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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAPA3131-3132ARLISAlaskaResourcesLibrary&InformationServicesAnchorageAlaska337550DO'173 b0~-/k/'-I"-'5•sBA-.;;t3no.3131september1983TheSusitnaRiverSystemDuringits318-milejourneytoCookInletfromtheAlaskanRange,theSusitnaRiverchanges"faces"severaltimes.TheSusitnaoriginatesabout90milessouthofFairbanks,wheresummerrunofffromthreeglaciersfeedsforksoftheriver.Theseforksrunabout18milessouthbeforejoiningtoformthemainstream.Flowingoutofitsglacialheadwaters,theSusitnacrossesagenerallyflat,broadvalleyforabout55miles.Itisinthismeanderingupperstretchthatmostofthecoarsesedimentsfromtheglacierssettleout.JustbelowtheconfluencewiththeTyoneRiver,theSusitnaturnswestward,flowingfor96milesthroughnarrowvalleysanddeepcanyons.Thewallsofthesecanyonsareupto1000feetinheight.IntheareaofDevilCreek,therivercutsadeepgorge,knownasDevilCanyon,andcreatessomeofthemostviolentwhite-waterrapidsintheworld.BelowDevilCanyon,theriverturnssouthagain,becomingmuchlesssteepandconfined.About40milessouthofGoldCreek,theSusitnaisjoinedbytwoofitsmajortributaries:theTalkeetnaandChulitnaRivers.Fromthiscon-fluence,theSusitnaflowssouththroughincreasinglybraidedchan-nelsfor97milesbeforeitemptiesintoCookInletnearAnchorage.TheSusitnaisatypicalnorthernglacialriverwithhigh,turbidsum-merflowandlow,clearerwinterflow.Runofffromsnowmeltandfromraininthespringcausesrapidincreasesinflow.Atbreakup,flowsincreasetoover13,000cfsastheriverfreezesinNovemberandDecember,andtoalowof1000cfsinMarchandApril.Intermsofphysicalconfiguration,theeast-weststretchoftheriverisidealforahydroelectricproject.Variousprojectshavebeensug-gestedsincetheearly1960s.Thepresentconcept,developedbytheAlaskaPowerAuthority,isthesub-jectofthisnewsletter.ARLISAlaskaResourcesLibrary&InformationServicesAnchorageAlaska337550DO'173b0~-/k/'-I"-'5•sBA-.;;t3no.3131september1983TheSusitnaRiverSystemDuringits318-milejourneytoCookInletfromtheAlaskanRange,theSusitnaRiverchanges"faces"severaltimes.TheSusitnaoriginatesabout90milessouthofFairbanks,wheresummerrunofffromthreeglaciersfeedsforksoftheriver.Theseforksrunabout18milessouthbeforejoiningtoformthemainstream.Flowingoutofitsglacialheadwaters,theSusitnacrossesagenerallyflat,broadvalleyforabout55miles.Itisinthismeanderingupperstretchthatmostofthecoarsesedimentsfromtheglacierssettleout.JustbelowtheconfluencewiththeTyoneRiver,theSusitnaturnswestward,flowingfor96milesthroughnarrowvalleysanddeepcanyons.Thewallsofthesecanyonsareupto1000feetinheight.IntheareaofDevilCreek,therivercutsadeepgorge,knownasDevilCanyon,andcreatessomeofthemostviolentwhite-waterrapidsintheworld.BelowDevilCanyon,theriverturnssouthagain,becomingmuchlesssteepandconfined.About40milessouthofGoldCreek,theSusitnaisjoinedbytwoofitsmajortributaries:theTalkeetnaandChulitnaRivers.Fromthiscon-fluence,theSusitnaflowssouththroughincreasinglybraidedchan-nelsfor97milesbeforeitemptiesintoCookInletnearAnchorage.TheSusitnaisatypicalnorthernglacialriverwithhigh,turbidsum-merflowandlow,clearerwinterflow.Runofffromsnowmeltandfromraininthespringcausesrapidincreasesinflow.Atbreakup,flowsincreasetoover13,000cfsastheriverfreezesinNovemberandDecember,andtoalowof1000cfsinMarchandApril.Intermsofphysicalconfiguration,theeast-weststretchoftheriverisidealforahydroelectricproject.Variousprojectshavebeensug-gestedsincetheearly1960s.Thepresentconcept,developedbytheAlaskaPowerAuthority,isthesub-jectofthisnewsletter. susitna··cno,~\~\september1983SusitnaProjectHistory1'97",s-corps". " "~",'.~'"ofEngl-~"neerscompieteprojectstudyandDraft£1$onproposedfederalSUsltnaProject1'tRS'-Alaskaj".'iJ"~,'Pow,'e!,~.''Autbor-it9.stablishe~to'proyldeerojlct1in$O'ciI19"""'~~~.19',8'°"3'-Lice,..se-',''." ,"applicationI::"submittedtoFederalEnei'gy;RegulatO'ryCommission(FERC),-FERCformallyacceptsapplication-Environmental"andengineer-ingstudiescontinue'19:8:'2'.:'-Fe,a"Slbility, , ,;'\"",stUdy', "'.'"tom.pl.teiproje'etjucfgedfea'sJble•PowerAutWorjty;Soardrecommends,.$i.tbtnittll1glicenseapplfcation,continuingdeslgnflenvironmentaJwork1"";9""SO··Planof:,;~,": " '",.study'for•','l'feasl-,~.''~Ulty.pptove~~Sattelle,beginsseparate.•I,t~rnat.ve&'analysis·P,~bllcparticipationprogramb~lns,.....''':,'!susitnaraecseptember1983SusitnaProjectHistory197·s-corps<•..ofEngi-,neerscompleteprojectstudyandDraftEISonproposedfederalSqsitnaProject1980·PlanOf::sctr.forblJityapproved-Battellebeginsseparatealternativesanalysis-P\lblicparticipationprogrambegins1916..-AlaskaPowerAuthor-ItyestablishedtoprovIdep-rojectfinancing1982·-FeasibilitystUdycomplte;projectjudgedfeasible-PowerAuthorit~SoardrecomplendSlSubmlttlnglicenseapplication,continuingdeslgnJlenvil'onmentjllwork1983eLlcense..appJi~atjQnsubmittedtoFederalEnergyRegulatoryCommission(FERC),-FERCformallyacceptsappli~tion-Environmentalandengineer-Ingstu(flescontinue 2''."•••~'.• " •\.",I.'..',.'•-.•.•••••__.!..." ."',..,.'".I('....""'..•susitnahydroelectricprojectnewsletterIseptember1983TheSusitnaProjectToday-WhereDoesItStand?What'sAhead-theFERCLicensingProcessWhoIsInvolved?Thisnewsletter'spurposeistopro-videageneralupdateontheSusitnaProjectTheSusitnaHydroelectricProjecthaspassedseveralimportantmilestonessince1980.Atwo-yearfeasibilitystudy,conductedbyAcresAmerican,concludedthattheprojectwastechnically,environmentallyandeconomicallypractical.TheAlaskaPowerAuthorityBoardofDirectorsactedonthoseresultstorecommendinearly1982thatpreconstructionef-fortscontinueandalicenseapplica-tionbesubmittedtotheFederalEnergyRegulatoryCommission(FERC).Thatapplicationcontainedagreatdealofinformationontheengineering,environmental,andeconomicfeaturesoftheprojectItwassubmittedtoFERConFebruary28,1983.CopiesoftheapplicationwereplacedatthattimeinpubliclibrariesthroughouttheRailbeltforpublicreview.PreliminaryreviewoftheapplicationbyFERCstaffrevealedseveralareasTheFERCprocessforreviewingthelicenseapplication,preparinganEn-vironmentallmpactStatement,anddeterminingwhetherornottograntalicenseisthemostimportantandcomplexauthorizationrequiredfortheprojectThereareseveralmajormilestonesthatmustbemetintheFERClicensingprocess:DeterminingtheAdequacyoftheApplicationThePowerAuthoritylicenseapplica-tionwasfirstreviewedbyFERCstafftodetermineifitcontainedsufficientinformationforFERCtostartthefor-malreviewoftheprojectAdditionalinformationwasrequestedfromthePowerAuthorityinAprilandsubmit-tedinJuly.TheSusitnaapplicationwasdeterminedtobeadequateandwasacceptedonJUly29,1983.Public&AgencyCommentPeriodOncetheapplicationwasjudgedtobeadequate,publicnoticeswereplacedinlocalnewspapersandtheFederalRegistertoinvitepubliccom-mentonthelicenseapplication.Com-mentswererequestedbyOctober11,1983.Federal,State,andlocalagen-cieswereprovidedcopiesoftheap-plicationandaskedtocommentontheirareasofexpertise.FERCStaffEvaluationTheFERCstaffwillconsiderthreeareasintheirevaluation:•needforpower•projectstructures•environmentalimpactsNeedforPowerEvaluationTwoquestionsareconsideredintheevaluation:"HowmuchelectricAlaskaPowerAuthorityTheAlaskaPowerAuthorityisapubliccorporationoftheState,mandatedtodevelopnewpowersourcesforAlaska.ThePowerAuthority,astheapplicantfortheSusitnaProject,hastakentheprojectthroughthefeasi-bilitystageandsubmittalofthelicenseapplication.Iftheprojectisauthorizedandfunded,thePowerAuthoritywillalsomanageconstruc-tionandoperation.FederalEnergyRegulatoryCommissionTheCommissionisaFederalregulatorybody,partoftheDepart-mentofEnergy,withCommissionersappointedbythePresident.TheCom-missionersmustissuealicensefortheSusitnaProjectbeforeconstruc-tioncanbegin.(Seeadjoiningarticlewheremoreinformationwasrequired.Afterreceivingthosesupplementalmaterials,FERCacceptedtheap-plicationasadequateonJuly29,1983.TheacceptanceofthelicenseapplicationtriggeredFERC'sformalreviewprocess,whichincludesdetailedevaluationsofenergyloadforecastsandengineeringanddesign,andthepreparationofadraftEnvironmentalImpactStatement(EIS).WhileFERCisscrutinizingtheprojectforthenext2or3years,thePowerAuthoritywillcontinuestudyingtheprojectanditsimpacts.TheHarza-EbascoSusitnaJointVenturehasbeenselectedastheplanninganddesigncontractor.Theircontinuingstudiesareaimedatdesigningthesafest,bestprojectfortheleastcost,andatmoreaccuratelypredictingwhattheenvironmentaleffectswillbe.Planstoreduceoreliminateimpactscanthenberefinedastheprojectmovesthroughthelicensingprocess.energyisneededintheRailbelt?,"and"IstheSusitnaProjectthebestwaytoprovideit?"Intheneedforpowerhearings,thePowerAuthoritywillberequiredtodemonstratethattheenergydemandforecastsarereasonable,bothinterms