COVER SHEET 

FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION 

FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT 

FOR THE LEWIS RIVER PROJECTS 

Docket Nos. P-2071-000, et al. 

Cover Letter 

Pages i to vi 

FEIS 
FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20426

TO THE PARTY ADDRESSED

Attached is the final environmental impact statement (EIS) for the applications for

new license (relicense) for PacifiCorp’s three existing hydroelectric projects and Public

Utility District No. 1 of Cowlitz County’s (Cowlitz PUD’s) one existing project on the

North Fork Lewis River in Cowlitz, Clark, and Skamania counties, Washington. This

final EIS was prepared pursuant to requirements of the National Environmental Policy

Act of 1969 (NEPA) and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission)

Regulations Implementing NEPA (18 CFR Part 380).

The final EIS documents the views of government agencies, nongovernmental

organizations, affected Native American Tribes, the public, the license applicants, and the

Commission’s staff. It contains staff’s recommendations on licensing for PacifiCorp’s

Swift No. 1 (FERC No. 2111), Yale (FERC No. 2071), and Merwin (FERC No. 935)

projects, and Cowlitz PUD’s Swift No. 2 Project (FERC No. 2213).

Before the Commission makes a licensing decision, it will take into account all

concerns relevant to the public interest. The final EIS will be part of the record from

which the Commission will make its decision. The final EIS was sent to the U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency and made available to the public on or before March

24, 2006.

Copies of the final EIS are also available for review in the Commission’s Public

Reference Branch, Room 2-A, located at 888 First Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20426.

The final EIS also may be viewed on the Commission’s website at http://www.ferc.gov

using the “eLibrary” link.
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FERC/FEIS-0183F

FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT

FOR HYDROPOWER LICENSES

Lewis River Projects

Swift No. 1 (Project No. 2111)

Swift No. 2 (Project No. 2213)

Yale (Project No. 2071)

Merwin (Project No. 935)

Washington

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Office of Energy Projects

Division of Hydropower Licensing

888 First Street, NE

Washington, DC 20426

March 2006
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iii

COVER SHEET

a. Title: Relicensing the Swift No. 1 (FERC No. 2111-018), Yale (FERC No.

2071-013), Merwin (FERC No. 935-053), and Swift No. 2 (FERC

No. 2213-011) projects

b. Subject: Final Environmental Impact Statement

c. Lead Agency: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

d. Abstract: PacifiCorp (applicant) filed an application for new license

(relicense) for the Swift No. 1 (FERC No. 2111-018), Yale (FERC

No. 2071-013), and Merwin (FERC No. 935-053) projects, and

Public Utility District No. 1 of Cowlitz County (Cowlitz PUD) filed

an application for new license for the Swift No. 2 Project (FERC No.

2213-011). All the projects are located on the North Fork Lewis

River in Cowlitz, Clark, and Skamania counties, Washington.

PacifiCorp and Cowlitz PUD also filed a settlement agreement with

interested agencies and other parties that outlines PacifiCorp’s and

Cowlitz PUD’s proposed measures for protection and enhancement

of environmental resources in the project areas. No increase in

generating capacity is proposed for any of the projects.

The primary environmental resource issues analyzed in this final EIS

are potential effects on (1) water quantity and quality, (2) aquatic

resources, (3) terrestrial resources, (4) recreational resources, (5)

land use and aesthetic resources, and (6) cultural resources.

e. Contact: Ann-Ariel Vecchio

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Office of Energy Projects

888 First Street, NE

Washington, DC 20426

202-502-6351

f. Transmittal: This final EIS prepared by the Commission’s staff in connection

with the relicense applications filed by PacifiCorp for the existing

Swift No. 1 (FERC No. 2111-018), Yale (FERC No. 2071-013), and

Merwin (FERC No. 935-053) projects, and by Cowlitz PUD for the

Swift No. 2 Project (FERC No. 2213-011), is being made available

to the public in March 2006 as required by the National

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and the Commission’s

Regulations Implementing NEPA (18 CFR Part 380).
iv

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v

FOREWORD

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission), pursuant to the

Federal Power Act (FPA)

1

and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Organization Act

2

is authorized to issue licenses for up to 50 years for the construction and operation of

non-federal hydroelectric developments subject to its jurisdiction, on the necessary

conditions:

[T]hat the project adopted . . . shall be such as in the judgment of the

Commission will be best adapted to a comprehensive plan for improving or

developing a waterway or waterways for the use or benefit of interstate or

foreign commerce, for the improvement and utilization of water power

development, for the adequate protection, mitigation, and enhancement of

fish and wildlife (including related spawning grounds and habitat), and for

other beneficial public uses, including irrigation, flood control, water

supply, and recreational and other purposes referred to in section 4(e) . . .

3

The Commission may require such other conditions not inconsistent with the FPA

as may be found necessary to provide for the various public interests to be served by the

project.

4 Compliance with such conditions during the licensing period is required.

Section 385.206 (1987) of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure allows any

person objecting to a licensee’s compliance or noncompliance with such conditions to file

a complaint noting the basis for such objection for the Commission’s consideration.

5

1

16 U.S.C §§791(a)-825(r), as amended by the Electric Consumers Protection Act of

1986, Public Law 99-495 (1986) and the Energy Policy Act of 1992, Public Law 102-

486 (1992).

2

Public Law 95-91 Stat. 556 (1977).

3

16 U.S.C. §803(a).

4

16 U.S.C. §803(g).

5

18 CFR §385.206.
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