FERC/DEIS-0228D 

DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT 

FOR HYDROPOWER LICENSE 

Catawba-Wateree Hydroelectric Project—FERC Project No. 2232 

North Carolina and South Carolina 

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 

Office of Energy Projects 

Division of Hydropower Licensing 

888 First Street, NE 

Washington, DC 20426 

February 2009 

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FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION 

WASHINGTON, DC 20426 

OFFICE OF ENERGY PROJECTS 

To the Agency or Individual Addressed: 

Reference: Draft Environmental Impact Statement

Attached is the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Catawba-Wateree 

Hydroelectric Project (Project No. 2232) which is located on the Catawba and Wateree Rivers in 

the North Carolina counties of Burke, McDowell, Caldwell, Catawba, Alexander, Iredell, 

Mecklenburg, Lincoln, and Gaston, and the South Carolina counties of York, Lancaster, Chester, 

Fairfield, and Kershaw.. 

The draft EIS documents the views of governmental agencies, non-governmental 

organizations, affected Indian tribes, the public, the license applicant, and staff. It contains staff 

evaluations of the applicant’s proposal and the alternatives for licensing the Catawba-Wateree 

Project. 

You are invited to file comments on the draft EIS. Any comments, conclusions, or 

recommendations that draw upon studies, reports, or other working papers should be supported 

by appropriate documentation. Your comments will be considered in staff’s preparation of the 

final EIS. 

Comments should be filed with Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory 

Commission, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426. All comments must be filed within 

60 days of the notice date in the Federal Register and should reference Project No. 2232. The 

Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. See 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and 

instructions at http://www.ferc.gov under the eLibrary link. 

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

relevant to the public interest. The draft EIS will be part of the record from which the 

Commission will make its decision. The final EIS is expected to be issued in November 2009. 

Copies of the draft EIS are available for review in the Commission’s Public Reference 

Branch, Room 2A, located at 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426. An electronic copy 

of the draft EIS also may be viewed on FERC’s website at http://www.ferc.gov using the 

“eLibrary” link. Please call (202) 502-8222 or TTY (202) 208-1659 for assistance. 

Attachment: Draft Environmental Impact Statement. 

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COVER SHEET 

a. Title: Relicensing the Catawba-Wateree Hydroelectric Project, Federal 

Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) Project No. 

P-2232 

b. Subject: Draft Environmental Impact Statement 

c. Lead Agency: FERC 

d. Abstract: The Catawba-Wateree Hydroelectric Project is located on the 

Catawba and Wateree rivers in Burke, McDowell, Caldwell, Catawba, 

Alexander, Iredell, Mecklenburg, Lincoln, and Gaston Counties, North 

Carolina, and York, Lancaster, Chester, Fairfield, and Kershaw Counties 

in South Carolina. There are no federal lands affected by the project. 

e. Contact: Environmental Staff 

 Sean Murphy Mark Pawlowski 

 Federal Energy Regulatory Federal Energy Regulatory 

 Commission Commission 

 Office of Energy Projects Office of Energy Projects 

 888 First Street, NE 888 First Street, NE 

 Washington, DC 20426 Washington, DC 20426 

 (202) 502-6145 (202) 502-6052 

f. Transmittal: This draft environmental impact statement prepared by the 

staff on the hydroelectric license application filed by Duke Power 

Company, LLC, doing business as Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC for the 

new license for the existing Catawba-Wateree Hydroelectric Project 

(FERC No. P-2232) is being made available to the public on or about 

March 2009, as required by the National Environmental Policy Act of 

1969.8

 

8 National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, amended (Pub. L. 91-190, 42 U.S.C. 

4321-4347, January 1, 1970, as amended by Pub. L. 94-52, July 3, 1975, Pub. L. 94-83, 

August 9, 1975, and Pub. L. 97-258, §4(b), September 13, 1982).

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FOREWORD 

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

Power Act (FPA)9 and the U.S. Department of Energy Organization Act,10 is authorized to issue 

licenses for up to 50 years for the construction and operation of non-federal hydroelectric 

development subject to its jurisdiction, on the necessary conditions: 

That the project...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(3)...11

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.12

Compliance with such conditions during the licensing period is required. The Commission’s 

Rules of Practice and Procedure allow 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.13

9 16 U.S.C. §791(a)-825r, 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), and 

the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Public Law 109-58 (2005).

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

11 16 U.S.C. §803(a) (2008).

12 16 U.S.C. §803(g) (2008).

13 18 CFR §385.206 (2008).