ofmethodsusedandresultsobtained.PracticalalternativestotheprojectwillalsobeassessedtosatisfytheFERCthatSusitnaisthemostattractiveprojectThosehearingswillstartinspringof1984andthehearingrecordwillbeconsideredbytheFERCinmakinganeedforpowerdecision.ProjectStructuresEvaluationEvaluatingthesafetyofthedamsandtheengineeringsoundnessofthepro-jectisakeyFERCresponsi.bility.Thelicenseapplicationcontainsinforma-tiononthehydrologicandgeotechnicalconditionsofthesite,availabilityofconstructionmaterials,anddesignsforallpermanentprojectfacilities,includingstabilityandstressanalysisunderextremefloodsandseismicconditions.EnvironmentalImpactStatement(EIS)AnEISfortheproposedprojectisbe-ingpreparedbyArgonneandOakRidgeNationalLaboratories.Thelabs,retainedbytheFERCforthisproject,arebothFederalresearchorganizations.AfteraDraftEISisissued,resourceagenciesandthepublicwillhaveanopportunitytoreviewandcommentonitEnvironmentalIssueResolutionEnvironmentalissuesconcerningtheSusitnaProjectcanberesolvedinandinterviewwithWilliamWakefield)Local,StateandFederalAgenciesAgencyreviewoftheprojecthasbeengoingonsincethebeginningofthefeasibilitystudy.Theirreviewrolebecomesmoreformalasthelicens-ingprocessproceeds.Examplesofthetypesofagenciesthathavehadandwillcontinuetohaveareviewroleinclude:•OfficeofBudgetandManagement•BureauofLandManagement•U.S.Fish&WildlifeService•DepartmentofEnvironmentalConservation•DepartmentofNaturalResources•DepartmentofFish&Game•BoroughPlanningAgencies•SchoolDistricts•NativeCorporationsInthisissue,WilliamWakefield,Susit-naProjectManagerfortheFederalEnergyRegulatoryCommission,giveshisviewsontheprojectinanin-terview.Thelicensingprocessandcurrentstatusaredescribed.Engineeringandeconomicstudiestooptimizetheprojectandupdatetheestimatesofneededpowerarealsodiscussed.Environmentalprogramscontinuetoprovideinformationonfish,wildlife,riverflows,culturalresources,andotherfactorsimportantinlicensinganddesign.Pages6and7brieflydescribeeachstudyarea,whathashappenedtodate,andthestudyasitisnowunderway.TheExternalReviewPaneladvisesthePowerAuthorityontheoverallpro-ject,bringingtobearmanyyearsoftechnicalexperienceandcapability.ThePanel'smembersarepresentedonpage6.severalways,includingnegotiatedsettlementsorformaladministrativehearings.ThePowerAuthorityiscom-mittedtoaccommodatingvaliden-vironmentalconcernsatthelocallevel,withinAlaska,throughcooperativeagreementswithvariousagenciesandorganizations.Negotiatedsettlementswillallowmanyissuestoberesolvedearlyintheprocessandonthelocal/evel,withoutresortingtocostlyandlengthyhearingsinWashingtonD.C.Ifformalhearingsweretobeheld,aFERCad-minstrativelawjudgewouldprepareanopinionontheenvironmentalissuesbasedonthetestimonypresented.FERCLicenseOrderThefiveFERCCommissionerswillmaketheirdecisiononwhetherornottoissuealicensebasedonFERCstafffindingsandtheopinionoftheadministrativelawjUdge.ThemajorityoftheCommissionerswillhavetobeconvincedthattheprojectisneeded,thestructureswillbesafe,andthattheenvironmentalimpactsofcon-structionandoperationwillbeade-quatelymitigated.Theymayimposeanumberofstipulations.Forexample,issuanceofthelicensemayrequireuseofaspecifiedriverflowregimedownstreamoftheproject.Alicenseordermaybeissuedasear-lyas1985oraslateas1987.Forplan-ningpurposes,thePowerAuthorityisusing1986.Thetiminginlargepartdependsonwhetherlicensingissuescanberesolvedbynegotiations.PublicMembersofthepUblic,communitygroupsandlandownershaveactivelyparticipatedintheprojectforthreeyears.ThePowerAuthoritywillcon-tinuetoprovidealltypesofinforma-tionandencouragepubliccommentthroughtheSusitnaPublicParticipa-tionProgram.ExternalReviewPanelAten-memberExternalReviewPanelofdistinguishedexpertsisadvisingthePowerAuthorityonengineeringandenvironmentalaspectsofthepro-ject.Theirrecognizedexperiencepro-videsanobjectiveoverviewandanalternateopiniononallprojectelements.Seearticleonpage6,whichdescribeseightpanelmembers.Twomorewillbeaddedthisfall.'.'..,.~" . " "\..."."'.,'..'.~.._,'.......!...,...,"'.t'.It'.•',.••'•susitnahydroelectricprojectnewsletterIseptember1983TheSusitnaProjectToday-WhereDoesItStand?What'sAhead-theFERCLicensingProcessWhoIsInvolved?Thisnewsletter'spurposeistopro-videageneralupdateontheSusitnaProject.TheSusitnaHydroelectricProjecthaspassedseveralimportantmilestonessince1980.Atwo-yearfeasibilitystudy,conductedbyAcresAmerican,concludedthattheprojectwastechnically,environmentallyandeconomicallypractical.TheAlaskaPowerAuthorityBoardofDirectorsactedonthoseresultstorecommendinearly1982thatpreconstructionef-fortscontinueandalicenseapplica-tionbesubmittedtotheFederalEnergyRegulatoryCommission(FERC).Thatapplicationcontainedagreatdealofinformationontheengineering,environmental,andeconomicfeaturesoftheproject.ItwassubmittedtoFERConFebruary28,1983.CopiesoftheapplicationwereplacedatthattimeinpubliclibrariesthroughouttheRailbeltforpublicreview.PreliminaryreviewoftheapplicationbyFERCstaffrevealedseveralareasTheFERCprocessforreviewingthelicenseapplication,preparinganEn-vironmentallmpactStatement,anddeterminingwhetherornottograntalicenseisthemostimportantandcomplexauthorizationrequiredfortheproject.ThereareseveralmajormilestonesthatmustbemetintheFERClicensingprocess:DeterminingtheAdequacyoftheApplicationThePowerAuthoritylicenseapplica-tionwasfirstreviewedbyFERCstafftodetermineifitcontainedsufficientinformationforFERCtostartthefor-malreviewoftheproject.AdditionalinformationwasrequestedfromthePowerAuthorityinAprilandsubmit-tedinJuly.TheSusitnaapplicationwasdeterminedtobeadequateandwasacceptedonJuly29,1983.Public&AgencyCommentPeriodOncetheapplicationwasjudgedtobeadequate,publicnoticeswereplacedinlocalnewspapersandtheFederalRegistertoinvitepubliccom-mentonthelicenseapplication.Com-mentswererequestedbyOctober11,1983.Federal,State,andlocalagen-cieswereprovidedcopiesoftheap-plicationandaskedtocommentontheirareasofexpertise.FERCStaffEvaluationTheFERCstaffwillconsiderthreeareasintheirevaluation:•needforpower•projectstructures•environmentalimpactsNeedforPowerEvaluationTwoquestionsareconsideredintheevaluation:"HowmuchelectricAlaskaPowerAuthorityTheAlaskaPowerAuthorityisapubliccorporationoftheState,mandatedtodevelopnewpowersourcesforAlaska.ThePowerAuthority,astheapplicantfortheSusitnaProject,hastakentheprojectthroughthefeasi-bilitystageandsubmittalofthelicenseapplication.Iftheprojectisauthorizedandfunded,thePowerAuthoritywillalsomanageconstruc-tionandoperation.FederalEnergyRegUlatoryCommissionTheCommissionisaFederalregulatorybody,partoftheDepart-mentofEnergy,withCommissionersappointedbythePresident.TheCom-missionersmustissuealicensefortheSusitnaProjectbeforeconstruc-tioncanbegin.(Seeadjoiningarticlewheremoreinformationwasrequired.Afterreceivingthosesupplementalmaterials,FERCacceptedtheap-plicationasadequateonJuly29,1983.TheacceptanceofthelicenseapplicationtriggeredFERC'sformalreviewprocess,whichincludesdetailedevaluationsofenergyloadforecastsandengineeringanddesign,andthepreparationofadraftEnvironmentalImpactStatement(EIS).WhileFERCisscrutinizingtheprojectforthenext2or3years,thePowerAuthoritywillcontinuestudyingtheprojectanditsimpacts.TheHarza-EbascoSusitnaJointVenturehasbeenselectedastheplanninganddesigncontractor.Theircontinuingstudiesareaimedatdesigningthesafest,bestprojectfortheleastcost,andatmoreaccuratelypredictingwhattheenvironmentaleffectswillbe.Planstoreduceoreliminateimpactscanthenberefinedastheprojectmovesthroughthelicensingprocess.energyisneededintheRailbelt?,"and"IstheSusitnaProjectthebestwaytoprovideit?"Intheneedforpowerhearings,thePowerAuthoritywillberequiredtodemonstratethattheenergydemandforecastsarereasonable,bothinterms ofmethodsusedandresultsobtained.PracticalalternativestotheprojectwillalsobeassessedtosatisfytheFERCthatSusitnaisthemostattractiveproject.Thosehearingswillstartinspringof1984andthehearingrecordwillbeconsideredbytheFERCinmakinganeedforpowerdecision.ProjectStructuresEvaluationEvaluatingthesafetyofthedamsandtheengineeringsoundnessofthepro-jectisakeyFERCresponsi.bility.Thelicenseapplicationcontainsinforma-tiononthehydrologicandgeotechnicalconditionsofthesite,availabilityofconstructionmaterials,anddesignsforallpermanentprojectfacilities,includingstabilityandstressanalysisunderextremefloodsandseismicconditions.EnvironmentalImpactStatement(EIS)AnEISfortheproposedprojectisbe-ingpreparedbyArgonneandOakRidgeNationalLaboratories.Thelabs,retainedbytheFERCforthisproject,arebothFederalresearchorganizations.AfteraDraftEISisissued,resourceagenciesandthepublicwillhaveanopportunitytoreviewandcommentonit.EnvironmentalIssueResolutionEnvironmentalissuesconcerningtheSusitnaProjectcanberesolvedinandinterviewwithWilliamWakefield)Local,StateandFederalAgenciesAgencyreviewoftheprojecthasbeengoingonsincethebeginningofthefeasibilitystudy.Theirreviewrolebecomesmoreformalasthelicens-ingprocessproceeds.Examplesofthetypesofagenciesthathavehadandwillcontinuetohaveareviewroleinclude:•OfficeofBudgetandManagement•BureauofLandManagement•U.S.Fish&WildlifeService•DepartmentofEnvironmentalConservation•DepartmentofNaturalResources•DepartmentofFish&Game•BoroughPlanningAgencies•SchoolDistricts•NativeCorporationsInthisissue,WilliamWakefield,Susit-naProjectManagerfortheFederalEnergyRegulatoryCommission,giveshisviewsontheprojectinanin-terview.Thelicensingprocessandcurrentstatusaredescribed.Engineeringandeconomicstudiestooptimizetheprojectandupdatetheestimatesofneededpowerarealsodiscussed.Environmentalprogramscontinuetoprovideinformationonfish,wildlife,riverflows,culturalresources,andotherfactorsimportantinlicensinganddesign.Pages6and7brieflydescribeeachstudyarea,whathashappenedtodate,andthestudyasitisnowunderway.TheExternalReviewPaneladvisesthePowerAuthorityontheoverallpro-ject,bringingtobearmanyyearsoftechnicalexperienceandcapability.ThePanel'smembersarepresentedonpage6.severalways,includingnegotiatedsettlementsorformaladministrativehearings.ThePowerAuthorityiscom-mittedtoaccommodatingvaliden-vironmentalconcernsatthelocallevel,withinAlaska,throughcooperativeagreementswithvariousagenciesandorganizations.Negotiatedsettlementswillallowmanyissuestoberesolvedearlyintheprocessandonthelocal/evel,withoutresortingtocostlyandlengthyhearingsinWashingtonD.C.Ifformalhearingsweretobeheld,aFERCad-minstrativelawjudgewouldprepareanopinionontheenvironmentalissuesbasedonthetestimonypresented.FERCLicenseOrderThefiveFERCCommissionerswillmaketheirdecisiononwhetherornottoissuealicensebasedonFERCstafffindingsandtheopinionoftheadministrativelawjUdge.ThemajorityoftheCommissionerswillhavetobeconvincedthattheprojectisneeded,thestructureswillbesafe,andthattheenvironmentalimpactsofcon-structionandoperationwillbeade-quatelymitigated.Theymayimposeanumberofstipulations.Forexample,issuanceofthelicensemayrequireuseofaspecifiedriverflowregimedownstreamoftheproject.Alicenseordermaybeissuedasear-lyas1985oraslateas1987.Forplan-ningpurposes,thePowerAuthorityisusing1986.Thetiminginlargepartdependsonwhetherlicensingissuescanberesolvedbynegotiations.PublicMembersofthepublic,communitygroupsandlandownershaveactivelyparticipatedintheprojectforthreeyears.ThePowerAuthoritywillcon-tinuetoprovidealltypesofinforma-tionandencouragepubliccommentthroughtheSusitnaPublicParticipa-tionProgram.ExternalReviewPanelAten-memberExternalReviewPanelofdistinguishedexpertsisadvisingthePowerAuthorityonengineeringandenvironmentalaspectsofthepro-ject.Theirrecognizedexperiencepro-videsanobjectiveoverviewandanalternateopiniononallprojectelements.Seearticleonpage6,whichdescribeseightpanelmembers.Twomorewillbeaddedthisfall. susitnahydroelectricprojectnewsletter/september19833InterviewwithWilliamWakefield,SusitnaProjectManagerfortheFederalEnergyRegulatoryCommiSSiont:..theCommissionhasestablishedaprojectmanagerandaprojectmanagementscheduletotrackSusitnaspecifically."Question:WhatistheFederalEnergyRegulatoryCommission(FERC)?Wakefield:TheCommission,underthepurviewoftheDepartmentofEnergy,istheFederalregulatoryagencythatischargedwiththeregulationofnaturalgasandelec-tricalenergyintheUnitedStates.Thisre-gulatoryresponSibilityrncludesbothcostofenergy,suchaselectricalratesandnaturalgasdrilling,andconstructionofmajorpipelineandelectricalgeneratingprojects,suchashydroelectricprojects.TheCommis-sionisdirectedbyfiveCommis-sionersandisorganizedintoofficesthattakecareofspecificregulatoryfunctions.Question:WhydoesFERCneedtoreviewaprojectbeingdevelopedandfinancedentirelybytheStateofAlaska?Wakefield:ItismandatedbytheFederalPowerAct.ThebasisoftheFERCjurisdictionisthenavigabilityofwaterwaysandtheuseofFederalland.OneachofthesetwopointstheSusitnaProjectwouldcomeundertheCommission'sregulatorycontrol,inthattheSusitnaRivermaybedeter-minedtobenavigableandthereisaportionthattheprojecttouchesthatdoesutilizeFederallands.Question:HastheCommissionreviewedaprojectaslargeasthepro-posedSusitnaProjectrecently?Wakefield:No.Thelargestconven-tionalhydropowerprojecttheCom-missionhasreviewedrecentlywasaprojectinMississippi,around192megawatts.ThelargestprojectbycapacityhasbeenapumpedstorageprojectinBathCounty,Virginia,about2,100megawatts,in1975-1976.Question:HowfamiliarisFERCwiththeSusitnaProject?Wakefield:Weareveryfamiliarwithit.ForthepasttwoyearswehavebeenadvisingthePowerAuthorityastoourregulationsandwhatisre-quiredtofileanapplication,par-ticularlyforaprojectthesizeofSusitna.InOctober1982,therewasaspecialprojectteamformedwithintheCom-missiontoreviewthepre-filingap-plicationwhichwasfiledontheeleventhofNovember.Fortwomonths,wereviewedthepre-filingap-plicationandsenttotheAlaskaPowerAuthorityalistofadditionalrequiredinformation.TheofficiallicenseapplicationwasfiledonFebruary28,1983.WethenrequestedadditionalinformationfromthePowerAuthorityonApril12,allow-ing90daysforresponse.Theaddi-tionalinformationwassubmittedonJuly11andweacceptedthelicenseforfilingonJuly29.Nowthattheap-plicationhasbeenofficiallyfiledandaccepted,wearereviewingthepro-jectindetail.Question:YoustatedthataspecialteamwasformedwithinFERCtohandleSusitna.Isthisthewaythingsareusuallydoneoristhisanewprocedure?Wakefield:Weonlydothisonverylargeprojectssuchas,inAlaska,withtheANGTSproject(theAlaskaNaturalGasTransportationSystem).Susitnaisbyfarthelargestconven-tionalhydroelectricprojectthatwe'veundertakenandthemostcostlyandcomplexprojectofthisnaTure.Asaresult,theCommissionhasestablishedaprojectmanagerandaprojectmanagementscheduletotrackSusitnaspecifically.Question:Whataspectsofthepro-jectwillFERCreview?Wakefield:Wereviewtheen-vironmental,engineering,andeconomicaspects.Wetrytoansweranumberofquestions:doesitmeettheNationalEnvironmentalPolicyAct(NEPA)requirements;isitsafe,sound,andadequateasfarastheengineeringstructuresareconcerned;andistheprojecteconomicallyfeasible?Question:Willanenvironmentalim-pactstatementbeprepared?Ifso,whowillberesponsibleforpreparingit?Wakefield:Yes,aprojectofthisnaturecertainlywarrantsanen-vironmentalimpactstatement(EIS).Whentheapplicationwasfoundtobeacceptable,theanalysisandworkontheEISstarted.ItistheresponsibilityoftheFederalEnergyRegulatoryCommissiontopreparethatstate-ment.Itisinitiallypreparedindraftform,calledaDraftEIS.ItisnotedintheFederalRegister,andpeoplehaveaperiodoftimeinwhichtocomment.Afterallthosecommentsarecon-sidered,afinalimpactstatementwillbeissued.Question:WilltheCommissionstaffpreparetheEIS?Wakefield:TwonationallabshavebeenhiredtoassistinpreparationoftheEIS.TheyaretheArgonneNationalLaboratorynearChicago,Illinois,andtheOakRidgeNationalLaboratoryinOakRidge,Tennessee.Theirexpertsarepreparingthema-jorityofenvironmentalportionsoftheimpactstatement.Theengineering,needforpower,andeconomicportionsarebeinganalyzedbyCommissionstaff.Question:HaveFERCpersonnelvisitedAlaska?Wakefield:Yes.ThereweremeetingsinMayinAnchorage,Talkeetna,Cantwell,andFairbanksforagencyscopingsessionsinthemorningandpublichearingsintheevenings.TherewasalsoasitevisitinAugustbyFERCengineering,economic,andenvironmentalpersonnel.Question:DidthehearingsgiveFERCachancetoseehowthepeo-pleintheRailbeltfeelabouttheproject?Wakefield:Oneofthemainpurposesofholdingthosepublichearingswastotestthepublicreactiontotheproject.Question:Didyoulearnanythingnewonthesitevisits?Wakefield:IthinkthatalltheFERCpersonnelandthepeoplefromthelabsgainedagreaterappreciationoftheuniqueenvironmentalandengineeringaspectsoftheSusitnaProject.Wewereallabletovisittheprojectsites,thelowerSusitnaRiver,andtheupperbasin..BeinginthefieldwithmembersofthePowerAuthoritystaffandtheirconsultantsallowedustoseefirsthandmanyoftheprojectfeaturesthatwehadreadabout.Question:WhopaysfortheFERCstafftimeinAlaska?Wakefield:ItcomesoutofourbudgetasprovidedbytheUnitedStatesCongress.Question:HowdotheFERCCom-missionersmakethefinaldecisiononwhetherornottograntalicensetoconstruct?Wakefield:Theybaseitonwhethertheprojectisenvironmentallysound,soundfromanengineeringstand-point,andeconomicallyfeasible.TheCommissionersdecideandthemajorityrules;threeofthefiveisenoughforissuanceofalicense.Question:CanFERCrequiretheStatetodocertainthingsinconstruc-tingtheproject?Wakefield:Yes,particularlyinthecourseofsoundengineeringpractices.Ifthereareengineeringpracticesthatourexpertshavedeter-minedhavebeenaddressed,butperhapsnottothefullscope,wewillconditionthelicensetoassurethatsoundengineeringpracticesarefollowed.Generallyeachlicensethatisissuedhassomelicensearticlethatrequiresadditionalstudyorrequiresmitigationforsomethingthathadnotbeenfullyconsidered.Question:SoFERCcanalsorequirespecificmitigationmeasuresfordirectprojectimpacts.Wakefield:Yes,that'scorrect.Question:CanFERCpreventtheprojectfrombeingbuilt?Wakefield:Again,iftheprojectisnotenvironmentallysound,orifitisnotsafe,orif itisnoteconomicallyfeasi-ble,theCommissionwillnotissuealicense.Withoutthelicense,thepro-jectcannotbeconstructed.Question:HowcanpeopleexpresstheiropinionsontheprojecttoFERC?Wakefield:Duringthepublicnoticeperiod,noticeoftheprojectappearedintheAlaskanpapersandtheFederalRegister,andpeoplehadanoppor-tunitytomaketheircommentsorquestionsknowntotheCommission.Harza-EbascoSusitnaJointVentureThejoint-venturefirmofHarzaEngineeringCompanyandEbascoServices,Incorporated(Harza-Ebasco)wasselectedastheplanninganddesigncontractorfortheWatanaportionoftheSusitnaProject.TheHarza-EbascoteamwilldesigntheWatanadamandpowerfacilities,aswellascontinueenvironmentalinvestigationsandlicensingsupportfortheentireproject.WorkingfromanAnchorageoffice,theprojectteamin-cludesseveralAlaskanorganizations:•R&MConsultants•AlaskaDepartmentofFish&Game•AEIDC•UniversityofAlaska,Palmer•UniversityofAlaskaMuseum•UniversityofAlaska,ISER•FrankMoolin&Associates•CIRI/Holmes&Narver•AirLogistics•WoodyTrihey,Consultant•DenaliDrillingAdditionalAlaskanfirmswillbeincludedintheteamwhendesignofthesupportingfacilitiesbegins.BothHarzaandEbascohaveworld-wideexperienceindesigningandconstructinglargehydropowerprojects.Harzahasbeeninvolvedinthe10,00megawattGuriProjectinVenezuela,theworld'ssecondlargesthydroelectricproject.EbascowascitedbytheAmericanSocietyofCivilEngineersforthe"OutstandingCivilEngineeringAchievementoftheYear,1973"fortheirworkonthe1900megawattLudingtonPumpedStorageProjectinMichigan.Bothfirmsalsohaverecenthydroelectricex-perienceinAlaska.HarzahasconductedfeasibilitystudiesfortheBlackBearLakeandChesterLakeprojectsinSoutheastAlaska.Ebascoisser-vingasconstructionmanagerfortheTerrorLakeProjectonKodiakIsland,andhasconductedfeasibilityandreconnaissancestudiesandin-dependentcostestimatesonseveralotherPowerAuthorityprojects.susitnahydroelectricprojectnewsletter/september