Hydroelectric Projects

ORS 543.255
Determination of cumulative impacts of proposed hydroelectric power projects

  • consolidated review
  • applicability

(1)

Whenever the Water Resources Department receives an application to appropriate water for a new hydroelectric project under ORS 537.140 (Application for permit) to 537.320 (Entry on land for survey purposes, preliminary to appropriation and diversion of waters) or for a hydroelectric permit or license under ORS 543.010 (Definitions for ORS 543.010 to 543.610) to 543.610 (Acquisition of project by state or municipality), the department shall determine whether the impacts of the project would be cumulative with:

(a)

Impacts of other proposed hydroelectric projects for which an application is pending before the department; or

(b)

Existing hydroelectric projects in the same river basin.

(2)

If the department determines that there is no possibility that the hydroelectric projects proposed in pending applications or existing projects may have cumulative effects, the Water Resources Director shall issue an order setting forth the department’s determination that there are no cumulative effects and the department’s decision that consolidated review is not required.

(3)

If the department determines that pending applications or existing projects may have cumulative effects, the Water Resources Commission shall conduct a consolidated review before approving any application in the affected river basin. A consolidated review process shall be conducted as a contested case hearing under the applicable provisions of ORS chapter 183 and shall include a study of the individual and cumulative effects of proposed hydroelectric projects for which applications are pending before the department and existing hydroelectric projects. In its final order on an application, the commission or the department shall include its findings on cumulative impacts. The findings of the commission or department under this section must be sufficient to support the department’s decision to approve or deny an application.

(4)

Any application for a project in the same river basin filed after the commission begins a consolidated review contested case hearing shall not be reviewed until the commission has issued final findings on cumulative effects for all projects included in the consolidated review proceeding.

(5)

At the request of an applicant for a permit to appropriate water for a new hydroelectric project under ORS 537.140 (Application for permit) to 537.320 (Entry on land for survey purposes, preliminary to appropriation and diversion of waters) or for a permit or license under ORS 543.010 (Definitions for ORS 543.010 to 543.610) to 543.610 (Acquisition of project by state or municipality), the commission may immediately upon receiving such application begin the consolidated review proceeding under subsection (3) of this section. [1985 c.569 §10; 1985 c.673 §193; 1993 c.544 §8; 1995 c.229 §4; 1995 c.416 §39]
§§ 543.010 to 543.620

Notes of Decisions

Water control district, in applying for water appropriation permit for hydroelectric project, was exempt from licensing provisions of these sections and needed only to comply with requirements of ORS chapter 537. Steamboaters v. Winchester Water Control Dist., 69 Or App 596, 688 P2d 92 (1984), Sup Ct review denied

Law Review Citations

16 EL 583, 592 (1986)

Chapter 543

Law Review Citations

16 EL 583, 593 (1986)

Source

Last accessed
Jun. 26, 2021

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