News & Updates

GENERAL INFORMATION

Idaho Irrigation District and New Sweden Irrigation District  are proposing to install two hydroelectric projects (collectively called the County Line Hydroelectric Project) that will divert most of the water around 3.5 miles of the Snake River north of Idaho Falls every winter. The Districts must receive the following regulatory authorizations:

• License to construct and operate from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC);
• Rights to divert water from the Snake River from the Idaho Department of Water Resources;
• Rezone locations of hydroelectric plants to industrial from Bonneville County.

All correspondence regarding FERC action on the County Line Hydroelectric Project can be found on FERC’s website http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/elibrary.asp [select “General Search” and enter “P-14513” in the box next to “Docket number”].

Idaho Department of Water Resources does not intend to address water rights until resolution of the FERC licensing process.

It is unknown when Bonneville County will address rezoning.

UPDATES

#### Posted 17-Feb-2023 ####

The FERC issued the Final Environmental Assessment on February 10, 2023. FERC rejected all stakeholder comments regarding that FERC proposed river flows would not protect the fishery, wildlife, endangered plants or public interest. FERC typically issues a project licenses shortly after issue of the final EA.

#### Posted 9-Sep-2022 ####

The FERC issued a Draft Environmental Assessment on September 7, 2022. FERC requested all comments on the DEA to be submitted with 45 days of issue.

#### Posted 28-Jul-2021 ####

The FERC has accepted the Districts license application on July 14, 2021 and is ready for environmental analysis. FERC has solicited motions to intervened and protest, comments, recommendations, preliminary terms and conditions, and preliminary fishway prescriptions. All responses are due to the FERC with 60 days.

#### Posted 5-February-2020 ####

Districts submitted their Final License Application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on December 18, 2020. FERC responded on January 23, 2020 with “Deficiency of License Application and Request for Additional Information” and gave the Districts 45 days to respond.

Next steps:
* FERC to determine whether license application is complete
* FERC to issue notice that they are proceeding with preparation of NEPA documents and issue notice for those who wish to intervene

#### Posted 27-January-2019 ####

Districts submitted all of their final project studies by late summer of 2018. Districts issued their “Draft License Application” to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on September 30, 2019. Stakeholders (federal agencies, state agencies, non-governmental organizations and citizens) submitted comments on the DLA per the 31-December-2019 due date. Stakeholder comments were remarkably consistent. FERC mandated that Districts provide clarifications/modifications/new information in order for their application to be deemed complete. The date at which Districts re-submit their “final” license application is completely at the discretion of the Districts.

FERC will begin their impact analysis per NEPA (National Environmental Protection Act) once they have deemed the Districts’ application to be complete.
#### Posted 14-April-16 ####

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) received much comment on the initial project study plan submitted by Idaho Irrigation District and New Sweden Irrigation District (comments can be found on the FERC eLibrary described at the top of this page). The FERC approved the Districts’ study plan with modifications. The Districts are now proceeding with habitat studies subject to the following two documents: Districts project study plan – Rev 2 and FERC study plan determination.

#### Posted 4-October-2015 ####

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued Scoping Document 1 regarding the County Line Hydroelectric Projects on June 12, 2015 and held scoping hearings in Idaho Falls on July 8 & 9, 2015. Comments on Scoping Document 1 were due to FERC by August 18, 2015. FERC addressed comments and issued Scoping Document 2. The following is a link to a PDF file of Scoping Document 2: FERC Scoping Document 2

Scoping Document 2 identifies issues that will be addressed in the Environment Assessment for the County Line Hydroelectric Projects, but not how these issues will be addressed. Idaho Irrigation District and New Sweden Irrigation District were required to submit a “Proposed Study Plan (PSP)” to FERC by October 2, 2015. This PSP will be posted on this web page as soon as it is available through FERC (likely on October 5th or 6th). FERC has tentatively scheduled a “Proposed Study Plan Meeting” for November 1, 2015 at which the Districts’ PSP will presumably be discussed.

#### Posted 2-July-2015 ####

Idaho Department of Fish and Game publishes time-laps videos of winter waterfowl use and icing conditions within the portion of the river that will be effected by the County Line Hydroelectric Project.

Links to these videos are on the IDFG winter videos page on this web site.

#### Posted 18-June-2015 ####

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission  (FERC) scoping meeting

The FERC will be holding two scoping meetings at the Shilo Inn Suites Hotel, 780 Lindsay Blvd, Idaho Falls:

Evening Scoping Meeting: Wednesday, July 8, 2015 at 7:00 PM (MDT)

Daytime Scoping Meeting: Thursday, July 9, 2015 at 9:30 AM (MTD)

The FERC will conduct an Environmental Site Review on July 8, 2015 at 1:00 PM at the West River Boat Ramp, 9924 North River Road, Idaho Falls.

FERC provided the following documents describing the meetings and the process forward: FERC NOI and Request for Comments and Scoping Document 1

The following is excerpted from the Scoping Document 1 (EA refers to Environmental Assessment):

2.1 Purposes of Scoping

Scoping is the process used to identify issued, concerns, and opportunities for enhancement or mitigation associated with a proposed action. In general, scoping should be conducted during the early planning stages of a project. The purposes of the scoping process are as follows:

* invite participation of federal, state and local resource agencies, Indian tribes, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the public to idnetify significant environmental and socioeconomic issues related to the proposed project;

* determine the resource issues, depth of analysis, and significance of issues to be addressed in the EA;

* identify how the project would or would not contribute to cumulative effects in the project area;

* identify reasonable alternatives to the proposed action that should be evaluated in the EA;

* solicit, from participants, available information on the resources at issue, including existing information and study needs: and

* determine the resource areas and potential issues that do not require detailed analysis during review of the project.

Please come to one or more of the meetings to learn more or testify if you want the FERC to know your thoughts.