Baker River Relicensing: General Information

ACHP

Advisory Council on Historic Preservation

ACOE

U.S. Army, Corps of Engineers

ACRA

American Cultural Resources Association

Adequate License Application

A determination by the FERC that a license application conforms to the requirements for the particular project type as specified in 18 CFR Part 4 and 16.

Adfluvial

Inhabiting both river and lake environments.

AFS

American Fisheries Society

AIRFA

American Indian Religious Freedom Act

ALP

Alternative Licensing Process

Alternative Licensing Process (ALP)

An alternative to the traditional way of licensing hydroelectric projects that must be approved by FERC under 18 CFR 4.34 (i). An applicant requesting to use an ALP must demonstrate that a reasonable effort has been made to contact all potential stakeholders, and that a consensus exists that use of the ALP is appropriate under the circumstances.

amp

Ampere

Anadromous fish

Fish that hatch and rear in fresh water, move to the ocean to grow and mature, and return to freshwater to reproduce. Salmon and Steelhead are examples.

Annual License

License issued each year by the FERC pursuant to Section 15(a) of the Federal Power Act commencing with the expiration of the initial license until the issuance of a new license for the project.

APEA

Applicant Prepared Environmental Assessment

Area of Potential Effects (APE)

The geographic area or areas within which an undertaking may cause changes in the character or use of historic properties, if any such properties exist

ARPA

Archaeological Resources Protection Act

Avoided Cost

The cost of the power that a utility would either purchase or generate to meet the top 10 percent or top 100 megawatts of customer demand, whichever is greater.

BA

Biological Assessment

Baker River system

Baker River and its tributaries.

Baker River Watershed

The area tributary to the Baker River channel at its confluence with the Skagit River.

Baseline

Starting point for environmental analysis. In order to determine what effect an action will have on the environment, a baseline is used that establishes environmental conditions against which to compare predictions of the effects of the proposed action and reasonable alternatives.

Baseload

The minimum load in a stated period of time.

Baseload Capacity

The electric power output that can be produced continuoulsy; usually computed by considering equipemtn that the operator (utility) intends to run at least 70 percent of the time. This is distinguished from peaking or cycling capacity.

BIA

Bureau of Indian Affairs

BLM

Bureau of Land Management

BPA

Bonneville Power Administration

BR

Baker River

BRCC

Baker River Coordinating Committee

BRP

Baker River Project

BRTC

Baker River Technical Committee

BuRec/BOR

Bureau of Reclamation

CA

Cooperative Agreement

CE (CATEX, CatEx, CX)

Categorical Exclusion

CEA

Cumulative Effects Analysis

CEQ

Council on Environmental Quality

CFR

Code of Federal Regulations

cfs

Cubic Feet per Second

cm

Centimeter

CMP

Coastal Management Plan

Collaborative Team, Cooperative Team, Plenary

A stakeholder group that works jointly to reach consensus on relicensing issues. Sometimes consensus results in an offer of settlement.

Commission

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Competing Development Application

Any application for a license or exemption from licensing a proposed water power project that would develop, conserve, and utilize, in whole or in part, the same or mutually exclusive water resources that world be developed, conserved, and utilized by a proposed water power project for which an initial preliminary permit or initial development application has been filed and is pending before the Commission.

Comprehensive Plan

Those comprehensive plans referenced in Section 10(a)(2)(A) of the Federal Power Act, as defined by FERC regulations (18 CFR 2.19).

Conduit

Any tunnel, canal, pipeline, aqueduct, flume, ditch, or similar manmade water conveyance that is operated for the distribution of water for agricultural, municipal, or industrial consumption and not primarily for the generation of electricity. The term "not primarily for the generation of electricity" includes but is not limited to a conduit: - which was built for the distribution of water for agricultural, municipal, or industrial consumption and is operated for such a purpose: and - to which a hydroelectric facility has been or is proposed to be added.

Consensus

The term can be used differently when referring to the level of agreement required for a particular issue, a settlement agreement, or the decision to use an alternative licensing process (ALP). Participants in individual licensing processes may define what they determine to constitute consensus on particular issues and settlement agreement. For selection of an ALP, FERC's final rule states that "While unanimous views obviously reflect consensus, unanimity is not always essential to a fundamentally consensual approach in a multi-party situation."

Consultation, Enhanced Consultation

Consultation refers to the required consultation or discussion and exchange among stakeholders in a relicensing process. Enhanced consultation typically refers to consultation, or discussion and exchange (NGO), that goes above-and-beyond requirements, e.g., earlier, more of it.

