| | The Research
Research which has been accomplished by the Research and
Options Committees
The Research Committee and the Options Committee are two
committees that have joined forces and are working together because their work
was so interrelated. They have been meeting jointly, every Wednesday since
last March, at the Tapps Island Clubhouse. The following is a brief resume
of most of the issues/options we have investigated.
White River Project
Many meetings have been devoted to review of the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC) license requirements, the many
components/complexities of the White River Project, and the options which we may
pursue. Very early in our reviews, it became obvious to most of us that
there were many components to this very complex puzzle of which we had to be
aware. Just to become knowledgeable about the different elements of the
White River Project took time. Puget Sound Energy (PSE) was very helpful
by scheduling a special tour of the facilities, providing us with a library of
information, and supporting many of our educational meetings. In our
reviews of the FERC license, there were many requirements which had to be
reviewed. Those reviews took us into the implications and the requirement
options which could be pursued. The deeper we got into the options our
lack of knowledge became apparent, so we began scheduling many more educational
meetings. We divided our studies into four main categories: (1) The fish
and the river; (2) The finance analysis; (3) The impact analysis; (4) FERC
license and options analysis.
Fish and the River
We have had many meetings over this very complex issue.
Our guests have included people representing: National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS), Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Puyallup Tribe Fish
Biologist, US Army Corps of Engineers, and the Muckleshoot Tribe Fish Biologist.
We have been supported with data and consultation from PSE. The committees
visited the Muckleshoot Fish Hatchery and had a very educational tour and
presentation by Richard Johnson, their fish biologist. There has been
independent research done by many of our committee members. (For example,
Don Yeats visited the Skykomish and White Rivers, took pictures, and examined
both rivers for differences in order that we could evaluate fish data which was
derived on the Skykomish and used on the White River.) We have read
reports and pursued research which has not given any immediate productive
results. (For example -- Ken Castile spent hours corresponding and talking
to the people at the U of W School of Fisheries with very little to show for his
efforts except to establish contacts.)
Finance Analysis
The very reason the Save Lake Tapps Coalition was organized was
because PSE was not going to be able to operate the White River Power Station at
a profit with the new FERC license requirements. PSE presented to our
group a very complete picture of the economic forecast for the Power Station.
After reviewing some of the charts which PSE had put together, we decided we had
to run an independent study to verify the numbers on the charts. We not
only needed to verify their numbers, we had to establish cost figures for some
of the options we were going to look at. Dick Tyler took on that
assignment. He has spent many hours pulling this analysis together and it
is now in for review by PSE. PSE has been very helpful by giving us their
cost data, answering our questions, and supporting our effort. We plan to
meet with them in the very near future to resolve any differences we may have.
One of our recommendations to the Save Lake Tapps Coalition and the Lake Tapps
Task Force will be to contract with an independent consultant to verify the
analysis work done by both PSE and SLTC.
The Impact Analysis
This category is to investigate the impacts which various
conditions would create to the (1) Environment, (2) Fish and Wildlife, (3) Water
Tables, (4) Property Values, (5) Business, (6) Recreation, (7) Wetlands, (8)
Taxes, (9) Others. Very little has been done on this subject except those
charts which have been put together by Leon Stucki.
FERC License and Options Analysis
Many hours have been spent reading, discussing and trying to
understand the requirements dictated by the FERC license and the ramifications
thereof. Options to the individual requirements have been reviewed.
For example, we could propose that the redesign and construction of a new
Diversion Dam be done by the Corps of Engineers. The requirement for the
new dam revolves around the fish trap and having a dam which will not be damaged
by flood conditions. In addition to investigating the options to FERC
license requirements, the two committees are looking at the White River Project
ownership options and alternate uses of the water.
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