Klamath Basin Tribal Water Quality Work Group

How to Comment on Klamath Dam Relicensing

See Summary of Main Points from this website to assist in commenting.

See how you can easily add charts or photos from this website to your comments.  

J.C. Boyle Powerhouse and Klamath River. Photo by ODFW. [129 Kb]

Note: Both California and Oregon have to issue Clean Water Act permits (Section 401) before the Klamath Hydroelectric Project relicensing may be completed. Watch this site for how to comment on 401 Certification from the States.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued its "Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Hydropower License" (DEIS), for the relicensing of the Klamath Hydroelectric Project (FERC Project No. 2082-027) on September 25, 2006. Comments from interested parties and the public are due at FERC by December 1, 2006. FERC has also scheduled public hearings on November 14-16 in Klamath Falls, Yreka, and Eureka.

The review process for the Klamath Hydroelectric Project license is now nearing completion. FERC is to issue a decision on the license in April 2007. Previous steps have been:

• The KHP's owner, PacifiCorp, filed its filed its Final License Application in February 2004.
• In April 2004, FERC invited comments on their Scoping Document 1 (SD 1), which listed issues to be addressed in the EIS. The revised Scoping Document 2 application with the issued in May 2005.
• In December 2005, FERC's Ready for Environmental Assessment (REA) solicited input regarding conditions to be placed on a new license. Tribes and federal/state agencies responded with "Terms and Conditions".

Examples of comments on all these documents from Tribes, conservation groups, and agencies are available on this site for background information.

FERC's Draft EIS has ignored the calls by Tribes and others to remove the KHP dams and abate serious water quality-related fish diseases that threaten the very existence of Klamath River salmon (see Main Points page).

Even if you only send a post card, please comment. FERC has ignored science and the federal government's responsibility to Tribes. If FERC issues a new 50 year license under Staff Alternative terms and conditions, the survival of Klamath River salmon is in jeopardy.

Scoping comments for the project are DUE DECEMBER 1, 2006.  FERC will then revise with the Final EIS scheduled for release in April 2007. All correspondence must clearly show at the top of the first page: "Klamath Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. 2082-027."  Comments and any other information about the project are sent to :

Magalie R. Salas, Secretary

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

888 First Street, NE

Washington , D.C., 20426

If you have any questions concerning the scoping process or the development of the EIS, please contact FERC's John Mudre by phone at (202) 502-8902 or email at: john.mudre@ferc.gov

Comments may also be filed electronically at the FERC website at:

http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp

To e-File, you must first register online to receive a login and password which will allow you to Log In and submit your comments (click the Sign-up link on the eFiling page). You must have an email address to complete your registration. The eFiling Procedures page has instructions on how to eFile. Each eFiling page has a link that provides instruction for that page. .

See list of all documents at this site

Caution - Some of these files are large.

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. 2004a. Notice of Application Tendered for Filing With the Commission, Soliciting Additional Study Requests, and establishing Procedural Schedule for Relicensing and Deadline for Submission of Final Amendments. U.S. FERC, Washington, DC 3 p. [9 Kb]

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. 2004b. Notice to PacifiCorp of Deficiency of License Application. U.S. FERC, Washington, DC [34 Kb]

FERC. 2004c. Scoping of environmental issues for a new license for the Klamath Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. P-2082-027, Oregon and California. U.S. FERC, Washington, DC 54 p. [1.9 Mb]

FERC. 2006. Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Klamath Hydroelectric Project (Docket No. P-2082-027. Issued September 25, 2006 by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C. 801 p. (Caution Very Large file 27.1 Mb)

Quartz Valley Indian Community. 2006. Recommended Terms and Conditions for the Klamath Hydroelectric Project (FERC #2082-027). Filed with FERC on March 29, 2006. Prepared with assistance from Kier Associates, Blue Lake, CA. 57 p.