Draft EIS_072312.pdf - Middle Fork American River Project ...

20120723-4002 FERC PDF (Unofficial) 07/23/2012
1.3.1.2 Section 4(e) Conditions
Section 4(e) of the FPA provides that any license issued by the Commission for a
project within a federal reservation will be subject to and contain such conditions as the
Secretary of the responsible federal land management agency deems necessary for the
adequate protection and use of the reservation. The Forest Service filed conditions on
August 5, 2011, pursuant to section 4(e) of the FPA. These conditions are described
under section 2.2.5, Modifications to Applicant’s Proposal—Mandatory Conditions.
1.3.1.3 Section 10(j) Recommendations
Under section 10(j) of the FPA, each hydroelectric license issued by the
Commission must include conditions based on recommendations provided by federal and
state fish and wildlife agencies for the protection, mitigation, or enhancement of fish and
wildlife resources affected by the project. The Commission is required to include these
conditions unless it determines that they are inconsistent with the purposes and
requirements of the FPA or other applicable law. Before rejecting or modifying an
agency recommendation, the Commission is required to attempt to resolve any such
inconsistency with the agency, giving due weight to the recommendations, expertise, and
statutory responsibilities of such agency.
NMFS and California Department of Fish and Game timely filed, on August 1 and
August 4, 2011, respectively, recommendations under section 10(j), as summarized in
table 5-8, in section 5.4.1, Recommendations of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. The U.S.
Department of the Interior-Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) did not file any
recommendations under section 10(j). In section 5.4, we discuss how we address the
agency recommendations and comply with section 10(j).
1.3.2 Clean Water Act
Under section 401 of the Clean Water Act, a license applicant must obtain
certification from the appropriate state pollution control agency verifying compliance
with the Clean Water Act. On July 15, 2011, PCWA applied to the State Water
Resources Control Board (Water Board) for 401 water quality certification for the Middle
Fork American River Project. The Water Board received this request on July 18, 2011.
The Water Board has until July 18, 2012, to act on the request.
1.3.3 Endangered Species Act
Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) requires federal agencies to ensure
that their actions are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of endangered or
threatened species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of the critical
habitat of such species. Although no federally listed species are known to occur in the
project vicinity, three federally listed species have the potential to occur: the threatened
Layne’s ragwort (Senecia layneae), the threatened valley elderberry longhorn beetle
(Desmorcerus californicus dimorphus); and the threatened California red-legged frog
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