CR

Cultural Resources

CRMMP

Cultural Resources Mitigation and Management Plan

CRMP

Cultural Resources Management Plan

Cumulative impacts

The effect on the environment which results from the incremental impact of the action when added to other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions. Cumulative impacts can result from individually minor, but collectively significant actions taking place over a period of time.

Current conditions

Actual conditions at the time of the license application or renewal.

CWA

Clean Water Act

CZMA

Coastal Zone Management Act

Dam

For the purposes of provisions governing application for license of a major project existing dam, means any structure for impounding or diverting water. For the purposes of provisions governing application for exemption of a small conduit hydroelectric facility, means any structure that impounds water. For the purposes of provisions governing application for exemption of a small hydroelectric power project, means any structure for impounding water, including any diversion structure that is designed to obstruct all or substantially all of the flow of a natural body of water.

dbh

Diameter at breast height

DD

Drawdown

Deficient License Application

A determination by the Director, Office of Hydropower Licensing that an application does not fully conform to the requirements for the particular project type as specified in 18 CFR Parts 4 and 16. An applicant having a deficient application is afforded additional time to correct the deficiencies.

DEIS

Draft Environmental Impact Statement

Demand

The rate at which electric energy is delivered to or by a system, expressed in kilowatts, at a given instant or averaged over any designated period of time.

Desired conditions

An expression of a visualization of the resource upon the achievement of meeting the goals and objectives.

Development application

Any application for either a license or exemption from licensing for a proposed water power project.

Dismissal

The termination of license application processing resulting from a determination by FERC that an applicant has failed to provide timely additional information or documents that the Commission requires as being relevant for an informed decision.

Dist

Distribution List

Diversion

The point on a stream where water is diverted into the system.

Diversion Structure

Any structure used to divert water from a stream into a pipline or other water conveyance system.

DNR

Department of Natural Resources

DOD

Department of Defense

DOE

Department of Energy

DOE

Department of Ecology

DOI

Department of Interior

DOL

Department of Labor

DOT

Department of Transportation

Drawdown

The distance that the water surface of a reservoir is lowered from a given elevation as the result of the withdrawal of water.

DU

Ducks Unlimited

EA

Environmental Assessment

EAP

Emergency Action Plan

ECPA

Electric Consumers Protection Act

EEI

Edison Electric Institute

EIA

Existing Information Analysis

EIR

Environmental Impact Report

EIS

Environmental Impact Statement

Energy

That which does or is capable of doing work. Electric energy is usually measured in kilowatt-hours.

Enhancement

An improvement of a resource over the existing condition.

EPA

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

EPAct

Energy Policy Act of 1992

EPRI

Electric Power Research Institute

EPS

Energy Production and Storage

ESA

Endangered Species Act

Escape Clause, Off-Ramp

The escape clause typically refers to options in the ALP process that allow participants to agree to revert to the traditional licensing process. The Off-Ramp refers to stages in the ALP process for such a reversion.

ESCP

Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan

ESU

Evolutionarily Significant Unit

Ex Parte/Ex Parte Rules

Ex parte contract means an action taken or granted at this instance and for the benefit of one party only, and without notice to, or contestation by, any person adversely interested. Ex parte rules are those rules adopted by the FERC in the context of ex parte contact during licensing proceedings, pursuant to 18 C.F.R. § 385.2201.

Existing impoundment

For the purposes of provisions governing application for license of a major project existing dam, means any structure for impounding or diverting water.

Extirpated

Has become locally extinct.

Federal lands

Any lands to which the United States holds fee title.

FEIS

Final Environmental Impact Statement

FEMA

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FERC

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

FERC Decisional Staff

FERC decisional staff is defined within the FERC ex parte rules as any person assigned to a proceeding who is or may reasonably be expected to be involved in the decisional process of that proceeding.

FERC Non-Decisional Staff

FERC decisional staff is defined within the FERC ex parte rules as any person assigned to a proceeding who wold not participate in the decisional process of that proceeding.

Fire-Walled Employee

An agency representative who can engage in what would be considered ex parte contacts or discussions on project-specific settlement efforts because they will not participate in any decision-making activities related to those project-specific settlement efforts, and will have no discussions with decision-makers on those project-specific settlement efforts.

Firm Power

The amount of power it would be possible to produce continuously during a repetition of the most adverse hydro year on record.

Fish and wildlife agencies

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service, and the state agency in charge of administrative management over fish and wildlife resources of the state in which a proposed hydropower project is located.

