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FERC Issues New 50-Year License for the Lake Chelan Hydroelectric Project

Posted on: Tuesday, 7 November 2006, 00:00 CST

WENATCHEE, Wash., Nov. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- A new 50-year license for Public Utility District No. 1 of Chelan County (Chelan County PUD) to continue operating the Lake Chelan Hydroelectric Project was issued today. The new license is based on a settlement agreement submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on Oct. 17, 2003, between Chelan County PUD and a series of stakeholders that includes the local communities, state and federal agencies and environmental groups.

"This is a great day for the customer-owners of the PUD and for the residents of Chelan County," said Rich Riazzi, Chelan County PUD general manager. "Lake Chelan is a major resource, and we are pleased that FERC has concluded its review and granted the new license."

Chelan County PUD Commission President Gary Montague stated, "This is an extremely positive event for Chelan PUD, the customers and owners, and all of the stakeholders involved in the relicensing effort. Implementation of the new license will provide numerous benefits for the environment, the economy, and for the people and areas surrounding Lake Chelan and Chelan County."

The license issued today contains requirements for operating the 48- megawatt Lake Chelan Project that are estimated to cost Chelan County PUD approximately $53 million over the 50 years, including provisions for a year- round minimum flow in the Chelan River, maintaining existing parks, regulating lake levels, fish habitat enhancements in the Chelan River, adding a trail that improves access to the Chelan River, and a variety of other actions.

Chelan County PUD's application to FERC was developed in an Alternative Licensing process that included wide-ranging input from members of the community. Broad support for the license application included the National Park Service, US Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, Department of Ecology, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, city of Chelan, the People for Lake Chelan, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Nation, and American Whitewater.

Gregg Carrington, Chelan County PUD Hydro Services director said, "This license would not have been possible without the collaborative relationships established through the relicensing process and all the parties that came together to find solutions to some very difficult issues. The new license strikes a balance between our core business function of producing power, environmental concerns, recreation and economic issues."

Chelan County PUD staff will carefully study the license order to see if there are any significant changes from the settlement agreement. Should it decide to do so, Chelan County PUD has 30 days from the day the license is issued to file an appeal of any portion of the license.

Key elements in the new license are a slightly modified lake level regime on Lake Chelan, year-round flow in the Chelan River of 80 cubic feet per second, stream restoration and habitat improvements in lower portion of the Chelan River including a new pump station to provide supplemental flows to the stream project, erosion control projects and dock repair on Lake Chelan for the U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service, scheduled whitewater boating provisions, continued operation and maintenance of Riverwalk, Old Mill, and Manson Bay parks, and a trail just below the Chelan Dam for access to the Chelan River.

Chelan County PUD began the relicensing effort for the Lake Chelan Project in 1997, seven years before the license was to expire in March of 2004. Since 2004, the Chelan County PUD has been operating the dam with annual licenses issued by FERC.

Chelan County PUD also has submitted an application for a new license for the Rocky Reach Project on the Columbia River. Federal action on that application is expected in the next year or two.

For more information, contact Gregg Carrington, Hydro Services director, at (509) 661-4178.

Christy Shearer Communications Audio-visual Specialist Chelan County PUD 509.661.4258 office 509.421.4258 cell 509.661.8133 fax christy.shearer@chelanpud.org

Chelan County PUD

CONTACT: Gregg Carrington, Hydro Services director, +1-509-661-4178, orChristy Shearer, Communications Audio-visual Specialist, +1-509-661-4258, orcell, +1-509-421-4258, or fax, +1-509-661-8133, orchristy.shearer@chelanpud.org, both of Chelan County PUD

Web site: http://www.chelanpud.org/

Source: PRNewswire

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