April 16, 1998
Contact: Michelle Smith
663-8121, ext. 4485

The Chelan County PUD held two public meetings yesterday (Wednesday) related to relicensing of the Lake Chelan Hydro Project. About 33 federal, state and local agency representatives participated in a morning meeting held in the PUD’s auditorium in Wenatchee. A subsequent evening meeting attracted about 37 community members and agency officials. That meeting was held in Chelan at Campbell’s Resort.

Both meetings focused on the process the PUD will be using to relicense the Lake Chelan Hydro Project. Guest speaker, Vince Yearick of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) presented information outlining differences between the traditional method of licensing a hydro project and the process Chelan County PUD plans to use, referred to as "the alternative relicensing process." Yearick pointed out that in the alternative process, FERC has the advantage of being involved early in the process. Using the traditional method the federal agency is normally not involved until after the license has been submitted by the utility. He said the new process provides an opportunity for FERC to view the hydro project, meet and talk with local residents and agency officials, and work more closely with the licensee than ever before. The process also allows for more environmental and resource decisions to be made at the local and regional level, and reduces the license processing time from five years to approximately one to two years.

Chelan County PUD relicensing staff members were also present during the meeting to answer questions and receive comments about the PUD’s relicensing plans. Gregg Carrington, Licensing Project Manager for the PUD, presented an overview of the Lake Chelan Project relicensing schedule. Carrington noted that the final license application is due in 2002. He stated that over the next several years, the PUD will be working hard to involve resource agencies, organizations and the community in the process. Efforts will focus on developing a balance between the many resources associated with the Lake Chelan Hydro Project, such as fish and wildlife, water quality and land use.

Wednesday’s meeting was the first in a series of public meetings on relicensing the Lake Chelan Hydro Project. An issues identification workshop will be held on May 12^th in Chelan High School’s Performing Arts Center. The meeting will focus on accumulating a list of community issues and concerns associated with hydro project operations and resource planning. It will begin at 6:30 PM. Anyone interested in obtaining more information regarding relicensing or upcoming meetings can do so by contacting Michelle Smith at Chelan County PUD, 663-8121, toll free at 888-663-8121, or by visiting our Web site at www.chelanpud.org.

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