October
28, 2002
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"These
dams should not be built. Our society already has in place more
than enough electrical generating capacity and stored water facilities.
The problem is we have become a nation of energy gluttons taken
in by power dealers. We use vastly more than our share, more
than we need, of the world's resources. There is no power shortage
in the country, but there will be if we continue to develop and
use power like there is no tomorrow. Conservation does not detract
from, it improves, the quality of our lives. - a concerned citizen at the 9/17/02 meeting in Mt. Shasta |
WHO: An oil refinery engineer living in Antioch, CA. WHAT: A project featuring two hydroelectric dams. One 90 foot long, 25 foot high concrete dam on the South Fork and another 60 foot long, 15 foot high concrete dam on the Middle Fork. Plus a powerhouse and tailrace, a main penstock, a Middle Fork diversion line, and a new 12 KV power line. WHERE: On the Middle and South Forks of the Upper Sacramento River in Siskiyou County, just a few miles upstream from Lake Siskiyou on our publicly-owned, Forest Service land. WHEN: The developer had 36 months from September, 2001, to perform the required studies. He had budgeted a mere $50,000 to cover the cost of his complying with the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA). The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) was to decide how many and which types of studies Williamson would have been required to complete. WHY: "My motive is personally positive cash flow...I think it can be done profitably," developer Richard Williamson, Mt. Shasta Herald, August 8, 2001, page 2. Williamson's optimistic estimate was to produce 50.4 GWh per year. "The California energy crisis is a crisis alright, but not about the lack of energy. It's about the lack of proper management," said Donna Boyd of Mt. Shasta. HOW WE PROTESTED THE PROJECT: 1) Wrote to FERC and assertively requested that they require the developer to complete environmental studies important to local citizens. CLICK HERE to learn more about writing letters. 2) Attended tmeetings in Fall 2001 in Mount Shasta. 3) Donna Boyd attended more meetings and delivered large packages of letters to the appropriate agencies.
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