Opinion ID: 3053048
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Cases Finding a Substantial Alteration

Text: [3] In Niagra Mohawk Power Corporation, FERC rejected a license application that proposed a two-phase modification of an existing development. 29 FERC ¶ 61,005, 61,010 (1984). The first phase involved modifying an existing head12646 FALL RIVER RURAL ELECTRIC v. FERC gate structure, rehabilitating an existing portion of an abutment, and constructing a powerhouse and penstocks. Id. The second phase involved preventing all flows from entering the existing plant, effectively closing down its operation. Id. FERC concluded that “this amount of construction work requires fundamental alterations to [the] licensed project works, and places it in clear violation of Section 6.” Id. Fall River contends that its proposed modifications to the Hebgen Development are not remotely similar in scale to the proposed alterations in Niagra Mohawk. However, as in Niagra Mohawk, Fall River’s proposal includes more than an insubstantial amount of construction, namely building a powerhouse, installing a penstock, and excavating around a portion of PPL’s existing conduit. In JDJ Energy Company, FERC rejected a preliminary license application that proposed modifying approximately 75 feet of an existing dam and modifying an existing powerhouse to accommodate construction of a new powerhouse. 41 FERC ¶ 61,354 (1987). FERC explained that “JDJ’s proposal would involve significant structural modifications to the project dam and to project works in the area immediately adjacent to the dam.” Id. Fall River notes that it does not propose any modifications to an existing powerhouse and “very little” modifications to the existing dam. However, Fall River does propose constructing a powerhouse, modifying the intake tower and conduit, and installing a penstock. In Green Island Power Authority, FERC rejected a preliminary license application that proposed constructing a new dam that would inundate an existing dam, decommissioning various other facilities, thereby rendering an existing project inoperable. 110 FERC ¶ 61,034, 61,109 (2005). Fall River notes that its proposed project bears no similarity to the project proposed in Green Island. Admittedly, Fall River’s proposal would not render PPL’s project inoperable, but that does not necessarily make FERC’s orders in this case inconsistent with Green Island. FERC never represented Fall River’s proposal FALL RIVER RURAL ELECTRIC v. FERC 12647 to be on all fours with the proposed project in Green Island. FERC’s citation to Green Island simply illustrates an extreme example of a substantial alteration.