Opinion ID: 433508
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: NCWCD's Status Under the Act

Text: 26 The statutory command that the Commission    shall at once give notice of [a permit] application in writing to any    municipality likely to be interested in or affected by such application[,] 16 U.S.C. Sec. 797(f), was intended to benefit government entities like NCWCD. In Section 3(7) the statute defines municipality as a city, county, irrigation district, drainage district, or other political subdivision or agency of a State competent under the laws thereof to carry on the business of developing, transmitting, utilizing, or distributing power. 16 U.S.C. Sec. 796(7). NCWCD was, at the time notices were given, a municipality under the Act. Although Colorado law had not granted NCWCD authority to generate electricity for wholesale sales until just after FERC's notice of Energenics' permit application, NCWCD had long since been granted authority to generate, distribute, and sell electricity for operation of its own works and facilities. See Colo.Rev.Stat. Sec. 37-45-118(1)(k) (1973 & 1981 pocket part), as amended by Act of May 18, 1981 known as Senate Bill No. 105. While its status as a municipality also might conceivably be based on its similarity to an irrigation or drainage district, it is clear that its authority to develop, transmit, utilize, and distribute hydroelectric power places NCWCD within the literal language of Section 3(7). 7 27 Assuming the correctness of NCWCD's allegations of fact, it also seems clear that NCWCD was a municipality likely to be interested in or affected by [Energenics'] application. 16 U.S.C. Sec. 797(f). Since 1938 NCWCD has operated under an agreement with the United States which empowers it to distribute water from the CBT System, and the St. Vrain Canal is an important part of NCWCD's system for distributing that water. Moreover, under an amendment to that agreement NCWCD took over the St. Vrain Canal in 1957 and is responsible for operating and maintaining the Canal. Especially since NCWCD's right to operate the Canal is revocable should it not adequately maintain it, NCWCD would certainly have an interest in any construction of a hydroelectric project on the Canal. Finally, its interest could adequately be based on its own authorization to develop and utilize electric power. 8 28