What is the issue?

It is important to remember that FERC licenses last 50 years and the relicensing process is the first time most dams have ever been held to basic environmental laws like the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act. The agreements involve the approval of 5 federal agencies, 4 State agencies, and numerous local jurisdictions. So the relicensing process is truly our one regulatory shot at river restoration over a 100 year period. The Saluda Settlement Agreement is the best hydropower settlement agreement in the Southeast in our estimation and we are proud signatories.

How would it affect South Carolina?

Many of the beneficial provisions in the agreement would not be there but for our involvement. Some of the highlights include:

Improvement to the stream flow regimen necessary for natural flow values and ecological processes essential to river health, including riparian, wetland and floodplains. Seasonably variable, continuous flows are part of the settlement agreement including special operations during April 1 through May 10 to further enhance downstream flows and stabilize water temperatures for spawning striped bass and other species of the Saluda and Congaree rivers.

* Protection and enhancement of water quality standards. The settlement lays out a plan and schedule for complying with the state water quality standard for dissolved oxygen. The project went from violating DO standards more than 100 days a year to just a few hours a year based on a settlement of a Clean Water Act citizen suit we brought. Standards are now met 99.7% of the time and 100% compliance within 3 years.

* Protection and enhancement of rare, threatened and endangered plant and animal species. The settlement includes protection and enhancement measures for freshwater mussels, the rocky shoal spider lily and shortnose sturgeon.

* Prudent floodplain management for the Congaree National Park, insuring the proper timing, frequency and magnitude of flood waters needed to keep our States only National Park.

* More than 1,000 acres of protected land.

* Enhancement of recreational flows in the settlement will meet minimum navigation levels 100% of the time. SCE&G will also provide 51 days per year of special releases for fishing and paddling recreation where dangerous high flows will not be allowed.

* Coordination of water releases in a manner that fully protects the human health and safety of all resource users. The settlement includes substantial safety improvements.

* Climate Change Adaptation Ability: The settlement establishes numerous adaptive management processes and a low flow protocol that can be used for climate change adaptation through the life of the license.

What can you do about it?

Continue to support the Coastal Conservation League in our other importnat freshwater work on other FERC projects and in the legislature.