690-051-0290 Consolidated Review (1) The Director shall enter an order on the potential that the proposed project may contribute to cumulative impacts with other existing, approved or proposed hydroelectric projects in the same river basin. It is presumed that if there are other existing, approved or proposed projects, in the same river basin, there is a potential for cumulative impacts. This presumption may be rebutted by showing the impacts of the proposed project are so small in extent, short termed or localized that there is no reasonable likelihood of cumulative impacts. The Director shall consult with the agencies listed in OAR 690-051-0060 on cumulative impacts. Natural resources on which the potential for cumulative impacts will be considered are listed in OAR 690-051-0190 through 690-051-0250. (2) If the Director determines the proposed project may have unacceptable cumulative impacts, a consolidated review shall be conducted. The review will cover all existing, approved and proposed projects in the same river basin. Existing and approved projects shall not be subject to any action by the Director or the Commission resulting from the consolidated review. If an applicant for a proposed project does not wish to be included in the consolidated review, the application may be withdrawn and refiled at a later date. The application may be subject to a later consolidated review if refiled. (3) If two or more of the applications are competing for the same site, only one will be chosen to proceed in the consolidated review. Preference will be given to the project best suited to the site. Suitability shall be based on the criteria in OAR 690-051-0320. (4) The consolidated review shall be conducted as a contested case hearing. Applicants and owners of all existing, approved and proposed projects in the affected basin will be advised of the need for a consolidated review contested case hearing. Applicants and owners shall be advised not less that 90 days before the hearing so they may prepare. Notice advising of the need for a consolidated review shall be sent by registered or certified mail. Separate notice will be given when the hearing actually is to take place. This notice will be as required by ORS 183.415. (5) The consolidated review shall include a study of the individual and cumulative impacts each project would cause on the natural resources discussed in OAR 690-051-0190 through 690-051-0250. Cumulative impacts on any given natural resource shall be considered unacceptable if the level of impact would exceed any of the natural resource standards set forth in OAR 690-051-0190 through 690 051 0250. (6) The purpose of the consolidated review will be to determine if the individual and cumulative impacts of proposed projects meet the natural resource standards in OAR 690-051-0190 through 690-051-0250. If the individual impacts of the applicant's project would exceed any of the resource standards, the application shall be rejected. When cumulative impacts on a natural resource would violate the natural resource standards, proposed projects in the consolidated review will be chosen for further consideration on the basis of the following criteria: (a) Contribution to cumulative impact(s) Projects exhibiting lesser potential contribution to cumulative impact(s) will be preferred over projects exhibiting greater potential contribution to cumulative impact(s); (b) Individual impacts on natural resources Projects potentially causing impact on a lesser number of natural resources and/or having a lesser degree of impact on a given resource shall be preferred over projects potentially affecting a greater number of natural resources or having a greater degree of impact on a given resource; (c) Project suitability Projects making more efficient use of water, developing more capacity, having greater annual output or producing more revenue will be preferred over projects that are less efficient, develop less capacity, have less annual output or produce less revenue; (d) Mitigation Projects proposing more desirable mitigation in terms of restoration, improvement or enhancement will be preferred over projects proposing less desirable mitigation; and (e) If no distinction can be made on the criteria in subsections (a) through (d) of this section, the final basis of decision will be priority of filing. (7) Following the conclusion of the consolidated review contested case hearing, the Director will enter an order stating the findings on each proposed project included in the review. Applications for projects not selected for further consideration on the basis of criteria in section (5) of this rule, shall be rejected. (8) Any application not filed in time to be included in the notice of contested case hearing for a consolidated review shall not be reviewed until after the Director has entered the final order on the proceeding. (9) If there is only one proposed project in the river basin, the Director may initiate consolidated review proceedings at the applicant's request. Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 536.025, 536.027, 537 & 543 History: WRD 8-2015, f. 12-18-15, cert. ef. 1-1-16 WRD 2-1993, f. & cert. ef. 5-19-93 WRD 14-1986, f. & ef. 10-13-86