Phase 1—Pre-application Public Involvement
The relicensing effort followed the Traditional Licensing
Process (TLP), except that it also included a structured public
involvement process in the early stages of preparing the license
application. A group of agencies, tribes, conservation groups, customers,
and others worked together to frame public issues, resolve controversies,
and involve interested parties to help ensure that the application would
address relevant stakeholder needs. During the public process, Berger and
its subconsultants represented FERC at collaborative team meetings and in
three working groups, including aquatic resources, terrestrial resources,
and recreation. The working groups developed protection, mitigation, and
enhancement recommendations that were considered by Idaho Power and, in
some cases, included in the license application. Berger staff filled FERC
lead roles for the water quality and geomorphology tasks under the
Aquatics Work Group.
As part of Berger’s efforts to develop early familiarity
with this complex project on behalf of FERC, Berger staff participated on
the Public Advisory Team involved in developing the Total Maximum Daily
Load (TMDL) for the Hells Canyon portion of the Snake River. Staff
provided summary reports to FERC on the progress of the TMDL and focused
on hydroelectric related impacts on water quality in the basin. Because
the Brownlee development includes a large storage reservoir, effects were
considered on a variety of parameters including temperature, dissolved
oxygen, and sediment. EPA provided comments on the TMDL and a revised
TMDL was submitted to EPA.
Phase 2—Preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement
Subsequent to Idaho Power’s submittal of its license
application, the Berger Team has participated in scoping meetings;
identified issues to be addressed in the environmental impact statement (EIS),
prepared Scoping Documents 1 and 2, performed an adequacy review of the
license application, prepared Additional Information Requests that
required Idaho Power to perform additional studies to provide information
necessary to support environmental evaluation of the license application,
prepared the draft EIS that was released in August 2006, participated in
public meetings held to elicit public comments on the draft EIS, and
participated in meetings with state and federal fish and wildlife agencies
to discuss issues subject to the agencies’ authorities under the Federal
Power Act and the Endangered Species Act. Berger prepared
the final EIS, including responses to comments on the draft EIS, which was issued on August 31, 2007. Major issues addressed in the EIS
include water quality parameters, especially temperature, dissolved
oxygen, and total dissolved gas; sediment transport and deposition;
anadromous fish conditions; wildlife habitat; and cultural and
recreational resources. In addition to evaluating Idaho Power’s proposed
operations and proposed environmental protection, mitigation, and
enhancement measures in the EIS, Berger evaluated operating regimes
and environmental measures recommended by agencies, tribes, and other
parties, as well as concepts developed by Berger and FERC staff.
