By Susan Hollingsworth
News Flash! The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has issued the final order for the decomission of the Condit Dam on the White Salmon River.
As discussed in a previous blog post, motions to remove the Condit Dam began over 14 years ago. Blocking the passage of fish, this large hydropower project owned and operated by PacifiCorp failed to meet new Federal standards. Upon finding the construction of a fish ladder, as well as other methods for the transportation of fish upstream, to be too costly PacifiCorp filed for decommission.
On December 16, 2010 FERC took the final step in this process by issuing the
ORDER ACCEPTING SURRENDER OF LICENSE,
AUTHORIZING REMOVAL OF PROJECT FACILITIES, AND
DISMISSING APPLICATION FOR NEW LICENSE
Laymen’s terms you ask?
Basically, they issued the final stamp of approval and official date for beginning deconstruction.
Including a detailed outline of events, the report summarizes all the time consuming and painstaking steps taken to reach this momentous decision. FERC discusses the controversies encountered throughout this painstaking process, as well as the effect the dam’s removal will have upon important historical and recreation legislature such as: The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Act, The National Historic Preservation Act and the Magnuson-Stevenson Act.
The document also compiles all the environmental data and water quality assessments gathered over the past 14 years as well as an outline of events for the physical deconstruction of the dam site.
Basically, the report summarizes it all.
What does this mean for the White Salmon Community?
After waiting for nearly 14 years, the answer has been finalized. Now, white water rafters and kayakers can know for sure when they might see a new section of river. Home owners may begin to plan and desgin their new river-front property.
And most of all, we can all write an official date in our calenders for this historical occasion. It is sure to be an event to remember for anyone in the Pacific Northwest.
Posted by Susan Hollingsworth
