I've been reading through the numerous filings in the electronic library provided by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regarding the Crown Hydro project (FERC, http://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/docket_search.asp, search for docket P-11175). This has been highly interesting, downright astonishing and depressing all at the same time.
I was initially undecided about this project. I am in favor of distributed energy generation and renewable power sources. But I had some qualms. As I learned more, I began to become more opposed to this project. I finally decided I was completely opposed, but my reasons were all related to risk/benefit analysis -- that is, I did not think the benefits of this project were worth the risks and impact to the St. Anthony Fall's neighborhood and environment.
I always believed that Crown Hydro was an honest, straight-ahead business who were simply pursuing their goal of building a successful and profitable business for themselves. I have no objection to such an effort; I am a capitalist myself.
The Minneapolis Park Board commissioners are supposed to vote this Wednesday evening on whether to lease the Mill Ruins Park land to Crown Hydro or not. But all is not right in this world.
I just read a filing at FERC (part which I have included below), which casts this whole project in a very different light. Residents along the river only just heard about this project recently in the last few weeks. Even Park Board followers such as myself only heard about this project for the first time at the end of one of the Park Board's trademark "late night" new business meetings a few months ago.
But lo and behold -- the Park Board has been negotiating with Crown Hydro for years. In fact, the Park Board took the extraordinary step on March 6, 2003 (last year) of filing a Motion to Intervene with FERC, strongly stating their OPPOSITION to this project! (the filing below)
What in the blue blazes has changed since this strongly-worded opposition statement was made?
Now is the time to take action if you are opposed to this project.
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION
Crown Hydro Company Project No. 11175-016
MOTION TO INTERVENE and COMMENTS
SUBMITTED BY THE
MINNEAPOLIS PARK AND RECREATION BOARD
INTRODUCTION
Pursuant to Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and
Procedures (18 C.F.R. * 385.214) and the Notice of Application issued on
January 22, 2003, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board ("Park
Board") files this Motion to Intervene and these Comments in this
proceeding involving the application of Crown Hydro LLC ("Crown") for
amendment of license for the Crown Mill Project.I. DESCRIPTION OF MOVANT
The Park Board is a municipal body consisting of nine independently-elected commissioners in the City of Minneapolis, State of Minnesota, and files this Motion to Intervene on its behalf pursuant to Rule 214 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure.
Communications in connection with this matter should be sent to:
Rachel B. Ramadhyani, Project Manager Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board 200 Grain Exchange, 400 South 4th Street Minneapolis, MN 55415-1400 (612) 661-4814 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
II. GROUNDS FOR INTERVENTION
The Crown Mill Project is located in the historic milling district of
the City of Minneapolis and will use water from St Anthony Falls ("the
Falls"). The Falls and the Mississippi River are highly significant
aspects of the historic and natural environment of the City of
Minneapolis and the State of Minnesota. The area around the Falls,
including the site of the Crown Mill Project, is listed on the National
Register of Historic Places as the St. Anthony Falls Historic District.
The Park Board has acquired a substantial amount of property within the
Historic District, including the site of the Crown Mill Project, and is
in the process of (1) design and construction of "Mill Ruins Park" on
this site, in cooperation with the United States Government, (2)
planning improvements to the Great River Road adjacent to the Project
site, with the intention of providing cultural, recreational, and
aesthetic benefits to the public, also in cooperation with the United
States Government, and (3) furthering other plans to preserve the
historic and natural environment of the Falls as it exists in the City
of Minneapolis. These activities involve the expenditure of significant
capital resources on the part of the Park Board, the City of
Minneapolis, and the United States Government.At the present time, substantial strides have been made toward the implementation of these plans. The first phase of development of Mill Ruins Park was completed and opened to the public in October 2001, and the next phase of park construction, which also involves improvements to the Great River Road, will be undertaken during the upcoming construction season of 2003. Both park construction phases have received substantial Federal Highway Administration funding, along with funds from various State of Minnesota and local sources.
The Crown Mill Project as originally licensed requires the use of parkland (portions of Mill Ruins Park) owned by the Park Board to convey water from the river to the hydroelectric equipment and to then return the spent water to the river. The amendment of license requested by Crown would additionally locate the powerhouse and ancillary facilities on parkland owned by the Park Board. This parkland was acquired by the Park Board for its historic and natural significance and for the purpose of developing a system of parkways, trails, and interpretive and recreational features intended to provide public access to and interpretation and preservation of the significant natural, historic, and scenic values of the location. The parkland is protected by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C.A * 4321 to 4370b) and falls within the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MNRRA) (1988 Public Law 100- 696), the Upper Mississippi reach of the federally-d esignated American Heritage River (1998), and the National Millennium Trail designated by the United States Department of Transportation (1999).
The Park Board, the City of Minneapolis, and the public are therefore strongly impacted by the activities of the Crown Mill Project. Any change in the conditions of the project license, and, in particular, the proposed amendment, will have a significant impact on ability of the Park Board and its many partners, including the United States of America, to successfully implement the recreational and preservation goals discussed above. In addition, significant archaeological resources which are contributing features to the St. Anthony Falls Historic District will be impacted by the proposed amendment. The Park Board's motion to intervene is made in the public interest, in that the Park Board is the provider and protector of parks and historic and natural sites within the City of Minneapolis.
The interest of the Park Board and the City of Minneapolis will be directly affected by the outcome of this proceeding. Based on the foregoing, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board requests that its Motion for Intervention be granted.
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The full text of the above Park Board filing at FERC can be read here (http://www.mplsparkwatch.org/node/view/69) or here (http://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/common/OpenNat.asp?fileID=9653710) in text format, or you can view images of the original documents at this location (http://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/File_list.asp?document_id=4080706).
Chris Johnson Fulton
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