Mayor 

Kurt L Christensen Salem City Corporation 

City Council 

Tim De Graw 

Kelly Peterson 

Cristy Simons 

Delys Snyder 

Seth Sorensen 

"C!r td Peace .. 

March 25, 2024 

Sent Via Email only - LTEMPSEIS@usbr.gov 

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation 

Attention: LTEMP SEIS Project Manager 

125 South State Street, Suite 800 

Salt Lake City, UT 84138 

Subject: GLEN CANYON DAM LONG-TERM EXPERIMENTAL AND MANAGEMENT 

PLAN (LTEMP) DRAFT SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT 

STATEMENT (DSEIS) - 89 FR 28, February 9, 2024 

On behalf of the City of Salem, we appreciate the opportunity to provide comments on the 

DSEIS, issued February 9, 2024. In addition to our comments, we support and agree with the 

comments presented by Utah Municipal Power Agency (UMPA). Our City is one of the six 

member utilities of UMPA. We also agree with the coments and concers submitted by the 

Colorado River Energy Distributors Association (CREDA). 

Salem City operates a not-fr-proft municipal electric utility serving 3200 residential and 

commercial customers. We aim at providing reliable, affordable, and sustainable electrical 

service to our citizens. Our electric utility is a critical driver in promoting the economjc welfre 

of the community. 

By contract with Wester Area Power Administration (WAPA), we receive over 20% of our 

power resources from these fderal fcilities. Any cost increases or power reductions have a 

signifcant impact on our community. This clean and renewable hydroelectric energy supports 

our efforts to meet our carbon-fee and renewable goals in the community. Over the past years, 

we have been impacted by drought conditions in the upper Colorado basin leading to lower 

energy production and higher costs. 

The DSEIS ackowledges that power generated through Glen Canyon Dam would need to be 

replaced and lays that responsibility onto WAPA fr solutions. However, it does not address and 

considers the scarcity in energy generation faced by utilities. We express serious concers 

regarding the draft SEIS's filure to suffciently analyze the impact that the flow options will 

have on hydropower production and the risk that reduced hydropower production may have on 

the ability fr utilities to provide power to the Utah region during the summer. Currently the 

energy market is being strained and a further reduction of hydroelectric generation will add to 

Recorder - Jefrey Nielson 

30 West 100 South • P.O. Box 901 • Salem, UT 84653 

Phone: 801-423-2770 • Fax: 801-423-2818 • SalemCity.org 

Treasurer - Tammy M. Beck 

PAGEl 

Chief of Police - Brad S. James 
Mayor 

Kurt L Christensen Sale1n City Corporation 

City Council 

Tim De Graw 

Kelly Peterson 

Cristy Simons 

Delys Snyder 

Seth Sorensen 

'( ·,fl of Peon 

constraint energy market with scarcity and higher prices. The DSEIS fails to reflect impacts in 

our market area and only examines the Palo Verde trading hub. 

We acknowledge the importance of protected species and recognizes the risks associated with 

smallmouth bass (SMB) proliferation in the river reaches below Lees Ferry. Many years of good 

science and multi-millions of dollars have been invested in protecting endangered fish species 

and improving the habitant of the river. Although Reclamation has well intention in drafting the 

SEIS, it has been rushed and lacks a thorough and comprehensive examination of other 

alternatives other than use of the bypass tubes. Maintaining a higher elevation in Lake Powell 

should have been examined. 

We recognize the challenge for Reclamation in balancing the priorities and complex issues 

related to operating the dam. We do support these efforts to address the interests of protecting 

the hydropower resource in balance with other social, cultural, tribal, and environmental 

purposes. We strongly urge further studies to avoid reduction of hydropower generation and the 

impact to reliability and affordability in the region. In summary, we urge you to adopt the 

"None-Bypass Option" to avoid these significant risks to power supply. 

Cc: Layne Burningham, UMPA 

Kevin Garlick, UMP A 

30 West I 00 South • P.O. Box 90 I • Salem, UT 84653 

Phone: 801-423-2770 • Fax: 801-423-28 I 8 • SalemCity.org 

Recorder - Jeffrey ielson Treasurer - Tammy M. Beck 

PAGE2 

Chief of Police - Brad S. James