As we await next moves from FERC, there is another open comment period on the Seminoe Pumped Storage Project through the Department of Environmental Quality. This comment period is open now through February 2nd. This comment only pertains to effects on water quality and the fishery.
rPlus is working on their next step- receiving a Section 401 Water Quality Certification. This certification is necessary to move forward in the overall permitting process.
What is Section 401?
Section 401 comes from the federal Clean Water Act. That said, 401 is a powerful state level permitting tool. All open-looped pumped storage projects trigger section 401 due using existing water infrastructure and fill activity. Under Section 401, the state must certify that the project complies with state quality standards and other water quality protections.
What Does 401 Entail?
In order to received this certification, rPlus must prove that the project will not violate any water quality standards set by the state of Wyoming. rPlus must analyze the impacts the Seminoe Pumped Storage Project will have on temperature, dissolved oxygen, sediment and turbidity, pollutants, and flows with regards to Seminoe Reservoir, Kortes Reservoir, and the Miracle Mile.
Why does this matter?
rPlus NOT RECEVING this certification would be a huge step in protecting our lands, waters, and wildlife. And you can help! Under 401, rPlus must comply with state standards. For example, this project must comply with designated use standards, such as cold-water fisheries and recreation. The Miracle Mile is a designated cold water Blue Ribbon fishery known for its high water quality and exceptional recreational value. Furthermore, they must comply with water quality criteria, such as state standard, cold water temperature thresholds. rPlus’ own modeling has already shown that water temperatures will exceed cold water thresholds multiple times per year. On top of this, rPlus must comply with antidegradation requirements- this means protecting existing outstanding recourses. The Mile itself is one of the most notable fisheries in the west. It deserves to be protected.
How You Can Help
Taking into consideration the aforementioned information, rPlus doesn’t quite fit the bill when it comes to caring about our lands, waters, and wildlife. We have the opportunity to let the DEQ know directly just how important our waters are to Wyoming and our way of life. You can leave a comment directly to the DEQ through the link below. Keep in mind when you leave your comment that this only pertains to the water quality of our fisheries. Let’s set the precedence that large, out of state corporations do not have the right to put our recourses at risk to meet their bottom line.