Fish and wildlife recommendation

Any recommendation designed to protect, mitigate damages to, or enhance any wild member of the animal kingdom, including any migratory or non-migratory mammal, fish, bird, amphibian, reptile, mollusk, crustacean, or other invertebrate, whether or not bred, hatched, or born in captivity, and includes any egg or offspring thereof, related breeding or spawning grounds, and habitat. A "fish and wildlife recommendation" includes a request for a study which cannot be completed prior to licensing, but does not include a request that the proposed project not be constructed or operated, a request for additional pre-licensing studies or analysis or, as the term is used in Section 4.34(e)(2) and 4.34(f)(3) of the Commission's regulations, a recommendation for facilities, programs, or other measures to benefit recreation or tourism.

Fishway

Any structure, facility, or device used for the passage of fish through, over, or around the project works of a hydropower project, such as fish ladders, fish locks, fish lifts and elevators, and similar physical contrivances, where passage of a population is necessary for the life cycle of a fish species; and those screens, barriers, and similar devices that operate to guide fish to a fishway; and flows within the fishway necessary for its operation.

FLMA

Federal Land Management Agency

Flow

Volume of water per unit of time. Can be expressed in gallons or cubic feet per minute (gal/min, CFM) or in cubic feet per second (CFS), and so forth.

Flow Duration Curve

A curve showing the percentage of time (in certain time period) that a river's flow was equal to or greater than a given discharge value (flow volume on y-axiz; time (days per year) on x-axis).

Fluvial

Inhabiting a river or stream.

FNSI

Finding of No Significant Impact

FOIA

Freedom of Information Act

FONSI

Finding of No Significant Impact

FPA

Federal Power Act

FPC

Federal Power Commission

Fps

Feet per second

FR

Federal Register

Francis Turbine

A reation turbine used to turn the generators in large hydroelectric projects. Most often used in projects with moderate head and high flow conditions.

Fry

Young, recently hatched fish.

FS

Forest Service

FSOC

Fish Screening Oversight Committee

FTE

Full-time Equivalent

FWCA

Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act

Gigawatt-hour

Equals one million kilowatt-hours.

GMA

Growth Management Act

Grid

An electric utility's system for distributing power.

Grid Connection

A connection joining a plant that generates electricity to an electric power utility's systme so that elecricity can flow in both directions between the utility system and plant.

GSA

General Services Administration

Gulpers

Fish collection barges located in the forebays of both Upper Baker and Lower Baker Dams that generate a surface flow mimicking a lake outlet to attract and pass downstream migrating juvenile fish.

Habitat

Environment an organism lives in

HABS

Historic American Building Survey

HAER

Historic American Engineering Record

HCA

Habitat Conservation Area

Head

The differences in elevation between two water surfaces; it is the amount of fall of the stream that is used to develop power.

HEP

Habitat Evaluation Procedure. Process to evaluate changes to the terrestrial environment using index species.

hp

Horsepower

HP

Historic Preservation

HPP

Historic Preservation Plan

HRMMP

Historic Resources Mitigation & Management Plan

Hybrid Traditional Licensing Process (HLTP)

A Licensing process that falls within the spectrum of the Traditional Licensing Process (TLP) and the Alternative Licensing Process (ALP). While the term "hybrid process" could apply to any tailored process in between the TLP and ALP, this document generally assumes in the HTLP that the pre-filing consultation process in the TLP would be expanded in the hybrid process to include non-agency stakeholders in the conduct of studies and preparation of the draft and final applications.

Hydraulic head

The vertical height in feet from the headwater elevation (where the water enters the intake pipe) to where the water leaves the turbine housing.

IAC

Washington Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation

ICD

Initial Consultation Document

ICP

Initial Consultation Package

IFR

Instream Flow Requirements

IHN

Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis

IIP

Initial Information Package

IJC

International Joint Commission

Impacts, Effects

Positive (beneficial), negative (adverse), direct, or indirect consequences of a particular activity or action.

Impoundment

Any artificial structure used to collect water in a pond, reservoir, penstock, and so forth, as for irrigation or pwer generation to stop the natural flow of water.

Impulse Turbine

A turbine in which available head is converted into kinetic energy or velocity head in a constrickting nozzle (s) before acting upon a cup-like bucket. See Pelton Wheel.

Indian tribe

In reference to a proposal to apply for a license or exemption for a hydropower project, an Indian tribe which is recognized by treaty with the United States, by federal statute, or by the U.S. Department of the Interior in its periodic listing of tribal governments in the Federal Register in accordance with 25 CFR 83.6(b), and whose legal rights as a tribe may be affected by the development and operation of the hydropower project proposed (as where the operation of the proposed project could interfere with the management and harvest of anadromous fish or where the project works would be located within the tribe's reservation).

