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Home My WebLink About20150406-0086(30463945),:..:.A- March 30, 2015 SCVVF The Honorable Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 888 First Street, NW Washington, DC 20426 OF 1HE I.;; c , ..torsi l °'5 Am Fr A 10-33 ISS101i Re: Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC's Keowee - Toxaway Hydroelectric Project Relicensing Application / FERC Docket P- 2503 -154 Dear Secretary Bose: The South Carolina Wildlife Federation is privileged to have been a participant in the stakeholders' team that has worked with Duke Energy to develop its relicensing application. The process of developing this application has truly been collaborative and robust in its examination of the issues related to renewing Duke's license to operate this complex of facilities, which is so vital to our region's continued growth and quality of life, as well as protecting the exceptional natural resources of the region. Duke Energy has clearly demonstrated to our satisfaction that they are dedicated to and capable of continuing to operate this project in a way that not only meets the energy needs of the Carolinas, but also strikes a balance in providing for the many additional demands for clean water, recreational activities and protection of the environment. It is therefore with great pleasure that The South Carolina Wildlife Federation fully endorses the proposal by Duke Energy's application under the Relicensing Agreement (September 8, 2013) and joins in Duke's request that the license term be at least 40 years. We respectfully request that FERC approve Duke Energy's application consistent with the Relicensing Agreement. Thank you for your consideration of our comments and please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions regarding our support of this project. Sincerely, S U ,, 6ARI Ben Gregg Executive Director cc (via e-mail only) KTREL Stakeholder Team Jennifer Huff, Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC (jenn'rfer.huff @duke- energy.com Stephen Bowler, FERC (stephan.bowler@ferc.gov SOUTH CAROLINA WUDL11FE FEDERATION 215 Pickens St. • Columbia, SC 29205 • (803) 256 -0670 • (803) 256 -0690 FAX • www.scwforg q, ��- (f-D I)FCR-i��D Aora: GreenvilleWater slQ ��{F `/ 407 West Broad Street • P.O. Box 687 • Greenville. SC 29602 864.241.6004 tel •2F94.24}j}Q77 fax • greenvillewater.toni J ,ltjj''��i -b q 1I: 00 ENERGy March 31, 2015 Honorable Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 888 First Street, N.E. Washington, DC 20426 Re: Proposed Environmental Analysis for Keowee- Toxaway Hydroelectric Project Dear Secretary Bose: Pursuant to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's REA Notice posted on February 5, 2015, Greenville Water offers its full support for the Keowee - Toxaway Relicensing Agreement Duke Energy filed with its License Application. Greenville Water is a municipal water provider that treats and delivers water from Lake Keowee to over 500,000 water customers in Upstate South Carolina. We are a Large Water Intake owner on Lake Keowee, a major stakeholder and signatory in the Keowee - Toxaway Relicensing Agreement and are bound by the tenants of the Relicensing Agreement's Low Inflow Protocol. As a South Carolina Surface Water Withdrawal Permit Holder, we request the Commission adopt proposed measures in Duke Energy's License Application for the Keowee - Toxaway Hydroelectric Project. Please contact me at 864 -241 -6003 if we can be of further assistance or if you have any questions regarding our support for this proposed action. Sincerely, GREENVILLR96ATIER. avid . Be PE Chief Executive Officer United States Department of the Interior FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE 1875 Century Boulevard Atlanta, Georgia 30345 In Reply Refer To: R4/ES/ER 15/0084 MAR 2 1 2015 ri ORIGINAL Ms. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary Federal Energy Regulatory Commission - Cr ,; { Fn Mail Code HL -20 c,rq � :-; 888 First Street, N.E.. -� Washington, DC 20426 '• N m a — Dear Ms. Bose: Subject: Section 18 Fishway PRESCRIPTIONS for the Keowee - Toxaway Hydroelectric Project, Pickens and Oconee Counties, South Carolina and Transylvania County, North Carolina (FERC No. 2503 -154). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has reviewed the Notice of Application Ready for Environmental Analysis, issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) on February 5, 2015, for the Keowee - Toxaway Hydroelectric Project, Pickens and Oconee Counties, South Carolina and Transylvania County, North Carolina (FERC No. 2503 -154). Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC, filed a License Application for a major new license on August 27, 2014. The License Application contains 'information about the, Project; provides information on the existing environment, potential impacts, and protection measures; and lists the results of studies conducted. According to the February 5, 2015, Notice, the Commission has accepted the license application and determined it is ready for environmental analysis at this. time. This Prescription is provided in response to the Notice, and following a review of the license application. These comments are submitted in accordance with the provisions of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, as amended (16 U.S.C. 661- 667e); Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 - 1543); the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 803(a) and (j)); the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.); and the Electric Consumers. Protection Act of 1986 (100 Stat. 1243). The Project The Keowee- Toxaway Hydroelectric Project is part of an energy production complex located on a set of headwaters tributaries to the Savannah River, including the Toxaway, Keowee, and Little Rivers in Oconee County and Pickens County, South Carolina and Transylvania County, North Carolina. Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC seeks a license to continue to operate the Project. Ms. Kimberly D. Bose USFWS GOALS 2 The USFWS's goals for the upper Savannah River system are to protect, enhance, and restore aquatic habitats and species as well as species diversity and to seek mitigation that directly benefits the aquatic ecosystem. The USFWS is specifically interested in restoring native aquatic communities, maintaining riverine functions, and eventually restoring populations of diadromous fish. PRESCRIPTIONS Reservation of Section 18 authority We hereby reserve the Secretary of Interior's authority to prescribe fishways pursuant to Section 18 of the Federal Power Act. Opportunities to pursue fish passage improvements at this project could be affected by the proposed action. Although we have not yet developed a prescription for this project, we would still like to reserve our prescriptive authority. In order to allow for the timely implementation of fishways, including effectiveness measures, the Department of Interior, through the USFWS, requests that the Commission include this condition to prescribe fishways as determined necessary. In summary, this includes a reservation of § 18 authority until further information warrants development of a prescription at any or all of the developments of the Keowee - Toxaway Hydroelectric Project. Therefore, the Department of Interior, through the USFWS, requests that the Commission include the following condition in any license it may issue for the Project: Authority is reserved for the Department of the Interior (Department) to prescribe the evaluation, construction, operation, and maintenance of fishways at the Keowee- Toxaway Hydroelectric Project, Project No. 2503, as appropriate, including measures to determine, ensure, or improve the effectiveness of such fishways, pursuant to Section 18 of the Federal Power Act, as amended. This reservation includes, but is not limited to, authority to prescribe fishways for resident fishes, diadromous fishes, and any other fish to be managed, enhanced, protected, or restored to the Savannah River system during the term of the license. Conclusion We look forward to working with the licensee to implement measures for fish passage at the Project in the future. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Mark Cantrell of our staff at 828/215 -1739. Sincerely yours, Cynthia K. Dohner Regional Director OMMMaw The Honorable Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary Federal Energy Regulatory Commission BD8 First Street, NVV Washington, DC204I6 Re: Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC's Hydroelectric Project RalicensinD Application /FERC Docket P'2503'154 Warpath Development's comments in support of the Duke Energy Keowee-Toxaway Relicensing Application Dear Secretary Bose: Warpath Development, Inc was created for the sole purpose of developing and operating public facilities at Warpath Access Area on Lake Keowee. The Relicensing Agreement addresses the anticipated future recreational needs at the Project and has our full support as submitted. Sincerely your Tim Roberson, President Warpath Development, Inc