19833InterviewwithWilliamWakefield,SusitnaProjectManagerfortheFederalEnergyRegulatoryCommiSSiont:..theCommissionhasestablishedaprojectmanagerandaprojectmanagementscheduletotrackSusitnaspecifically."Question:WhatistheFederalEnergyRegulatoryCommission(FERC)?Wakefield:TheCommission,underthepurviewoftheDepartmentofEnergy,istheFederalregulatoryagencythatischargedwiththeregulationofnaturalgasandelec-tricalenergyintheUnitedStates.Thisre-gulatoryresponSibilityrncludesbothcostofenergy,suchaselectricalratesandnaturalgasdrilling,andconstructionofmajorpipelineandelectricalgeneratingprojects,suchashydroelectricprojects.TheCommis-sionisdirectedbyfiveCommis-sionersandisorganizedintoofficesthattakecareofspecificregulatoryfunctions.Question:WhydoesFERCneedtoreviewaprojectbeingdevelopedandfinancedentirelybytheStateofAlaska?Wakefield:ItismandatedbytheFederalPowerAct.ThebasisoftheFERCjurisdictionisthenavigabilityofwaterwaysandtheuseofFederalland.OneachofthesetwopointstheSusitnaProjectwouldcomeundertheCommission'sregulatorycontrol,inthattheSusitnaRivermaybedeter-minedtobenavigableandthereisaportionthattheprojecttouchesthatdoesutilizeFederallands.Question:HastheCommissionreviewedaprojectaslargeasthepro-posedSusitnaProjectrecently?Wakefield:No.Thelargestconven-tionalhydropowerprojecttheCom-missionhasreviewedrecentlywasaprojectinMississippi,around192megawatts.ThelargestprojectbycapacityhasbeenapumpedstorageprojectinBathCounty,Virginia,about2,100megawatts,in1975-1976.Question:HowfamiliarisFERCwiththeSusitnaProject?Wakefield:Weareveryfamiliarwithit.ForthepasttwoyearswehavebeenadvisingthePowerAuthorityastoourregulationsandwhatisre-quiredtofileanapplication,par-ticularlyforaprojectthesizeofSusitna.InOctober1982,therewasaspecialprojectteamformedwithintheCom-missiontoreviewthepre-filingap-plicationwhichwasfiledontheeleventhofNovember.Fortwomonths,wereviewedthepre-filingap-plicationandsenttotheAlaskaPowerAuthorityalistofadditionalrequiredinformation.TheofficiallicenseapplicationwasfiledonFebruary28,1983.WethenrequestedadditionalinformationfromthePowerAuthorityonApril12,allow-ing90daysforresponse.Theaddi-tionalinformationwassubmittedonJuly11andweacceptedthelicenseforfilingonJuly29.Nowthattheap-plicationhasbeenofficiallyfiledandaccepted,wearereviewingthepro-jectindetail.Question:YoustatedthataspecialteamwasformedwithinFERCtohandleSusitna.Isthisthewaythingsareusuallydoneoristhisanewprocedure?Wakefield:Weonlydothisonverylargeprojectssuchas,inAlaska,withtheANGTSproject(theAlaskaNaturalGasTransportationSystem).Susitnaisbyfarthelargestconven-tionalhydroelectricprojectthatwe'veundertakenandthemostcostlyandcomplexprojectofthisnaTure.Asaresult,theCommissionhasestablishedaprojectmanagerandaprojectmanagementscheduletotrackSusitnaspecifically.Question:Whataspectsofthepro-jectwillFERCreview?Wakefield:Wereviewtheen-vironmental,engineering,andeconomicaspects.Wetrytoansweranumberofquestions:doesitmeettheNationalEnvironmentalPolicyAct(NEPA)requirements;isitsafe,sound,andadequateasfarastheengineeringstructuresareconcerned;andistheprojecteconomicallyfeasible?Question:Willanenvironmentalim-pactstatementbeprepared?Ifso,whowillberesponsibleforpreparingit?Wakefield:Yes,aprojectofthisnaturecertainlywarrantsanen-vironmentalimpactstatement(EIS).Whentheapplicationwasfoundtobeacceptable,theanalysisandworkontheEISstarted.ItistheresponsibilityoftheFederalEnergyRegulatoryCommissiontopreparethatstate-ment.Itisinitiallypreparedindraftform,calledaDraftEIS.ItisnotedintheFederalRegister,andpeoplehaveaperiodoftimeinwhichtocomment.Afterallthosecommentsarecon-sidered,afinalimpactstatementwillbeissued.Question:WilltheCommissionstaffpreparetheEIS?Wakefield:TwonationallabshavebeenhiredtoassistinpreparationoftheEIS.TheyaretheArgonneNationalLaboratorynearChicago,Illinois,andtheOakRidgeNationalLaboratoryinOakRidge,Tennessee.Theirexpertsarepreparingthema-jorityofenvironmentalportionsoftheimpactstatement.Theengineering,needforpower,andeconomicportionsarebeinganalyzedbyCommissionstaff.Question:HaveFERCpersonnelvisitedAlaska?Wakefield:Yes.ThereweremeetingsinMayinAnchorage,Talkeetna,Cantwell,andFairbanksforagencyscopingsessionsinthemorningandpublichearingsintheevenings.TherewasalsoasitevisitinAugustbyFERCengineering,economic,andenvironmentalpersonnel.Question:DidthehearingsgiveFERCachancetoseehowthepeo-pleintheRailbeltfeelabouttheproject?Wakefield:Oneofthemainpurposesofholdingthosepublichearingswastotestthepublicreactiontotheproject.Question:Didyoulearnanythingnewonthesitevisits?Wakefield:IthinkthatalltheFERCpersonnelandthepeoplefromthelabsgainedagreaterappreciationoftheuniqueenvironmentalandengineeringaspectsoftheSusitnaProject.Wewereallabletovisittheprojectsites,thelowerSusitnaRiver,andtheupperbasin..BeinginthefieldwithmembersofthePowerAuthoritystaffandtheirconsultantsallowedustoseefirsthandmanyoftheprojectfeaturesthatwehadreadabout.Question:WhopaysfortheFERCstafftimeinAlaska?Wakefield:ItcomesoutofourbudgetasprovidedbytheUnitedStatesCongress.Question:HowdotheFERCCom-missionersmakethefinaldecisiononwhetherornottograntalicensetoconstruct?Wakefield:Theybaseitonwhethertheprojectisenvironmentallysound,soundfromanengineeringstand-point,andeconomicallyfeasible.TheCommissionersdecideandthemajorityrules;threeofthefiveisenoughforissuanceofalicense.Question:CanFERCrequiretheStatetodocertainthingsinconstruc-tingtheproject?Wakefield:Yes,particularlyinthecourseofsoundengineeringpractices.Ifthereareengineeringpracticesthatourexpertshavedeter-minedhavebeenaddressed,butperhapsnottothefullscope,wewillconditionthelicensetoassurethatsoundengineeringpracticesarefollowed.Generallyeachlicensethatisissuedhassomelicensearticlethatrequiresadditionalstudyorrequiresmitigationforsomethingthathadnotbeenfullyconsidered.Question:SoFERCcanalsorequirespecificmitigationmeasuresfordirectprojectimpacts.Wakefield:Yes,that'scorrect.Question:CanFERCpreventtheprojectfrombeingbuilt?Wakefield:Again,iftheprojectisnotenvironmentallysound,orifitisnotsafe,orif itisnoteconomicallyfeasi-ble,theCommissionwillnotissuealicense.Withoutthelicense,thepro-jectcannotbeconstructed.Question:HowcanpeopleexpresstheiropinionsontheprojecttoFERC?Wakefield:Duringthepublicnoticeperiod,noticeoftheprojectappearedintheAlaskanpapersandtheFederalRegister,andpeoplehadanoppor-tunitytomaketheircommentsorquestionsknowntotheCommission.Harza-EbascoSusitnaJointVentureThejoint-venturefirmofHarzaEngineeringCompanyandEbascoServices,Incorporated(Harza-Ebasco)wasselectedastheplanninganddesigncontractorfortheWatanaportionoftheSusitnaProject.TheHarza-EbascoteamwilldesigntheWatanadamandpowerfacilities,aswellascontinueenvironmentalinvestigationsandlicensingsupportfortheentireproject.WorkingfromanAnchorageoffice,theprojectteamin-cludesseveralAlaskanorganizations:•R&MConsultants•AlaskaDepartmentofFish&Game•AEIDC•UniversityofAlaska,Palmer•UniversityofAlaskaMuseum•UniversityofAlaska,ISER•FrankMoolin&Associates•CIRI/Holmes&Narver•AirLogistics•WoodyTrihey,Consultant•DenaliDrillingAdditionalAlaskanfirmswillbeincludedintheteamwhendesignofthesupportingfacilitiesbegins.BothHarzaandEbascohaveworld-wideexperienceindesigningandconstructinglargehydropowerprojects.Harzahasbeeninvolvedinthe10,00megawattGuriProjectinVenezuela,theworld'ssecondlargesthydroelectricproject.EbascowascitedbytheAmericanSocietyofCivilEngineersforthe"OutstandingCivilEngineeringAchievementoftheYear,1973"fortheirworkonthe1900megawattLudingtonPumpedStorageProjectinMichigan.Bothfirmsalsohaverecenthydroelectricex-perienceinAlaska.HarzahasconductedfeasibilitystudiesfortheBlackBearLakeandChesterLakeprojectsinSoutheastAlaska.Ebascoisser-vingasconstructionmanagerfortheTerrorLakeProjectonKodiakIsland,andhasconductedfeasibilityandreconnaissancestudiesandin-dependentcostestimatesonseveralotherPowerAuthorityprojects. 4susitnahydroelectricprojectnewsletterIseptember1983•Reevaluatingthedemandandloadgrowthforecasts.•ReviewingtheSusitnaProjecttoop-timizethesize,costs,design,andconstructionschedule.•UpdatingthethermalalternativestoSusitna(coalandnaturalgasfiredgeneration)basedoncurrentinforma-tiononfuelavailabilityandcost.•ComparingtheoptimizedSusitnaProjectwiththeupdatedthermalalternatives.