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Department of Ecology News Release - November 9, 2006
06-229
SPOKANE - As part of the process to re-license non-federal dams in Washington state, the Department of Ecology (Ecology) is seeking public comment on the draft water-quality "certification" for the Priest Rapids Project on the Columbia River.
The Project includes both the Priest Rapids and Wanapum dams, which are owned by Public Utility District No. 2 of Grant County (Grant PUD) and lie within Grant, Yakima, Kittitas, Douglas, Benton, and Chelan counties.
The document being reviewed is called a "401 certification," referring to Section 401 of the Federal Clean Water Act. It analyzes the ways in which the dams affect water quality, and it places conditions on the facility to protect water quality.
Grant PUD applied for the certification in October of this year.
The draft certification proposes ways for Grant PUD to comply with state water-quality standards and other relevant state regulations protecting the environment. In consultation with fish agencies, tribes and the public, Grant PUD has identified activities designed to avoid, minimize or compensate for the effects of the dam's operation on water quality and aquatic resources.
Hydropower dams and facilities affect water quality and fish habitat. Impounding rivers, spilling water, and changing flows can alter fish habitat, increase water temperature, and increase "total dissolved gas" generated by water spilling over dams. The gas causes "gas bubble trauma" in fish.
"This draft certification represents four years of work and deliberation between Ecology, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Grant PUD, American Rivers, the Columbia River Intertribal Fish Commission and the federal fish agencies," said Jim Bellatty who manages Ecology's water quality office in Spokane.
"We believe the draft gives us the reasonable assurance we need that these facilities will meet our water quality standards," Bellatty said.
A key component of this draft certification is the use of compliance schedules to give Grant PUD a maximum of 10 years to implement a water-quality attainment plan and fulfill the conditions and requirements in the certification.
This compliance program especially applies to implementing total dissolved gas control measures and evaluating the impacts of flow fluctuations on the Hanford Reach. The draft includes plans to monitor, evaluate, report and implement conditions designed to demonstrate dam compliance with state water-quality standards.
To improve water quality and fishery resources, the draft would require Grant PUD to install advanced-design turbines, construct downstream fish bypass facilities, and begin programs to protect and enhance migrant and resident fish and wildlife.
Comments received will be considered by Ecology in its decision to issue, condition, or deny the 401 certification. Comments must be received by Dec. 8, 2006 at 4:30 p.m.
The draft 401 certification is on Ecology's Web site: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/ferc/draft-wq_certs.html.
Comments should be sent to Jim Bellatty, Washington Department of Ecology, 4601 N. Monroe St., Spokane, Washington, 99205-1295. Comments also may be emailed to DWAR461@ecy.wa.gov.
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Contact: Jani Gilbert, public information manager, 509-329-3495
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
