Memorandum
Date: February 25, 2025
To: The Honorable E.J.Crandell, Chair, Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Eddie Crandell, Chair, Lake County Board of Supervisors
Bruno Sabatier, District 2 Supervisor
Susan Parker, County Administrative Officer
Stephen Carter, Assistance County Administrative Officer
Matthew Rothstein, Chief Deputy County Administrative Officer
Lloyd Guintivano, County Counsel
Patrick Sullivan, Treasurer/Tax Collector
Subject: (a) Consideration of Comments to Pacific Gas and Electric Company in Response to their Draft Application for Surrender of License and Application for Non-Project Use of Project Lands; (b) Consideration of a Letter to California Governor Gavin Newsom Highlighting Considerations Regarding Scott Dam Decommissioning in Consideration of Executive Order N-16-25; and (c) Consideration of a Letter to Federal Agencies Regarding Scott Dam Decommissioning in Relation to Recent Executive Orders from President Donald Trump
Executive Summary:
On January 31, the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) distributed their Draft Application for Surrender of License and Application for Non-Project Use of Project Lands, with a public comment period closing March 3, 2025. The proposed response Letter (Item A) addresses considerations regarding the comment period timeline and potential impacts to Lake County, including implications for fire suppression capabilities, property values, and county revenue streams.
Final Draft: <https://www.pottervalleysurrenderproceeding.com/>
Password: PV_Surrender
Recent State and Federal policy developments have introduced additional considerations relevant to the Scott Dam decommissioning proposal.
On January 31, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Executive Order N-16-25, directing the Department of Water Resources, the State Water Resources Control Board, the Natural Resources Agency, and the Environmental Protection Agency to enhance storage capacity for winter storm flows. The proposed response (Item B) seeks to address the relationship between the directive and the planned decommissioning.
Executive Order N-16-25: <https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Executive-Order-N-16-25-FINAL.pdf>
Additionally, President Donald Trump issued multiple Federal Executive Orders in January 2025 that may have implications for the Scott Dam Decommissioning process. The proposed correspondence (Item C) aims to ensure relevant federal agencies are fully informed of Lake County’s previously documented considerations as they relate to current federal priorities.
Executive Order 14156: “Declaring a National Energy Emergency”
<https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/01/29/2025-02003/declaring-a-national-energy-emergency>
Executive Order 14181: “Emergency Measures To Provide Water Resources in California and Improve Disaster Response in Certain Areas”
<https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/01/31/2025-02174/emergency-measures-to-provide-water-resources-in-california-and-improve-disaster-response-in-certain>
We recommend our Board approve each of these letters and authorize Chair Crandell to sign. Additionally, we ask that our Board provide direction to staff to share each of these letters with relevant members of our State and Federal Legislative delegations.
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Recommended Action: a) Approve the Comments to Pacific Gas and Electric Company in Response to their Draft Application for Surrender of License and Application for Non-Project Use of Project Lands, and Authorize the Chair to Sign; b) Approve the Letter to California Governor Gavin Newsom Highlighting Concerns Surrounding Proposed Decommissioning of Scott Dam in Consideration of Executive Order N-16-25; and c) Approve the Letter to Federal Agencies Raising Concern Regarding Proposed Decommissioning of Scott Dam, in Consideration of Executive Orders Issued by President Donald Trump.
Additionally, provide Direction to staff to share each of these Letters with relevant members of our State and Federal Legislative delegations