Initial (or Original) License

The first license issued for a water power project under the Federal Power Act.

Initial development application

Any acceptable application for either a license or exemption from licensing for a proposed water power project that would develop, conserve, and utilize, in whole or in part, water resources for which no other acceptable application for a license or exemption from licensing has been submitted for filing and is pending before the Commission.

Install or increase

Means to add new generating capacity at a site that has no existing generating units, to replace or rehabilitate an abandoned or unused existing generating unit, or to increase the generating capacity of any existing power plant by installing an additional generating unit or by rehabilitating an operable generating unit in a way that increases its rated electric power output.

Installed Capacity

The total of the geration capacities shown on the nameplate of all generators in a hydroelectric plant.

Instream Flow Incremental Methodoloty (IFIM)

Process by which factors influencing aquatic environment for habitability are sequentially included in analyses to evaluate consequences of changing flows.

Intake

The beginning of the power generation system. This is the point where water enters the pipe.

Interagency Task Force (ITF)

Work group created by the Commission to improve relations with federal and state agencies.

Interconnection

The physical connection of an electricity-generating plant to an electric utility system so that electricity can flow in both directions between the utility systme and the plant.

Intermediate Load

The amount of electrical power needed for use when the base load does not fill demand.

Intertie

The connection of two or more electric utility systems to transfer surplus power from one to the other.

Invester-Owned Utility (IOU)

A privately owned utility serving the public, regulated by FERC and State Commissions.

ITF

Interagency Task Force

JARPA

Joint Aquatic Resources Permit Application

Kelt

Any mature anadromous fish that has spawned and is returning to the ocean with the inherent ability to return and spawn again. Generally, refers to steelhead, but can also be applied to searun cutthroat, char and Atlantic salmon. Not known to be part of the Pacific salmon lifecycle.

Kilovolt (kV)

This is 1,000 volts, a measure of electic potential in a powerline.

Kilovolt-amp (kVA)

A unity power factor; a VA = Watt; or kVA = kW.

Kilowatt hour (kWh)

A kilowatt of power used for one hour.

km

Kilometer

kV

Kilovolt

kW

Kilowatt

kWh

Kilowatt Hours

Large woody debris

Pieces of wood larger than 10 feet long and 6 inches in diameter located within a stream channel.

LB

Lower Baker

Level of Interest

The degree to which a stakeholder's interests are impacted by the project.

Level of Participation

The degree to which a stakeholder participates in the relicensing process, e.g. attends meetings vs. simply reviews information.

Licensed water power project

A project, as defined in Section 3(11) of the Federal Power Act, that is licensed under Part I of the Federal Power Act.

Listed species

Those species contained on the Federal list of endangered or threatened species.

Load

The average demand on electrical equipment or on an electric system.

Load Factor

The ratio of average demand to maximum demand or to capacity.

Load Management

Any method or devise that evens out electrical demand by eliminating uses during peak periods or shifting usage from peak times to off-peak times.

Lost valley storage

The volume of storage within a river channel reach that would be lost if the river channel is already inundated by a reservoir.

LPO

Limited Purchase Order

LRS

Licensing & Resource Sciences

LSR

Late Successional Reserve

m3

Cubic meters

Major modified project

Any major project (existing dam) that would include: - any repair, modification or reconstruction of an existing dam that would result in a significant change in the normal maximum surface area or the normal maximum surface elevation of an existing impoundment; or - any change in existing project works or operations that would result in a significant environmental impact.

Major project 5 MW or less

Any major project/existing dam or any major unconstructed project or major modified project that has a total installed capacity of 5 MW or less.

Major project existing dam

A licensed or unlicensed, existing or proposed water power project that would: - have a total installed generating capacity of more than 2,000 horsepower (1.5 MW); and - not use the water power potential provided by any dam except an existing dam.

Major unconstructed project

Any unlicensed water power project that would: - have a total installed generating capacity of more than 1.5 MW; and - use the water power potential of a dam and impoundment which, at the time application is filed, have not been constructed.

Mandatory Conditioning Authorities

DOI, NMFS, USFS or state water quality agencies and some tribes, for example, are authorized under the FPA or the Clean Water Act (CWA) to set mandatory conditions, which must be included in any license issued by the FERC.

MBSNF

Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest

Mean annual unregulated flow

The average amount of water passing a given point within a year, corrected for the effects of artificial storage upstream.