•Analyzingvariousmethodsoffinan-cingtheproject.SeveralpreviousassumptionsaboutfutureeconomiceventsinAlaskahavebeendeletedfromtheupdatein-cluding:constructionofthePacificLNGplantandconstructionofarefineryatValdez.Theseassump-tions,inadditiontotheassumptionsaboutworldoilprices,wererevisedtomoreclearlyreflecttoday'ssituation.accceptedthelicenseapplicationonJuly29,1983.ThenextstepintheneedforpowerrevisionisacompleteupdateoftheelectricalenergyforecastsfortheRailbeltandthecom-parisonoftheSusitnaProjectcon-ceptwiththoseforecasts.Theupdatewillinclude:changesineconomicindicatorsandwantedtobeinapositiontotakead-vantageofchangesintheAlaskaneconomy.Theiractionwastakenwiththeunderstandingthatanupdateoftheprojectbasedonchangesinoilrevenueswouldbecompletedlater.InNovember1982,thePowerAuthori-tyselectedtheHarza-EbascoSusitnaJointVentureasthedesignconsul-tantfortheWatanaphaseoftheSusit-naProject.InJanuary1983,thePowerAuthoritydirectedthatanup-datedstudyofRailbeltelectricalenergyneedsbemadebasedonthedeclineinworldoilpricesandchangesinsomeoftheassumptionsmadeaboutthefutureofAlaska'seconomy.Asworkbeganonanup-date,FERCmadeitsinitialreviewoftheSusitnalicenseapplication.TheyrequestedinformationontheeffectofthedownturninoilpricesonthefutureenergyneedsoftheRailbeltandonthecomputermodelsusedtoforecastfutureenergyneeds.Thefirststepintheprocessofrevis-ingtheSusitnaneedforpowerforecastswasrespondingtothere-questfromFERCforadditionalinfor-mation.Thisinformationwassubmit-tedonJuly11andFERCofficiallyThekeytotheeconomicfeasibilityoftheSusitnaProjectisthelong-termworldoilprice.Worldoilpricesdirect-lyaffectAlaska'seconomyand,con-sequently,forecastsofpopulationgrowth,energydemand,cost,andstaterevenuearesensitivetochangesinoil prices.WhentheAlaskaPowerAuthoritybegantheSusitnafeasibilitystudyin1980,worldoilpriceswereonanup-wardtrend.OilpriceforecastsmadebyBattellePacificNorthwestLaboratoriesusinginformationfromtheAlaskaDepartmentofRevenuewereusedinforecastingfuturelevelsofAlaskapopulationandenergyde-mand.TheseforecastsweredoneaspartofthestudyofalternativestotheSusitnaProject.Battelle'sforecastswerethenusedintheSusitnafeasibilitystudy.ThefeasibilitystudywascompletedinMarch1982andapprovedbytheAlaskaPowerAuthorityBoardofDirectorsinlateApril.Alicenseap-plicationbasedonthefeasibilitystudywassubmittedtotheFederalEnergyRegulatoryCommission(FERC)inFebruary1983.InmakingtheirdecisiontosubmittheFERCap-plication,theBoardwassensitivetoCookInletnaturalgascurrentlyfuelselectricenergygenerationinalargepartoftheRailbelt.ProjectUpdateResultsinReviseEnergyForecastsRevisedunderground,modifyingthepowerintakestructuresandconduits,andreducingcostsbysealingthereservoirupstreamofthedam.ModificationoftheDevilCanyonpro-jectcouldincludechangesinthetailracetunneldownstreamfromthedam.Thesechangescouldresultinadditionalcostsavingsofupto$250million.Inadditiontothesepotentialdesignrefinements,reducedeconomicpro-jectionshaveresultedinothermodificationstotheprojectthatarebeingfurtherevaluated.TheprimaryonewouldbeloweringtheheightoftheWatanadam,withaccompanyingreductionsingenerationandtransmissionsystemrequirements.Thiswouldbringprojectenergyproductionmorecloselyinlinewithcurrentestimatesofneedforpower.Theserefinementscouldalsoreducethecostoftheprojectbyanestimated$700millionandcontributetoafurtherreductioninenvironmentalimpactsbecauseofreducedreservoirsize.Onlytherefinementslistedontheleftarerecommendedatthistime.Anyfurthurrefinementswillbediscussedindetailinthenextnewsletter.1000I I I I I I Ir-.~~5000I I II~...~~- I IzoI-a.:::iE::::>enzo30001""""=I I I I I Io>-CJc:wzwtheWatanadamby3.5millioncubicyards;andchangeincompositionofthedamtomareefficientlyuseavailablematerials.•ChangeinorientationofundergroundcavernsandreductioninthenumberofpowerconduitsforthegeneratingunitsontheWatanaproject.•ModificationofmainspillwaysforbothWatanaandDevilCanyontohandleProbableMaximumFlood,thuseliminatingthefuseplugemergencyspillways.•ReducedtransmissionvoltagefromGoldCreektoEstersubstationtomeetFairbanks'loadrequirements.Harza-Ebascohasshownthatthetotalprojectcostcanbereducedbyabout$421million(or10%ofthe1983projectcostestimate)ifthese,andseveralother,refinementsareim-plemented.Theywouldnotaltereitherthegeneratingcapacityoroperationoftheproject.Severalotherdesignmodificationsarealsobeingevaluated.PotentialmodificationstotheWatanaprojectcouldincludeconstructingthepowerhouseabovegroundratherthan7000I IIIIII.,..."'".,......-----TheoverallgoaloftheupdateistodetermineiftheSusitnaProjectcon-ceptassubmittedtotheFERCisstilltheoptimumproject.Aspartoftheupdate,Harza-EbascohasmadeaconceptualdesignreviewandengineeringanalysisoftheWatanadamdesignandhasidentifiedseveralprojectrefinementswhichreflectanetcostsavings.Theserefinementsarebasedonrecentgeotechnicalin-'vestigations(seearticleatright) andmoredetailedengineeringstudies.Becausemuchoftheinformationusedinthefeasibilitystudywasquitepreliminary,extremelyconservativeengineeringandconstructionestimateswereused.Withmorecom-pleteinformation,thefollowingrefinementshavebeenidentified:•Reductionintheamountoffoundationrocktobeexcavatedfor65,iiiiii35I II II I7/I I I25I.""1:..;;>"''''-I I I I45I I II'IIIr1/I55I I I-~-II I..........cI IUJ()a:a.....JUJa:a:«CDa:UJa..wa:«...J...JooC')coOlCostSavingsfromDesignRefinements2010YEAR198319902000RAILBELTENERGYDEMANDBasedonrevisedoilpriceprojections,energydemandforecastsfortheRailbelthavealsobeenupdated.ShownhereareestimatesbyShermanClarkandAssociatesandtwoversionsfromtheAlaskaDepartmentofRevenue.1983199020002010ALTERNATIVEOILPRICEFORECASTSThisgraphshowstherangeofforecastsconsideredintheupdate,includingtheU.S.DepartmentofEnergy,DataResourcesInc.,ShermanH.Clark&Associates,andtheDepartmentofRevenue.4susitnahydroelectricprojectnewsletterIseptember1983•Reevaluatingthedemandandloadgrowthforecasts.•ReviewingtheSusitnaProjecttoop-timizethesize,costs,design,andconstructionschedule.•UpdatingthethermalalternativestoSusitna(coalandnaturalgasfiredgeneration)basedoncurrentinforma-tiononfuelavailabilityandcost.•ComparingtheoptimizedSusitnaProjectwiththeupdatedthermalalternatives.•Analyzingvariousmethodsoffinan-cingtheproject.SeveralpreviousassumptionsaboutfutureeconomiceventsinAlaskahavebeendeletedfromtheupdatein-cluding:constructionofthePacificLNGplantandconstructionofarefineryatValdez.Theseassump-tions,inadditiontotheassumptionsaboutworldoilprices,wererevisedtomoreclearlyreflecttoday'ssituation.accceptedthelicenseapplicationonJuly29,1983.ThenextstepintheneedforpowerrevisionisacompleteupdateoftheelectricalenergyforecastsfortheRailbeltandthecom-parisonoftheSusitnaProjectcon-ceptwiththoseforecasts.Theupdatewillinclude:changesineconomicindicatorsandwantedtobeinapositiontotakead-vantageofchangesintheAlaskaneconomy.Theiractionwastakenwiththeunderstandingthatanupdateoftheprojectbasedonchangesinoilrevenueswouldbecompletedlater.InNovember1982,thePowerAuthori-tyselectedtheHarza-EbascoSusitnaJointVentureasthedesignconsul-tantfortheWatanaphaseoftheSusit-naProject.InJanuary1983,thePowerAuthoritydirectedthatanup-datedstudyofRailbeltelectricalenergyneedsbemadebasedonthedeclineinworldoilpricesandchangesinsomeoftheassumptionsmadeaboutthefutureofAlaska'seconomy.Asworkbeganonanup-date,FERCmadeitsinitialreviewoftheSusitnalicenseapplication.TheyrequestedinformationontheeffectofthedownturninoilpricesonthefutureenergyneedsoftheRailbeltandonthecomputermodelsusedtoforecastfutureenergyneeds.Thefirststepintheprocessofrevis-ingtheSusitnaneedforpowerforecastswasrespondingtothere-questfromFERCforadditionalinfor-mation.Thisinformationwassubmit-tedonJuly11andFERCofficiallyThekeytotheeconomicfeasibilityoftheSusitnaProjectisthelong-termworldoilprice.Worldoilpricesdirect-lyaffectAlaska'seconomyand,con-sequently,forecastsofpopulationgrowth,energydemand,cost,andstaterevenuearesensitivetochangesinoil prices.WhentheAlaskaPowerAuthoritybegantheSusitnafeasibilitystudyin1980,worldoilpriceswereonanup-wardtrend.OilpriceforecastsmadebyBattellePacificNorthwestLaboratoriesusinginformationfromtheAlaskaDepartmentofRevenuewereusedinforecastingfuturelevelsofAlaskapopulationandenergyde-mand.TheseforecastsweredoneaspartofthestudyofalternativestotheSusitnaProject.Battelle'sforecastswerethenusedintheSusitnafeasibilitystudy.ThefeasibilitystudywascompletedinMarch1982andapprovedbytheAlaskaPowerAuthorityBoardofDirectorsinlateApril.Alicenseap-plicationbasedonthefeasibilitystudywassubmittedtotheFederalEnergyRegulatoryCommission(FERC)inFebruary1983.InmakingtheirdecisiontosubmittheFERCap-plication,theBoardwassensitivetoCookInletnaturalgascurrentlyfuelselectricenergygenerationinalargepartoftheRailbelt.ProjectUpdateResultsinReviseEnergyForecastsRevisedunderground,modifyingthepowerintakestructuresandconduits,andreducingcostsbysealingthereservoirupstreamofthedam.ModificationoftheDevilCanyonpro-jectcouldincludechangesinthetailracetunneldownstreamfromthedam.Thesechangescouldresultinadditionalcostsavingsofupto$250million.Inadditiontothesepotentialdesignrefinements,reducedeconomicpro-jectionshaveresultedinothermodificationstotheprojectthatarebeingfurtherevaluated.TheprimaryonewouldbeloweringtheheightoftheWatanadam,withaccompanyingreductionsingenerationandtransmissionsystemrequirements.Thiswouldbringprojectenergyproductionmorecloselyinlinewithcurrentestimatesofneedforpower.Theserefinementscouldalsoreducethecostoftheprojectbyanestimated$700millionandcontributetoafurtherreductioninenvironmentalimpactsbecauseofreducedreservoirsize.Onlytherefinementslistedontheleftarerecommendedatthistime.Anyfurthurrefinementswillbediscussedindetailinthenextnewsletter.10001--+------1-------1-------1-------1--------1r-.~::~5000.---+-----+-----+-----,........-~~~____:;:;;o..!!!l~:::..----_lzoI-a.:::iE::::>enzo3000I""--+-----If----+----+------l--------jo>-CJc:wzwtheWatanadamby3.5millioncubicyards;andchangeincompositionofthedamtomareefficientlyuseavailablematerials.•ChangeinorientationofundergroundcavernsandreductioninthenumberofpowerconduitsforthegeneratingunitsontheWatanaproject.•ModificationofmainspillwaysforbothWatanaandDevilCanyontohandleProbableMaximumFlood,thuseliminatingthefuseplugemergencyspillways.•ReducedtransmissionvoltagefromGoldCreektoEstersubstationtomeetFairbanks'loadrequirements.Harza-Ebascohasshownthatthetotalprojectcostcanbereducedbyabout$421million(or10%ofthe1983projectcostestimate)ifthese,andseveralother,refinementsareim-plemented.Theywouldnotaltereitherthegeneratingcapacityoroperationoftheproject.Severalotherdesignmodificationsarealsobeingevaluated.PotentialmodificationstotheWatanaprojectcouldincludeconstructingthepowerhouseabovegroundratherthan7000.