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Hydropower - Environmental Impact Statements (EISs)
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Baker River Hydroelectric Project (P-2150-033)
Issued: April 7, 2006
Commission staff prepared a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Puget Sound Energy's (Puget) 170.03-megawatt (proposed 200.03-megawatt) Baker River Hydroelectric Project located on the Baker River in Whatcom and Skagit Counties, Washington. The project occupies 5,207 acres of lands within the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
Puget used the Commission's alternative licensing procedures and filed an applicant prepared Preliminary Draft Environmental Assessment (PDEA) with the application for a new license. The PDEA evaluated the effects of continued project operation as proposed in Puget's new license application.
On November 30, 2004, Puget filed a Settlement Agreement signed by Puget, 11 governmental agencies, three tribes, eight non-governmental organizations, and one citizen representative (the Settlement Parties). Puget then filed an amended license application and revised PDEA on January 31, 2005, which reflects the Settlement Agreement.
The Settlement Agreement contains 50 proposed license articles that Puget and the Settlement Parties recommend the Commission incorporate into the new license. The proposed articles describe how Puget would operate the project and Puget's responsibilities for certain protection, mitigation, and enhancement measures including measures related to: geology and soils, water quantity and quality, aquatic resources, terrestrial resources, threatened and endangered species, cultural resources, recreation, aesthetics, and land uses.
Commission staff's draft EIS analyzes the effects of the No-Action Alternative, Proposed Action (Settlement Agreement), and a Staff Alternative. Commission staff (lead agency) prepared this draft EIS in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (cooperating agency) pursuant to 40 CFR 1501.6 of the National Environmental Policy Act.
Staff Alternative
After evaluating the Proposed Action, and recommendations from resource agencies, non-governmental organizations, and other interested parties, Commission staff considered what, if any, additional protection, mitigation, or enhancement measures would be necessary or appropriate with continued operation of the project. The Staff Alternative consists of the Proposed Action with these additional or modified environmental measures, which include agency recommendations made pursuant to sections 18, 4(e), and 10(j), or modifications thereof, as noted.
Additional staff recommended measures include:
- An evaluation to determine the need for flow continuation valve(s) at the Lower Baker dam and installation of such facilities if warranted.
- Access, records and notification procedures to help resource agencies and tribes remain informed about the construction and operation of fish protection measures at the project.
The Staff Alternative also does not include the following proposed measures:
- A recreation management report.
- A Baker Lake resort redevelopment plan.
- A Baker reservoir water safety plan.
- Bayview campground rehabilitation.
- Upper Baker trail and trailhead construction funding.
- Developed recreation monitoring and funding.
- Upper Baker developed recreation maintenance funding.
- Law enforcement.
- Terrestrial resources management plan.
- Funding to enhance mountain goat habitat.
- Funding to enhance grizzly bears habitat.
- Various contingency funds.
- Certain adaptive management provisions.
Conclusion
We choose the Staff Alternative as preferred because:
- The project would provide a significant (722,019 MWh) and dependable source of electrical energy for the region.
- The project would avoid the need for an equivalent amount of fossil-fueled electric generation and capacity, thereby continuing to help conserve these nonrenewable energy resources and reduce atmospheric pollution.
- Measures recommended by staff would adequately protect and enhance environmental resources and mitigate the impacts of the project.
After receiving comments on the draft EIS, Commission staff will prepare a final EIS. The Commission will take into consideration the staff's recommendations contained in the final EIS when taking final action on Puget's license application.
Comments on this DEIS can be eFiled.
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