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The Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) is
releasing a State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Draft Second
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for The
Condit Dam Removal Project on the White Salmon River.
PacifiCorp Energy plans to begin removing the dam in October of 2010, contingent on obtaining necessary regulatory approvals. Ecology undertook this supplemental review to better understand the implications of releasing the sediments behind the dam during dam removal. Elevated levels of naturally occurring mercury were found in some of the sediments. |
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Studies indicate, however, that the release of the material during dam removal would actually reduce risks from the mercury by making it less likely to accumulate in fish. Ecology previously conducted an environmental review of the project comparing the effects of continued operation of the dam with dam removal. The environmental reviews are necessary for the agency to issue regulatory approvals associated with the project. In particular, before the dam may be removed, PacifiCorp must obtain a Section 401 Water Quality Certification from Ecology. The 401 certification under the federal Clean Water Act would certify that water quality standards and other water-protection regulations are met during dam removal and subsequent restoration. The 401 would outline the steps PacifiCorp must take to protect water quality during dam removal. |
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Download Draft Second Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement:
Supplemental Files
Download Notice of Availability Read the News Release
*Technical support documents available upon request (on
CD due to file size) please contact
Derek Sandison |
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Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