------,------,------,------,------,------.-----TheoverallgoaloftheupdateistodetermineiftheSusitnaProjectcon-ceptassubmittedtotheFERCisstilltheoptimumproject.Aspartoftheupdate,Harza-EbascohasmadeaconceptualdesignreviewandengineeringanalysisoftheWatanadamdesignandhasidentifiedseveralprojectrefinementswhichreflectanetcostsavings.Theserefinementsarebasedonrecentgeotechnicalin-'vestigations(seearticleatright) andmoredetailedengineeringstudies.Becausemuchoftheinformationusedinthefeasibilitystudywasquitepreliminary,extremelyconservativeengineeringandconstructionestimateswereused.Withmorecom-pleteinformation,thefollowingrefinementshavebeenidentified:•Reductionintheamountoffoundationrocktobeexcavatedfor65r-----r-----r----r---------r-----r------.35.---+-----I~H----_+_-~-+_---f__--_l25t-~._---+--_:7'.L::-+_---+_--____j'----___j45t--t-----+-f---+t-----+----+-+..--------l55t--+----+--=--=.-=f--+_---+_="""~____jf----_lUJ()a:a.....JUJa:a:«CDa:UJa..wa:«...J...JooC')coOlCostSavingsfromDesignRefinements2010YEAR198319902000RAILBELTENERGYDEMANDBasedonrevisedoilpriceprojections,energydemandforecastsfortheRailbelthavealsobeenupdated.ShownhereareestimatesbyShermanClarkandAssociatesandtwoversionsfromtheAlaskaDepartmentofRevenue.1983199020002010ALTERNATIVEOILPRICEFORECASTSThisgraphshowstherangeofforecastsconsideredintheupdate,includingtheU.S.DepartmentofEnergy,DataResourcesInc.,ShermanH.Clark&Associates,andtheDepartmentofRevenue. susitnahydroelectricprojectnewsletterIseptember1983ForecastsandCostSavings5;:=a..'q~""7__-·.'4JUAi"I•~<..Thewintergeotechnicalprogram useddrillingandtestingequipmentontherivericetoconfirmearlyworkandimprovedesigninformation.Drillingresultshelpengineersdesignamorecosteffectiveproject.ThisBeckerhammerdrilltestedover50locationsattheWatanasite.WinterGeotechnicalWorkProvidesBasisforCostSavingsHydrologyStudiesProvideDetailsonRiverGoodfoundationconditionsandap-propriateconstructionmaterialsarecriticalfactorsfortheconstructionofanyhydroelectricproject.ExplorationoftheSusitnaRiverBasinbeganintheearly1950s,whentheBureauofReclamationinvestigatedpotentialhydroelectricsites.Overtheyears,theBureauandtheArmyCorpsofEngineerscontinuedtomapthesur-facegeology,performseismicsurveystocharacterizeundergroundfeatures,anddrilltestholesinthepotentialdamsiteareas.WhentheAlaskaPowerAuthoritybegantheSusitnafeasibilitystudyin1980,anexpandedgeotechnicalprogramshowedthattherewerenosignificantgeologicorgeotechnicalproblemswhichcouldaffecttheprojectfeasibility.Italsoshowedthatsuitableconstructionmaterialswereavailablenearby.Inthewinterof1983,thePowerAuthoritywentbackintothefieldtofurtherevaluatetheSusitnaRiverchannel.Thewintergeotechnicalpro-gramhadseveralmainpurposes:(1)tolookattheriverbottomtodecideifthesoilsaresuitablefordamfounda-tions,(2)toprovideinformationonthesoilstobeusedindesign,(3)toestimatehowmuchmaterialwouldhavetoberemovedforconstruction,and(4)toassessthetypeandqualityofbedrockintheproposedlocationsofthedamfoundations.Workinginthewinterallowedthegeotechnicalteamtosetupdrillingandseismicequipmentontherivericeandonstablegroundnearby.ThistestingequipmenthelpeddevelopaItisimportanUol<n®thowthepro-poseddamswillaffectriverflows,howthereservoirswillfunction,andwhattheeffectswillbeontheriver,sidechannels,andsloughsdownstream.Dams,accompanyingstructures,andtheiroperationwillbedesignedinparallelwithongoinganalysisofpotentialeffectsonfisheries,wildlife,andvegetation.Toaddtoearlierhydrologicinformation,thisyear'spro-gramcontinuesthefocusontheseanalyticalactivities:•Simulatingreservoirwaterlevelchangesandenergybenefitsduetowaterreleasesundervariousoperatingplans.•Predictingreservoirwatertempera-turepatternsandiceconditions.baseofinformationonthecriticalgeotechnicalconditionsthatunderlietheprojectarea.Forexample,averylargehammerdrillwasusedtodrill53holes,andground-penetratingradarprovidedanundergroundprofileofwheresoilandrockcameincontact.Thewinterprogramconfirmedearlierworkandprovidedmuchimprovedin-formationwhichisallowingdesignerstoincorporatesomecost-savingrefinements.Forexample,informationisnowavailabletobetterassessthe•Simulating,throughcomputermodels,thedownstreamriverhydraulics,temperatures,andiceconditions.•Analyzingsedimentconcentrationsandvolumeswhichwillflowintoandoutofthereservoirandhowtheywillbedistributed.•Predictingpotentialproblemsofsedimentseitherbuildinguporerodingdownstreamfromthereservoir.•Estimatingeffectsofdifferentwaterreleasesonthehydraulicandground-watercharacteristicsofsloughsandsidechannelsdownstreamfromthedams.•Refiningestimatesofthelargestprobableflood(ProbableMaximumsuitabilityoftheriverbottomdepositsasafoundationforthedamembank-ment.Thisnewinformationindicatesthatmoreriverchanneldepositsmaybeleftinplacethanwasoriginallyplanned.Buildingonthesedepositsinsomelocationscansavebothtimeandmoneyfortheproject.Rockex-cavationunderthedamcoremaybereducedfromearlierplanssincethequalityofthebedrockisbetterthanearlierassumed.Flood)andothersignificantflood!>foruseindesigningthedamsandotherprojectfeatures.Allofthisinformationwillbeusedinbothengineeringandenvironmentalstudiesandwillbeespeciallyusefulinenvironmentalmitigationplanning.susitnahydroelectricprojectnewsletterIseptember1983ForecastsandCostSavings5Thewintergeotechnicalprogram useddrillingandtestingequipmentontherivericetoconfirmearlyworkandimprovedesigninformation.Drillingresultshelpengineersdesignamorecosteffectiveproject.ThisBeckerhammerdrilltestedover50locationsattheWatanasite.WinterGeotechnicalWorkProvidesBasisforCostSavingsHydrologyStudiesProvideDetailsonRiverGoodfoundationconditionsandap-propriateconstructionmaterialsarecriticalfactorsfortheconstructionofanyhydroelectricproject.ExplorationoftheSusitnaRiverBasinbeganintheearly1950s,whentheBureauofReclamationinvestigatedpotentialhydroelectricsites.Overtheyears,theBureauandtheArmyCorpsofEngineerscontinuedtomapthesur-facegeology,performseismicsurveystocharacterizeundergroundfeatures,anddrilltestholesinthepotentialdamsiteareas.WhentheAlaskaPowerAuthoritybegantheSusitnafeasibilitystudyin1980,anexpandedgeotechnicalprogramshowedthattherewerenosignificantgeologicorgeotechnicalproblemswhichcouldaffecttheprojectfeasibility.Italsoshowedthatsuitableconstructionmaterialswereavailablenearby.Inthewinterof1983,thePowerAuthoritywentbackintothefieldtofurtherevaluatetheSusitnaRiverchannel.Thewintergeotechnicalpro-gramhadseveralmainpurposes:(1)tolookattheriverbottomtodecideifthesoilsaresuitablefordamfounda-tions,(2)toprovideinformationonthesoilstobeusedindesign,(3)toestimatehowmuchmaterialwouldhavetoberemovedforconstruction,and(4)toassessthetypeandqualityofbedrockintheproposedlocationsofthedamfoundations.Workinginthewinterallowedthegeotechnicalteamtosetupdrillingandseismicequipmentontherivericeandonstablegroundnearby.ThistestingequipmenthelpeddevelopaItisimportanUol<n®thowthepro-poseddamswillaffectriverflows,howthereservoirswillfunction,andwhattheeffectswillbeontheriver,sidechannels,andsloughsdownstream.Dams,accompanyingstructures,andtheiroperationwillbedesignedinparallelwithongoinganalysisofpotentialeffectsonfisheries,wildlife,andvegetation.Toaddtoearlierhydrologicinformation,thisyear'spro-gramcontinuesthefocusontheseanalyticalactivities:•Simulatingreservoirwaterlevelchangesandenergybenefitsduetowaterreleasesundervariousoperatingplans.•Predictingreservoirwatertempera-turepatternsandiceconditions.baseofinformationonthecriticalgeotechnicalconditionsthatunderlietheprojectarea.Forexample,averylargehammerdrillwasusedtodrill53holes,andground-penetratingradarprovidedanundergroundprofileofwheresoilandrockcameincontact.Thewinterprogramconfirmedearlierworkandprovidedmuchimprovedin-formationwhichisallowingdesignerstoincorporatesomecost-savingrefinements.Forexample,informationisnowavailabletobetterassessthe•Simulating,throughcomputermodels,thedownstreamriverhydraulics,temperatures,andiceconditions.•Analyzingsedimentconcentrationsandvolumeswhichwillflowintoandoutofthereservoirandhowtheywillbedistributed.•Predictingpotentialproblemsofsedimentseitherbuildinguporerodingdownstreamfromthereservoir.•Estimatingeffectsofdifferentwaterreleasesonthehydraulicandground-watercharacteristicsofsloughsandsidechannelsdownstreamfromthedams.•Refiningestimatesofthelargestprobableflood(ProbableMaximumsuitabilityoftheriverbottomdepositsasafoundationforthedamembank-ment.Thisnewinformationindicatesthatmoreriverchanneldepositsmaybeleftinplacethanwasoriginallyplanned.Buildingonthesedepositsinsomelocationscansavebothtimeandmoneyfortheproject.Rockex-cavationunderthedamcoremaybereducedfromearlierplanssincethequalityofthebedrockisbetterthanearlierassumed.Flood)andothersignificantflood!>foruseindesigningthedamsandotherprojectfeatures.Allofthisinformationwillbeusedinbothengineeringandenvironmentalstudiesandwillbeespeciallyusefulinenvironmentalmitigationplanning. 