Chelan
Kris
Pomianek
Social Resources Facilitator, Relicensing
509.661.4186,
office
kris@chelanpud.org
_______________________________________________________________________
Terms discussed for new Rocky Reach Hydro Project
license
WENATCHEE _ A tentative settlement
agreement reached by Chelan PUD with major parties in the relicensing effort for
Rocky Reach Dam calls for a new 50-year license for the Rocky Reach Hydro
Project. The proposed term is the maximum allowable under the Federal Power Act
and would allow the PUD to continue operating Rocky Reach through 2056.
The settlement package must still
be presented to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for approval.
Members of Chelan County PUD’s
relicensing team Monday provided PUD commissioners with a detailed review of
proposed license articles developed during negotiations the past eight years
with various federal, state and local stakeholders. The Rocky Reach license
expires in June 2006.
Articles call for a
multimillion-dollar upgrade at
The proposed settlement agreement,
which incorporates the Habitat Conservation Plan for Rocky Reach and the fish
bypass system for the dam, is estimated to cost approximately $400 million over
the 50 years, about half of that for ongoing steps already in place and half for
new measures. Part of the cost includes replacing the fish bypass system as
needed. Support for the long-term license is an indication that agencies that
have participated in Chelan PUD’s eight-year relicensing process recognize the
magnitude of the protection, mitigation and enhancements that will be
implemented once FERC approves the package, said relicensing
staff.
“This is one of the most extensive
processes the PUD has been involved in,” said Gregg Carrington who managed the
relicensing effort that dates to 1998. “There’s been a lot of blood, sweat and
tears, but we’re almost there.”
In February, the Chelan PUD
relicensing team will return to the PUD Commission to ask the board to authorize
acting general manager Wayne Wright to sign the settlement agreement along with
other parties. In March, once all parties have signed the settlement package, it
will be sent to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission so the agency can
incorporate the agreement into a final environmental impact statement it is
preparing.
Analysis of each license article
and associated cost is available on the PUD Web site at http://www.chelanpud.org/newsreleases/2005/Settlement%20Table%20of%20Measures.pdf
PUD relicensing team members also
taking part in Monday’s presentation included Michelle Smith, Steve Hays,
Jeff Osborn and Kris Pomianek.
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