Megawatt (MW)

This is 1,000 kilowatts or 1,000,000 watts

Minimum Streamflow

Minimum natural or regulated flow of stream during a specified time.

Minor water power project

Any licensed or unlicensed, existing or proposed water power project that would have a total installed generation capacity of 2,000 horsepower (1.5MW), or less.

Mitigation

A measure undertaken to make less severe the consequences of an action.

MOA

Memorandum of Agreement

MOU

Memorandum of Understanding

msl

Mean Sea Level

Municipal Utility

A publicly owned electric (or other) utility, generally serving a single city or town. These utilities are regulated by their own elected boards.

MW

Megawatt

MWh

Megawatt Hour

n.d.

No date

NAAQS

National Ambient Air Quality Standards

NAE

No adverse effects (Section 106 Process NHPA)

NAGPRA

Native American Graves Protection & Repatriation Act

NARF

Native American Rights Fund

NATHPO

National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers

NCCC

North Cascades Conservation Council

NCNP

North Cascades National Park

NCSHPO

National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers

NEPA

National Environmental Policy Act

New development

For the purposes of provisions governing application for license of a major project-existing dam, means any construction, installation, repair, reconstruction, or other change in the existing state of project works or appurtenant facilities, including any dredging and filling in project waters.

NFMA

National Forest Management Act

NGO

Non-Governmental Organization

NHA

National Hydropower Association

NHL

National Historic Landmark

NHPA

National Historic Preservation Act

NMFS

National Marine Fisheries Service

No.

Number

NO2

Nitrogen oxide

NOAA

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NOI

Notice of Intent

Non-developmental resources/purposes

In addition to the power and developmental purposes for which licenses are issued (e.g., flood control, irrigation and water supply), the Commission must give equal consideration to the non-developmental resources/purposes of the project, including energy conservation, the protection, mitigation of damage to , and enhancement of fish and wildlife (including related spawning grounds and habitat), the protection of recreational opportunities, and the preservation of other aspects of environmental quality.

Non-Federal lands

For the purposes of provisions governing application for exemption of a small conduit hydroelectric facility, means any lands except lands to which the United States holds fee title.

Nonpower license

A temporary license for a project that is in transition from power generation to termination of Commission regulation thereover.

NOPR

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

Normal full pool

Maximum water surface elevation of a reservoir under normal operating conditions.

NPPC

Northwest Power Planning Council

NPS

National Park Service

NPSPNWR

National Park Service Pacific Northwest Region

NRE

National Register Eligible

NRHP

National Register of Historic Places

NTU

Nepholmetric Turbidity Units

NWF

National Wildlife Federation

NWIFC

Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission

NWPP

Northwest Power Pool

O&M

Operations & Maintenance

O3

Ozone

OAHP

Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation

ODFW

Oregon State Department of Fish & Wildlife

OEP

Office of Energy Projects

Off Peak

Times when power demand is below average; for electirc utilities this is generally night and weekends.

Oligotrophic

Characterized by a low accumulation of dissolved nutrients.

On Line

The process of generating electricity and sending it over the transmission lines.

On Site

The use of electricity or heat at the same location where it is produced.

Original license

The first license issued for a water power project under either the Federal Water Power Act of 1920 or the Federal Power Act.

Outage

The period when a generating unit, transmission line, or other facility is out of service.

Output

Amount of power or energy delivered from a piece of equipment, station, or system.

P.L.

Public Law

PA

Programmatic Agreement

Patently deficient

A determination by the Commission staff that an application substantially fails to comply with the requirements specified in 18 CFR Parts 4 and 16, or that the application is for a project that is precluded by law. An application determined to be patently deficient may be denied.

Pb

Lead

PDSA

Plan, Do, Study, Act

PE

Plant Engineer, Professional Engineer

Peak Load

Maximum load, porduced or consumed, in a stated period of time.

Peak Periods

Peak load times are when demand for electricity is high, such as summer weekday afternoons or winter weekday evenings. Different utilities may define the peak period narrowly to include only a few hundred hours per year or broadly to include several thousand hours per year.

Peaking Capacity

The capacity of generating equipment that is normally operated only during the hours of highest power demand.

Pelton Wheel

An impulse turbine consisting of a series of buckets acted upon by one or more jets of water. A water turbine used to drive a generator in a hydroelectric project characterized by a high head and low flow.

Penstock

The high pressure pipline that serves the powerhouse. The penstock can originate at the diversion or at the transition point from one or more low pressure conduits.

Person

Any individual and, as defined in Section 3(4) of the Federal Power Act, any corporation, municipality, or state.

PGE

Portland General Electric