6susitnahydroelectricprojectnewsletterIseptember1983EnvironmentalProgramstoContinueThrou~hLicensing>Wildlifestudiesincludewolves,shownatleft,andinvolveevaluationofbeardenninghabits.An"inside-out"shotofabeardenisshownbelow,andthebearontherightisbeingmeasuredformonitoring.EffortstocharacterizetheSusitnaRiverBasinandtopredictprojecteffectsarecontinuingthisyear.Areasofcurrentstudyaresummarizedbelow.Archeologistsarestudyingbothhistoricandprehistoricsites.Shownisacabininthestudyarea.SocioeconomicImpactAssessmentFisheriesProgramExternalReviewPanelAdvisesPowerAuthorityHowwilltheSusitnaProjectchangetheRailbelt?Thelocalcommunities?TherestoftheState?Impactsonpeo-plefromconstructionandoperationoftheSusitnaProjecthavebeenandcontinuetobecarefullyevaluated.TheJune1982newsletterfocusedonwhatthepotentialchangeswillbeintheprojectarea,includingeffectsonhousing,population,employmentandincome,schools,transportation,com-munityfacilitiesandservices,andat-titudes.Thesocioeconomicimpactassessmenthasprojectedthepopulationgrowthforpotentiallyaf-fectedcommunitiesintheMat-SuBorough,withoutSusitna,andthencalculatedwhatthechangesmightbeineachcommunitywiththeproject.Forexample,predictionswerethatMaintainingorenhancingtheaquaticproductivityoftheSusitnaRiverisakeyobjectiveinprojectplanning.Thefisheriesprogrambeganduringthefeasibilitystudyandhasevolvedintooneofthemostcomprehensiveaquaticstudiesprogramsevercon-ductedinAlaska.TheAlaskaDepart-mentofFishandGame'sSu-HydroStudiesTeamstartedtheircharacterizationstudiesin1981.thatworkledtodetailedinstreamflowstudieswhichexaminetheeffectsofvariousriverflowsonfishhabitats.Resultswillbecoupledwiththeresultsofhydraulic,temperature,TheExternalReviewPanelplaysakeyroleinadvisingtheAlaskaPowerAuthority.Asisoftenthe caseinmajorprojectssuchasthisone,anexternalpanelofexpertscanprovideanobjec-tive,overallreviewofallelementsoftheprojectfromoutsidetheorganiza-tiontoensurethequalityoftheproject'sresults.Asplanningandfeasibilitystudiesbegan,theExternalReviewPanelwasformedtoreviewthatphase.Nowthattheprojecthasmovedintothedesignphase,severalnewmembershavebeenaddedwithappropriateexpertise.Thecurrentmembershipisdescribedbelow.Membersbringtotheprojectawiderangeofrelevantexperience.Mr.RobertA.Boyd,aCanadianelectricalandmechanicalengineer,wasselectedbyEngineeringNewsRecordasConstruction'sManoftheYearfor1981,duetohisengineeringandmanagerialexcellenceintheover10,000megawattdevelopmentoftheapproximately810peoplewouldmoveintothecombinedTrapperCreekandTalkeetnaareasby1990asaresultoftheSusitnaProject.Predictingfutureconditionsisadif-ficulttask,andprojectionsrequireperiodicupdatingasconditionschange.TheSusitnasocioeconomicprogramwillattempttoaccomplishtwothingsthisyear.ThefirstistocollectfirsthandinformationonthecommunitiesthatwillbemostdirectlyaffectedbytheSusitnaProject.HouseholdsurveyswillbeconductedinTalkeetna,TrapperCreekandCant-wellinOctober.Surveyorswillvisithouseholdschosenatrandomtocollectinformationonhouseholdsize,employment,housingtype,serviceswaterqualityandstreambottomstudies,todeterminethepotentialef-fectsoftheprojectonthedownstreamfisheries.TheSusitnaRiverdrainagecontainshabitatsforvariouslifestagesofallfivespeciesofPacificsalmonaswellasforresidentspeciesincludingrain-bowtrout,arcticgraylingandburbot.Themainriver,tributaries,sidechan-nels,andsloughsallprovidespecificconditionsforeachofthesespecies.ChangesintheriverduetotheprojectcouldaltertheavailabilityandsUitabilityoftheexistinghabitats.LeGrandeRiverintheremotesubarc-ticJamesBayregionofQuebec.Mr.BoydhasservedaspastPresidentoftheJamesBayEnergyCorporationandHydroQuebec,aswellasCom-missionerofHydroQuebec.CurrentlyheisVicePresidentforGendronLefebvre,Inc.,andLaboratoriedeBetonltee,aswellasDirector,BankofMontreal.Mr.JamesW.Libby,anindependentengineer,hasservedonhydroelectricconsultingboardsthroughouttheworld.AsChiefDesignEngineerforInternationalEngineeringCompany,hisprojectsincludedtheFurnasHydroelectricProjectinBrazil,a12millioncubicyardrockfilldam;aswellasthe210megawattOxbowHydroelectricProjectontheSnakeRiver.SUbsequentlyhehasservedasamemberofnumerousboardsofconsultants,includingtheNelsonRiverdevelopmentinManitoba.Dr.AndrewH.Merritt,ageologist,andfacilities,huntingandfishing,andcommunityattitudes.Theresultswilladdtotheunderstandingofcondi-tionsinthecommunitiestodaysothatimpactsoftheprojectcanbemoreac-curatelyidentified.Second,estimatesofpopulationandeconomicconditionsintheMat-SuBoroughandpotentiallyaffectedcom-munitiesarebeingrevisedtoreflectchangesinstate-wideandRailbeltforecasts.TheserevisedestimateswillrepresentconditionswithouttheSusitnaProject.Withtheupdatedin-formation,acomputerizedsocio-economicimpactassessmentmodelwillbeusedtoupdateprojectedim-pacts.Thisimpactassessmentwillbeupdatedthroughouttheproject.Habitatscouldbeeitherlostorim-proved.Oncetherangeofpotentiallyadverseorbeneficialeffectsareidentified,appropriatetradeoffsandmitigationmeasurescanbeconsidered.ThestudyhasfocusedtodateonthestretchoftheriverbetweenDevilCanyonandTalkeetna.Thisyear'sstudyoftheriverbetweenTalkeetnaandCookInletisbeingexpandedtodeterminethepotentialrangeofpost-projecteffectsthroughouttheSusitnadrainage.hasbeeninvolvedinresearchin-vestigations,design,construction,andreviewofmajorhydroelectricpro-jectsinternationally.Asaconsultantinengineeringgeologyandappliedrockmechanics,Dr.Merrittservesasaspecialistintunnelsandrockmechanics,withextensivehydroelec-tricexperience.HehaswrittenseveraltechnicalpublicationsandisamemberoftheUndergroundCon-structionResearchCounciloftheAmericanSocietyofCivilEngineers.Dr.RalphB.PeckhasservedasPro-fessorEmeritusofFoundationEn-gineeringattheUniversityofIllinoissince1974.Dr.PeckwasamemberoftheCorpsofEngineer'sBoardofCon-sultantsonlandslidesinducedbythe1964Alaskaearthquake.Hehasbeenselectedasoneofthetop10U.S.ConstructionMenofthepast50yearsbytheAmericanSocietyofCivilEngineersandhasbeentherecipientoftheNationalMedalofScience.6susitnahydroelectricprojectnewsletterIseptember1983EnvironmentalProgramstoContinueThrou~hLicensing>Wildlifestudiesincludewolves,shownatleft,andinvolveevaluationofbeardenninghabits.An"inside-out"shotofabeardenisshownbelow,andthebearontherightisbeingmeasuredformonitoring.EffortstocharacterizetheSusitnaRiverBasinandtopredictprojecteffectsarecontinuingthisyear.Areasofcurrentstudyaresummarizedbelow.Archeologistsarestudyingbothhistoricandprehistoricsites.Shownisacabininthestudyarea.SocioeconomicImpactAssessmentFisheriesProgramExternalReviewPanelAdvisesPowerAuthorityHowwilltheSusitnaProjectchangetheRailbelt?Thelocalcommunities?TherestoftheState?Impactsonpeo-plefromconstructionandoperationoftheSusitnaProjecthavebeenandcontinuetobecarefullyevaluated.TheJune1982newsletterfocusedonwhatthepotentialchangeswillbeintheprojectarea,includingeffectsonhousing,population,employmentandincome,schools,transportation,com-munityfacilitiesandservices,andat-titudes.Thesocioeconomicimpactassessmenthasprojectedthepopulationgrowthforpotentiallyaf-fectedcommunitiesintheMat-SuBorough,withoutSusitna,andthencalculatedwhatthechangesmightbeineachcommunitywiththeproject.Forexample,predictionswerethatMaintainingorenhancingtheaquaticproductivityoftheSusitnaRiverisakeyobjectiveinprojectplanning.Thefisheriesprogrambeganduringthefeasibilitystudyandhasevolvedintooneofthemostcomprehensiveaquaticstudiesprogramsevercon-ductedinAlaska.TheAlaskaDepart-mentofFishandGame'sSu-HydroStudiesTeamstartedtheircharacterizationstudiesin1981.thatworkledtodetailedinstreamflowstudieswhichexaminetheeffectsofvariousriverflowsonfishhabitats.Resultswillbecoupledwiththeresultsofhydraulic,temperature,TheExternalReviewPanelplaysakeyroleinadvisingtheAlaskaPowerAuthority.Asisoftenthe caseinmajorprojectssuchasthisone,anexternalpanelofexpertscanprovideanobjec-tive,overallreviewofallelementsoftheprojectfromoutsidetheorganiza-tiontoensurethequalityoftheproject'sresults.Asplanningandfeasibilitystudiesbegan,theExternalReviewPanelwasformedtoreviewthatphase.Nowthattheprojecthasmovedintothedesignphase,severalnewmembershavebeenaddedwithappropriateexpertise.Thecurrentmembershipisdescribedbelow.Membersbringtotheprojectawiderangeofrelevantexperience.Mr.RobertA.Boyd,aCanadianelectricalandmechanicalengineer,wasselectedbyEngineeringNewsRecordasConstruction'sManoftheYearfor1981,duetohisengineeringandmanagerialexcellenceintheover10,000megawattdevelopmentoftheapproximately810peoplewouldmoveintothecombinedTrapperCreekandTalkeetnaareasby1990asaresultoftheSusitnaProject.Predictingfutureconditionsisadif-ficulttask,andprojectionsrequireperiodicupdatingasconditionschange.TheSusitnasocioeconomicprogramwillattempttoaccomplishtwothingsthisyear.ThefirstistocollectfirsthandinformationonthecommunitiesthatwillbemostdirectlyaffectedbytheSusitnaProject.HouseholdsurveyswillbeconductedinTalkeetna,TrapperCreekandCant-wellinOctober.Surveyorswillvisithouseholdschosenatrandomtocollectinformationonhouseholdsize,employment,housingtype,serviceswaterqualityandstreambottomstudies,todeterminethepotentialef-fectsoftheprojectonthedownstreamfisheries.TheSusitnaRiverdrainagecontainshabitatsforvariouslifestagesofallfivespeciesofPacificsalmonaswellasforresidentspeciesincludingrain-bowtrout,arcticgraylingandburbot.Themainriver,tributaries,sidechan-nels,andsloughsallprovidespecificconditionsforeachofthesespecies.ChangesintheriverduetotheprojectcouldaltertheavailabilityandsUitabilityoftheexistinghabitats.LeGrandeRiverintheremotesubarc-ticJamesBayregionofQuebec.Mr.BoydhasservedaspastPresidentoftheJamesBayEnergyCorporationandHydroQuebec,aswellasCom-missionerofHydroQuebec.CurrentlyheisVicePresidentforGendronLefebvre,Inc