Documents > FERC Filings
Pre-Application Document and Notice of Intent
On July 16, 2009 TDX Power filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) 1) a Notice of Intent (NOI) to file an application for original license under Part I of the Federal Power Act for the Chakachamna Hydropower Project (FERC No. 12660); 2) a Pre-Application Document (PAD) summarizing existing information on the Project; and describing a proposed environmental study program to determine potential Project impacts, and identify appropriate protection, mitigation, and enhancement measures for inclusion in the license application; and 3) a request to use a Traditional Licensing Process (TLP) for the Project.
The proposed project is on the Chakachatna and MacArthur Rivers , and is approximately 40 miles west of the Native Village of Tyonek and approximately 82 miles west of Anchorage in the Kenai Peninsula Borough. As described in the documents, TDX is proposing a project that entails the interbasin transfer of water from a lake-tap near the outlet of Chakachamna Lake through an approximately 11-mile long hard-rock tunnel to an underground powerhouse that would discharge to the McArthur River . It is estimated that the project could produce roughly 1,300 gigawatt hours (GWh) average annual energy from an installed capacity of 300 MW. A control weir and fish passage facilities would be located at the outlet of Lake Chakachamna . Upstream and downstream fish passage would be provided through an operating plan that maintains a minimum pool to provide access through the natural channel during key migration periods, and fish passage facilities that are available when the lake level is not high enough to provide flow to the Chakachatna River . The power produced would be distributed to an existing substation on the Railbelt grid in central Alaska via approximately 42 miles of newly constructed 230-kilovolt transmission lines.
Because of the complexity of the proposed Project, and the likely need for a multi-phased study program, TDX Power is requesting the use of a Traditional Licensing Process (TLP). The Project is a large conventional hydropower project that would be located in an area with important resource values for which there is relatively little existing information. The licensing process must accommodate a significant data collection and impact assessment effort to support the final design of the Project and development of the license application. Based on feedback received from an outreach effort to agencies and other interested stakeholders and its own evaluation of the default Integrated Licensing Process, TDX believes that a TLP, enhanced by a number of stakeholder involvement provisions designed to address specific concerns identified in its outreach efforts, is the preferred process for the pre-filing consultation and study efforts for the Project.
Comments on the request to use the TLP are due to the Commission and the potential applicant no later than 30 days following the filing date identified in this notice. Responses must reference the potential applicant's name and FERC Project No. 12660, and should address, as appropriate to the circumstances of the request, the: (A) Likelihood of timely license issuance; (B) Complexity of the resource issues; (C) Level of anticipated controversy; (D) Relative cost of the traditional process compared to the integrated process; (E) The amount of available information and potential for significant disputes over studies; and (F) Other factors believed by the commenter to be pertinent. Respondents must submit an electronic filing pursuant to § 385.2003(c) or an original and eight copies of their comments to the Office of the Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington , DC 20426 .
Cover Letter and Notice of Intent
Table of Contents and Executive Summary
Section 2 - Process Plan and Schedule
Section 3 - Project Location, Facilities and Operations
Section 4 - Description of Existing Environment and Resource Impacts
Section 4.1 & 4.2 - Summary and Basin Overview
Section 4.3 - Geology and Soils
Section 4.5 - Fish and Aquatics
Section 4.6 - Wildlife and Botanical Resources
Appendix 4-3. Table of Mammals Species in the Project Vicinity
Appendix 4-4. Table of Bird Species in the Project Vicinity
Appendix 4-5. Table of Plants Species in the Project Vicinity
Section 4.7 - Wetlands, Riparian, and Littoral Habitat
Section 4.8 - Aesthetic/Visual Resources
Section 4.9 - Recreation and Land Use
Section 4.10 - Cultural Resources
Seciton 5 - Preliminary Issues and Study List