Final Required Milestone Date of 12/22/2021 for Conclusion of ESA Consultation has passed by 5 business days
Cooperating under NEPA
Description:
Section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) requires Federal agencies to consult with NOAA Fisheries when any project or action they take might affect an ESA-listed species under NOAA Fisheries’ jurisdiction, or might affect such species’ critical habitat. The endangered Southern California Distinct Population Segment of steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and designated critical habitat for this species exist throughout much of the area affected by the Lake Elsinore Advanced Pumped Storage Project. The proposed action may adversely affect this resource, therefore Section 7 consultation is required.
Milestones:
-
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
:
Official Notice of Availability of a Draft EIS published in the Federal Register (FR) beginning both the public comment period and concurrent CAA Section 309 Review (Agency Action)
- Current Target Date: 07/09/2021
This target timeline is dependent on receipt of a consultation request from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), consisting of a Biological Assessment, expected concurrent with the Notice of Availability of FERC’s DEIS.
This date is dependent upon NOAA Fisheries receiving sufficient information (a complete final Biological Assessment) from FERC to deem the package complete and initiate the ESA consultation.
The final completion date is contingent upon NOAA Fisheries receiving sufficient information that NOAA Fisheries determines adequate to initiate ESA consultation. The target completion date is 135 days following the consultation initiation date for formal consultations.
The final completion date is contingent upon NOAA Fisheries receiving sufficient information that NOAA Fisheries determines adequate to initiate ESA consultation. The target completion date is 135 days following the consultation initiation date for formal consultations.
PROJECT WEBSITE: LEAPS Hydropower
All dates below are specific to the schedule of the Environmental Review and Permitting processes for this project.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING STATUS
PAUSED
ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE OF ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING
SUBJECT TO CHANGE
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING PROCESSES
COMPLETED
SECTOR
Renewable Energy Production
CATEGORY
Project Category
FAST-41 Covered Projects
Major Infrastructure Projects
LEAD AGENCY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Description:
The Lake Elsinore Advanced Pumped Storage Project (Project No. 14227) is a proposal to construct an original pumped storage project in California. The proposed project would consist of: (1) a new upper reservoir (Decker Canyon) having a 200-foot-high main dam and a gross storage volume of 5,750 acre-feet, at a normal reservoir surface elevation of 2,792 feet above mean sea level; (2) a powerhouse with two reversible pump-turbine units with a total installed capacity of 500 megawatts; (3) the existing Lake Elsinore to be used as a lower reservoir; (4) about 32 miles of 500-kilovolt transmission line connecting the project to an existing transmission line owned by Southern California Edison located north of the proposed project and to an existing San Diego Gas & Electric Company transmission line located to the south.
On December 9, 2021, Commission staff issued a letter dismissing, without prejudice, the license application for the project. Under the Commission’s regulations, parties have 30 days to file for rehearing of this dismissal.
FAST-41 Initiation Notice
- Document located at: https://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/common/opennat.asp?fileID=15577137.
Project Application and Supporting Documents
- Lake Elsinore Advanced Pumped Storage Project, Transmittal Letter for Final License Application (filed 10/02/2017). Document located at: https://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/common/opennat.asp?fileID=14699283.
- Lake Elsinore Advanced Pumped Storage Project, Final License Application (filed 10/02/2017). Document located at: https://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/search/intermediate.asp?link_file=yes&doclist=14606943.
- Additional project-related filings can be found on FERC’s eLibrary website by searching under Docket No. P-14227.
Federal Agency Actions
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Notice of Application Tendered for Filing with the Commission and Soliciting Additional Study Requests (issued 10/11/2017). Document located at: https://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/search/intermediate.asp?link_file=yes&doclist=14608724.
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Notice of Application Accepted for Filing and Soliciting Motions to Intervene and Protests (issued 07/26/2019). Document located at: https://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/search/intermediate.asp?link_file=yes&doclist=14788316.
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and Soliciting Scoping Comments (issued 06/18/2020). Document located at: https://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/search/intermediate.asp?link_file=yes&doclist=14869942.
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Letter Dismissing License Application (issued 12/09/2021). Document located at: https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filedownload?fileid=3A8024DF-717D-CFDA-95D0-7DA014000000.
- Additional project-related issuances can be found on FERC’s eLibrary website by searching under Docket No. P-14227.
FERC Litigation
- None filed.
Last updated December 27, 2021
The final completion date is contingent upon NOAA Fisheries receiving sufficient information that NOAA Fisheries determines adequate to initiate ESA consultation. The target completion date is 135 days following the consultation initiation date for formal consultations.