Bishop Creek Project Relicensing (FERC P-1394)

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Below are links to project-related materials, notifications, and documentation (provided as PDFs). All documents related to the Bishop Creek Project can also be found on FERC’s eLibrary. This page will be updated throughout the relicensing process as new materials become available or are updated.
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NOTICE: Comment period for Initial Study Report meeting summary and requests for study modifications/new studies open through December 23, 2020.
Southern California Edison filed the Initial Study Report (ISR) Meeting Summary for the relicensing of the Bishop Creek Hydroelectric Project (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Project No. 1394). The summary is posted below , or can be viewed on FERC’s e-library at: https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filelist?accession_num=20201123-5170. The summary is intended to document the presentation topics and questions and comments made at the ISR Meeting held virtually on November 10, 2020, as well as the action items that came out of that meeting. Pursuant to 18 CFR 5.15(c)(3), if there is any disagreement with this meeting summary, and /or any proposed modifications to ongoing studies or new studies, any stakeholder may provide comments to FERC within 30-days of the filing, which will fall on Wednesday, December 23, 2020. For the criteria for study modification/new study requests, see 18 CFR 5.15(d) and 18 CFR 5.15(e). Individuals can submit comments to FERC via eComment; agencies will need a full eRegistration account to submit comments..
Recreation Survey
As part of the relicensing process, SCE is working with the USFS to gather information about recreation opportunities related to the Bishop Creek Hydroelectric Project, specifically at Lake Sabrina, South Lake, and Intake No. 2 Reservoir. The information you provide at the link below will be anonymous and help guide current and future management of recreation opportunities, sites, and facilities for visitors to the Bishop Creek Reservoirs. Please use this link to access the survey.
Relicensing Documents
- SCE Pre-Application Document
- Comments on Scoping Document 1 and Study Requests (Includes Revised Study Plan, August 29, 2019)
- SCE request for expedited study plan determination (September 4, 2019)
- Initial Study Report (ISR) (October 30, 2020)
- FERC Study Plan Determination (November 4, 2019)
- Progress Reports
Pre-Application Document
On May 1, 2019, Southern California Edison Company filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) its formal Notice of Intent (NOI) to file an Application for New License for the Bishop Creek Project (FERC Project No. 1394) and a Pre-Application Document (PAD). These documents were e-filed with FERC and are available through FERC’s eLibrary or available for download below. If you have difficulty accessing or downloading files please contact Matt Woodhall at 626-302-9596 or matthew.woodhall@sce.com.
- Volume I
- Volume II – Summary of Contacts
- Appendix A – Charter
- Appendix B – Distributed Material (available at FERC eLibrary)
- Volume III Technical Study Plans (originally filed May 1, 2019; superseded by August 29 filing)
- Comments on Scoping Document 1 and Study Requests (August 29, 2019)
Study Plan Determination
- SCE request for expedited study plan determination: On September 4, 2019, SCE filed a letter requesting a waiver of sections 5.11 and 5.12 of the FERC’s regulations to expedite the study plan process. The waiver was intended to shorten the study plan determination process by four months to provide more time for SCE and the stakeholders to collaboratively assess project effects and develop proposed license conditions during the pre-filing period. On October 3, 2019, FERC staff granted the waiver request and established a deadline of October 18, 2019, for stakeholders to file comments on the RSP. No comments on the revised study plan were filed.
- FERC Study Plan Determination: On November 4, 2019, SCE’s Revised Study Plan was approved, with one FERC staff-recommended modification (discussed in Appendix B).
Initial Study Report
The Initial Study Report (ISR) marks the 1-year anniversary of FERC’s study plan determination as required by 18 Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) 5.15(c). The ISR (1) describes overall progress in implementing the approved Study Plan, (2) provides an update on the schedule for implementing the studies, and (3) describes the data collected thus far. The ISR is not intended to analyze results for purposes of determining Project effects, nor does it discuss potential protection, mitigation, and enhancement (PME) measures. The ISR and associated meeting are intended to provide an opportunity to review progress in implementing the approved study plans and provide an opportunity for stakeholders to suggest modification or additional areas of inquiry that are needed to have an informed discussion of Project effects.
- ISR Filing Letter
- Initial Study Report
- ISR Appendices
- November 10, 2020 Meeting Summary + Appendices
Progress Reports
As outlined in the Technical Study Plan, these quarterly reports are distributed to the Technical Working Groups and FERC and are intended to be brief, technical memoranda that will summarize work completed to date, any deviations from previously described methods, and any unforeseen issues that may warrant further stakeholder consultation.
