Relicensing Grant County PUD Dams

Columbia Basin Herald -- By David Cole

"EPHRATA -- The Grant County Public Utility District received a draft water quality certificate from the state Department of Ecology for the Priest Rapids Hydroelectric Project. The draft certificate, received earlier this month, is currently under review by the utility district's management. The actual document being reviewed, the 'Draft 401 Certification,' refers to Section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act. It analyzes the effects Priest Rapids and Wanapum dams have on the Columbia River and places conditions on the PUD to protect water quality. The PUD has applied for the water quality certification annually since 2003, most recently October 2006, as a provision of the Clean Water Act. Ecology is seeking public comments on the draft certificate prior to issuing the "Final 401 Certification." Information on submitting comments can be found on Ecology's Web site, www.ecy.wa.gov."