|
| |
| From the
1999 Southern Division of the American Fisheries Society Midyear Meeting held in
Chattanooga, Tennessee. |
Applicant Prepared Environmental
Assessment: Vision, Observation, and Recommendations
S. Ronald McKitrick, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
3125 Presidential Parkway, Atlanta, Georgia 30340; Voice 770-452-236 x 44; FAX
770-452-2366; E-Mail ronald.mckitrick@ferc.fed.us
The Office of Hydropower Licensing (OHL) administers the non-Federal
hydropower program for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). An OHL alternate
licensing process, involving an Applicant Prepared Environmental Assessment (APEA) or
third party contractor prepared environmental impact statement, expands participation of
the federal and state resource agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and the public in
the FERC licensing process and provides them an opportunity to resolve conflicts among
developmental and environmental resource interests and accommodate the interests of the
participants. After studies are complete, successful teams develop communication patterns
that result in cooperative approaches to problem solving. This cooperative approach
happens most often when trust is established among team members. The outcome is often a
settlement among the team members. This settlement is then proposed as the preferred
licensing alternative. When the process is successful, the result is more local control
and ownership of the licensing decision, and ongoing local participation during the term
of the license. The Commission's commitment to the alternative licensing approach is
spelled out in its Order 596, issued October 29, 1997.
|
|