- Progress Report No. 1 : On December 20, 2019, SCE filed its first Progress Report. The cover letter and memorandum provide a summary of the field efforts conducted to date and a schedule for remaining studies. Attachments provide additional information related to ongoing study efforts and stakeholder consultation:
- Progress Report No. 2: On April 14, 2020, SCE filed its second Progress Report for the project. The cover letter and subsequent Table provide a summary of the field efforts conducted to date and a schedule for remaining studies. Appendices provide additional information related to ongoing study efforts and stakeholder consultation specific to the following studies:
- Appendix A: Vegetation Guild Analysis (Riparian Communities) (TERR 1)
- Appendix B: Invasive Plants (TERR 2)
- Appendix C: RTE and Special Status Plant Survey (TERR 3)
- Appendix D: General Wildlife (TERR 4)
- Appendix E: Instream Flow Incremental Methodology (IFIM) (AQ 1)
- Appendix F: Stream Fish Distribution (AQ 3)
- Appendix G: Water Quality (AQ 5)
- Appendix H: Sediment & Geomorphology (AQ 6)
- Progress Report No. 3: On July 24, 2020, SCE filed its third Progress Report for the project. The memorandum and subsequent table provide a summary of the field efforts conducted to date and a schedule for remaining studies; the document also provides a response to written stakeholder comments.
Newsletter Notifications & Updates
- Save-the-Date Project Kickoff Meetings
- June Technical Working Group Update
- Relicensing Stakeholder Updates July 2018
- Relicensing Stakeholder Updates October 2018
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Technical Working Groups Documents
Background Materials & Meeting Agendas
- March 15, 2018 Stakeholder Meeting Agenda
- Technical Work Group Charter
- Technical Working Group Study Plan Schedule & Study Plan Determination Milestones
- Literature List
- June 4, 5, & 7 Meeting Agenda
- June 2018 TWG Introductory Memo
- Project Description
- Current and Proposed Project Operations
- Project Mapbook
- July Oversight Committee Agenda
- August 2018 TWG Memo
- November 2018 TWG Memo
- May 2019 TWG Memo
Meeting Documentation
- March 15, 2018 Stakeholder Meeting Summary Notes - Final
- April 3, 2018 Oversight Committee Meeting Summary Notes Final
- June 4, 5, & 7, 2018 Technical Working Group Meetings Summary Notes Final
- July 13, 2018 Oversight Committee Meeting Summary Notes Final
- August 14 & 15, 2018 Technical Working Group Meetings Summary Final
- October 9 & 10, 2018 Technical Working Group Meetings Summary Final
- February 11, 2019 Oversight Committee Meeting Summary Final
- February 26, 2019 Aquatic Technical Working Group Webinar Summary Final
- February 27, 2019 Cultural Technical Working Group Webinar Summary Final
- June 11 & 19, 2019 Aquatics, Recreation, Botanical, and Terrestrial Technical Working Group Conference Calls Summary (Final)
- May 2020 Technical Working Group Presentations (Aquatics, Sediment, Operations, Botanical, Recreation, & Wildlife Updates)
- May 2020 Technical Working Group Webinar Summaries (May 7th & 19th) (Final)
Aquatic Resources
- June 2018 Aquatic Resources Technical Working Group Agenda
- August 2018 Aquatic Resource Technical Working Group Agenda
- October 2018 Technical Working Groups Agenda
- February 2019 Aquatic Resource Technical Working Group Agenda
- June 2019 Aquatic Resource Technical Working Group Agenda
- May 2020 Aquatic, Botanical, Wildlife, and Recreation Technical Working Group Agenda
Terrestrial & Botanical Resources
- June 2018 Terrestrial Resources Technical Working Group Agenda
- June 2018 Botanical Resources Technical Working Group Agenda
- August 2018 Botanical & Terrestrial Resources Technical Working Group Agenda
- October 2018 Technical Working Groups Agenda
- June 2019 Recreation, Botanical, and Terrestrial Working Groups Agenda
- May 2020 Aquatic, Botanical, Wildlife, and Recreation Technical Working Group Agenda
Recreation & Land Management Resources
- June 2018 Recreation Resources Technical Working Group Agenda
- August 2018 Recreation Resources Technical Working Group Agenda
- October 2018 Technical Working Groups Agenda
- June 2019 Recreation, Botanical, and Terrestrial Working Groups Agenda
- May 2020 Aquatic, Botanical, Wildlife, and Recreation Technical Working Group Agenda
Reference Documents
Instream Flow and Fisheries Reports, Jan 1986
Original License Order and Amendments