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Hydropower bill would curb 'license abuse'
(Washington, DC) The Hydropower Reform Coalition applauded Representatives John Dingell (D-MI) and Edward Markey (D-MA) for announcing a bill today to reform hydropower regulations and ensure a better balance between protecting the environment and generating electricity on hundreds of rivers across the country. Coalition members urged swift action on the Federal Investment in Sustainable Hydropower Act (FISH Act), which seeks to curb abuse of regulations that allow utilities to put off upgrading equipment or adopting new operations that would protect fish and wildlife, water quality, tribal interests, and riverfront communities.
(PRWEB) February 9, 2002 -MI) and Edward Markey (D-MA) for announcing a bill today to reform hydropower regulations and ensure a better balance between protecting the environment and generating electricity on hundreds of rivers across the country. Coalition members urged swift action on the Federal Investment in Sustainable Hydropower Act (FISH Act), which seeks to curb abuse of regulations that allow utilities to put off upgrading equipment or adopting new operations that would protect fish and wildlife, water quality, tribal interests, and riverfront communities.
"River wildlife, water quality, and recreation industries continue to suffer because hydropower licenses last too long, and utilities often drag the regulatory process out," said Andrew Fahlund, chair of the Hydropower Reform Coalition, whose 109 members participate in about 75% of the dam license proceedings across the country. "This bill would create strong incentives for power companies to share the nation's rivers with the rest of us."
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issues licenses to hydropower projects operated by private and municipal utilities. Most currently operating projects received their licenses before passage of the Clean Water Act. When existing licenses approach expiration, utilities must negotiate new license terms with FERC and environmental regulators that will bring them into compliance with modern environmental laws and expand recreational access. Should the original license expire before negotiations conclude, the utilities receive rolling "annual licenses" that allow them to operate as before - creating a financial reward for companies that create delays. The FISH Act would eliminate this and other sources of delay.
Key provisions of the FISH Act include:
| | - Reducing delays by closing loopholes that allow perpetual license extensions;
- Enabling state and federal resource agencies to obtain information in a complete and timely manner;
- Developing procedures to reduce interagency conflicts and disputes;
- Requiring utilities to pay fair market value for the use of public lands and waters;
- Requiring utilities to post bonds to ensure that the funds are available to remove hydropower projects that have outlived their usefulness;
- Establishing an Office of Public Participation; and
- Providing incentives for the use of new turbine technologies at hydropower projects.
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"These reforms will significantly contribute to greater public participation in the management of public rivers," Fahlund said. "We applaud Mr. Dingell and Mr. Markey for taking this significant step toward real reform. We urge Congress to act soon on this important legislation."
To learn more about hydropower licensing and its implications for rivers and riverfront communities across the country, point your browser to: http://www.hydroreform.org
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