-275.

c. Date Filed: November 10, 2015.

d. Applicant: Pacific Gas and Electric Company (licensee).

e. Name of Project: Potter Valley Project.

f. Location: Eel River and East Fork Russian River in Lake and Mendocino Counties, California.

g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791(a)-825(r).

h. Applicant Contact: Ms. Elizabeth Rossi, License Coordinator, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Mail Code: N13E, P.O. Box 770000, San Francisco, CA 94177, (415) 973-2032.

i. FERC Contact: Mr. John Aedo, (415) 369-3335, or john.aedo@ferc.gov.

j. Deadline for filing comments, motions to intervene, protests, and recommendations is November 27, 2015. The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file motions to intervene, protests, comments, or recommendations 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 FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, (866) 208-3676 (toll free), or (202) 502-8659 (TTY). In lieu of electronic filing, please send a paper copy to: Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426. Please include the project number (P-77-275) on any comments, motions to intervene, protests, or recommendations filed.

k. Description of Request: The licensee requests an extension of a previous temporary variance of the minimum flow requirements in the Eel River and East Branch Russian River. On June 18, 2015, the Commission issued an order approving a temporary variance of the minimum flow requirements in the Eel River below Scott Dam (gage E-2), the Eel River below Cape Horn Dam (gage E-11), and East Branch Russian River (gage E-16). Specifically, the order granted the licensee's request to operate under a dry water year scenario through December 1, 2015, in order to preserve limited water resources during the current drought. In its November 10, 2015 request, the licensee states that the project reservoir (Lake Pillsbury) is projected to drain by mid-January. Consequently, the licensee requests Commission approval to operate as low as the critically dry year minimum flow requirements in the Eel River below Scott Dam (20 cubic feet per second (cfs) release) and the East Branch Russian River (5 cfs release) and the exceptionally low minimum flow requirements in the Eel River below Cape Horn Dam (9 cfs release) in order to preserve water storage. In addition, the licensee requests Commission approval for a modified minimum flow compliance criteria of a 24-hour average, rather that an instantaneous requirement. The licensee requests the temporary variance through January 31, 2016, or when storage in Lake Pillsbury reaches 27,000 acre-feet, whichever comes first.

l. Locations of the Application: A copy of the application is 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. This filing may also be viewed on the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/elibrary.asp . 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 FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, for TTY, call (202) 502-8659. A copy is also available for inspection and reproduction at the address in item (h) above.

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. 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 Responsive 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 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 and otherwise comply with the requirements of 18 CFR 4.34(b). All comments, motions to intervene, or protests should relate to project works which are the subject of the license surrender. Agencies may obtain copies of the application directly from the applicant. A copy of any protest or motion to intervene must be served upon each representative of the applicant specified in the particular application. If an intervener 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. A copy of all other filings in reference to this application 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 4.34(b) and 385.2010.