.,andLaboratoriedeBetonltee,aswellasDirector,BankofMontreal.Mr.JamesW.Libby,anindependentengineer,hasservedonhydroelectricconsultingboardsthroughouttheworld.AsChiefDesignEngineerforInternationalEngineeringCompany,hisprojectsincludedtheFurnasHydroelectricProjectinBrazil,a12millioncubicyardrockfilldam;aswellasthe210megawattOxbowHydroelectricProjectontheSnakeRiver.SUbsequentlyhehasservedasamemberofnumerousboardsofconsultants,includingtheNelsonRiverdevelopmentinManitoba.Dr.AndrewH.Merritt,ageologist,andfacilities,huntingandfishing,andcommunityattitudes.Theresultswilladdtotheunderstandingofcondi-tionsinthecommunitiestodaysothatimpactsoftheprojectcanbemoreac-curatelyidentified.Second,estimatesofpopulationandeconomicconditionsintheMat-SuBoroughandpotentiallyaffectedcom-munitiesarebeingrevisedtoreflectchangesinstate-wideandRailbeltforecasts.TheserevisedestimateswillrepresentconditionswithouttheSusitnaProject.Withtheupdatedin-formation,acomputerizedsocio-economicimpactassessmentmodelwillbeusedtoupdateprojectedim-pacts.Thisimpactassessmentwillbeupdatedthroughouttheproject.Habitatscouldbeeitherlostorim-proved.Oncetherangeofpotentiallyadverseorbeneficialeffectsareidentified,appropriatetradeoffsandmitigationmeasurescanbeconsidered.ThestudyhasfocusedtodateonthestretchoftheriverbetweenDevilCanyonandTalkeetna.Thisyear'sstudyoftheriverbetweenTalkeetnaandCookInletisbeingexpandedtodeterminethepotentialrangeofpost-projecteffectsthroughouttheSusitnadrainage.hasbeeninvolvedinresearchin-vestigations,design,construction,andreviewofmajorhydroelectricpro-jectsinternationally.Asaconsultantinengineeringgeologyandappliedrockmechanics,Dr.Merrittservesasaspecialistintunnelsandrockmechanics,withextensivehydroelec-tricexperience.HehaswrittenseveraltechnicalpublicationsandisamemberoftheUndergroundCon-structionResearchCounciloftheAmericanSocietyofCivilEngineers.Dr.RalphB.PeckhasservedasPro-fessorEmeritusofFoundationEn-gineeringattheUniversityofIllinoissince1974.Dr.PeckwasamemberoftheCorpsofEngineer'sBoardofCon-sultantsonlandslidesinducedbythe1964Alaskaearthquake.Hehasbeenselectedasoneofthetop10U.S.ConstructionMenofthepast50yearsbytheAmericanSocietyofCivilEngineersandhasbeentherecipientoftheNationalMedalofScience. • ,~,•':",',..r •..(~.'.\-1\,.,.,""• "~"."susitnahydroelectricprojectnewsletterIseptember19837CulturalResourcesProgram,,'~WildlifeStudiesTransmissionLineRoutingSurveys-ComingSoonMeetingNotificationDr.H.BoltonSeedisaspecialistinearthquake-resistantdesign.APro-fessorofCivilEngineeringattheUniversityofCalifornia,Berkeley,hehasservedaschairmano,ftheDepartmentofCivilEngineering.Dr.Seedhasbeenaconsultantonsoilmechanicsandseismicdesignsince1953,andhasworkedonover80damsworldwide,mostofwhichwereinseismicallyactiveareas.Hewasin-volvedinanalyzingthe1964Alaskaearthquake.AfteradamfailureinCaliforniaintheearly70s,Dr.SeedwrotedesignproceduresforCalifor-niatoavoidfuturedamfailures.Theseproceduresarenowusedthroughouttheworldtoproducesafeseismicdesigns.StanleyD.Wilson,P.E.,isaCon-sultingCivilEngineerandformerEx-ecutiveVice-PresidentofShannon&Wilson,Inc.Mr.Wilsonisaninterna-tionallyrecognizedauthorityonearthandrockfilldamsandservesasaIn1980,aculturalresourcesprogrambeganintheSusitnaRiverBasinaspartoftheSusitnafeasibilitystudy.ArcheologistsfromtheUniversityofAlaskaMuseumbeganidentifyingsiteswherehumanactivityhadoccur-redinhistoricandprehistorictimes.Thatfirstsummerfieldseasonfocus-edontestingtheareatoidentifypotentialsites.Nowfinishingitsfourthsummer,theUniversityofAlaskateamhascon-tinuedtoidentifyculturalsites(suchashomesites,campsites,andhuntingbasecamps)andsystematicallyTheeffectsoftheSusitnaProjectonwildlifeandtheirhabitatsareamajorfocusofcontinuedstudies.ThePowerAuthorityhassupportedintensivewildlifestudiessince1980.Togetherwithearlierworkintheprojectarea,thesestudieshavesubstantiallyexpandedtherangeofknowledgeofwildlifeandvegetationwhichallowsthedevelopmentofimpactassessmentsandmitigationplans.Continuinginvestigationsaredesignedtorefineimpactassessmentandmitigationplans,especiallyforbiggamemammals.FieldstudiescontinueonmooseTheSusitnaProjectlicenseapplica-tionshowsroutesselectedforcarry-ingSusitnaenergytousers.TransmissionlinesfromWatanaandDevilCanyonwillberunwestwardtoconnectwithandparalleltheAnchorage-FairbanksIntertie,whichwillhavecapacityaddedtohandletheadditionalSusitnapowerload.SurveyteamswillbecontactingasampleofhouseholdsinCantwell,TrapperCreekandTalkeetnainOc-tober.Informationonpopulation,housing,employmentandotherfac-torswillbecollectedforuseinplan-ningfortheSusitnaProject.Thepur-poseofthesurveysistogainamorecompleteunderstandingoftoday'sAweeklylistingofSusitnatechnicalworkingmeetingsbetweenthePowerAuthorityandresourceagen-consultantonmajorhydroelectricpro-jectsallovertheworld.Heisalsoanexpertinlaboratoryandfieldin-strumentationusedingeotechnicalengineeringandhasdevelopedtechniquesandspecialequipmentformeasurementsofearthandrockmovements.Mr.Wilsondevelopedatiltmeter,nowknownasaSlopeIndicatorinstrument,afterextensiveresearchofearthandrockmovementsunderdynamicloadsandlandslideconditions.HealsoworkedinresearchingeffectsoftheAlaskaearthquakein1964.Dr.VeraAlexanderiscurrentlyDeanoftheCollegeofEnvironmentalSciencesfortheUniversityofAlaskaatFairbanks.Additionally,shedirectstheDivisionofMarineScienceandtheInstituteofMarineScience.Herareasofexpertiseincludenutrientcyclesofaquaticsystems,primaryproductivity,arcticandsubarcticlim-nology,biologicaloceanography,andnutrientcycling,withspecialexcavateeachsite.Mostsitesarefoundwhereexpected:attractivecampingareas,highwell-drainedground,huntingtrails,andgoodview-points.Typicalevidenceofhumanac-tivityincludes"debitage,"orflakesfromformingtools,burnedfragmentsofanimalbones,andsomeflakedstonetools.Mostartifactsareverysmall,buttheirimportanceisthatdif-ferentsitescanberelatedtooneanotherbyusingfourtephras(distinctvolcanicashlayers)thatcoverthestudyarea.Allartifactshavebeencatalogedandarebeingheldinthe(bothintheprojectareaanddownstream),caribou,Dallsheep,brownandblackbears,wolves,beaver,hawksandeagles,andvegetation.Mostofthewildlifeinfor-mationisobtainedbyaerialsurveytodeterminenumbers,sexand ageclass,distribution,habitatuse,andseasonalmovements.Radiocollarshavebeenplacedonsomeanimalstoprovidebetterinformationonage,sex,andhealth.Bytrackingtheanimalsfromaircraft,detailsoftheirmovements,habitatuse,reproductivesuccess,andeventually,causeofdeath,canbeobtained.RoutesextendingfromtheIntertieendpoints(WillowandHealy)totheAnchorageandFairbanksareaswereselectedaswell.Therecommendedtransmissionlinesystemandroutesresultedfromanevaluationofnumerousalternative corridors.Re-quirementsincludedtechnicalandeconomicfeasibility,environmentalconditionsincommunitieslikelytobeaffectedbyconstructionandopera-tionoftheSusitnaProject.Representativesmaycometoyourhometointerviewanadultwholivesthere.Weappreciateyourcoopera-tionwiththeinterviewersandwillholdallreportscompletelyconfidential.cieswillbepostedatthePowerAuthorityoffices.Thatinformationwillalsobeavailablebycalling276-0001.emphasisonlowtrophiclevelbiology,nitrogenfixationinaquaticandterres-trialecosystems,anddynamicsofma-rinemarginalicezoneecosystems.Dr.RoyE.NakataniistheAssociateDirectoroftheFisheriesResearchIn-stituteattheUniversityofWashington.CurrentlyheservesasafisheriesconsultanttoCentraliaCityLight,assessinginstreamflowissuesontheNisquallyRiver.Hehaswrittennumerouspublicationsrelatedtowaterquality,bioassayandheavymetalmetabolizationinfishes.Dr.Nakatanihasservedasascientificconsultantandlecturerforen-vironmentalmanagementtoanumberofagenciesandcompaniesworkingintheenergyfieldinthePacificNorthwest.AdditionallyhehastestifiedasanexpertwitnessinFederalEnergyRegulatoryCommis-sionhearingsonfishery-hydropro-blems,aswellasconductingin-dependenttechnicalreviewofEn-vironmentallmpactStatements.UniversityofAlaskaMuseum'sSusit-nacollectioninFairbanks,althoughownershipremainswiththelandholders.ResultsofthisprogramwillallowmitigationplanningwithinFederalandStateguidelinesforculturalsitesthatwillbedirectlyaffectedbytheproject;forexample,coveredwithwaterordisturbedbyconstruction.Planningformitigationactivitieswilloccurin1984and1985.Thestudieswillhelparcheologistsinreconstruc-tingtheprehistoryandhistoryoftheSusitnaRiverBasin.ComputermodelshavebeendevelopedtopredictpotentialprojecteffectsonseveralspeciesinclUdingmoose,brownandblackbears,andbeaver.Biologistsuseinformationfromthemodelstoidentifybothadverseandbeneficialimpactsandtodeterminewhatfurtherstudiesaremostimportanttorefinemitigationplans.Examplesofmitigationtechniquesthatarebeingstudiedincludeevaluatingenhancementofmoosehabitatandtechniquesforprovidingartificialnestingsites.suitability,landavailability,andcompatibleexistinglanduses.ThePowerAuthorityisnowfurtherevaluatingandrefiningtherouteselection.CommunitymeetingswereheldinMay1983toseekpublicideasontherouting.Therefinementstudieswillbecompletedlatein1983.Weareinterestedinhearingfromyou.Pleasegiveusyourquestionsorcom-mentsonthisnewsletter,theSusitnaProject,orothertopicsyouwouldliketoreadaboutinthefuturebywriting:AlaskaPowerAuthoritySusitnaProjectOffice334W.5thAvenueAnchorage,Alaska99501Dr.A.StarkerLeopold,recentlydeceasedwas'.-~.'~...~.A"').:,l'..'..~nationally!.'','jrecognizedasazoologistandhadworkedinAlaskasince the1950s.Heco-authoredthebook"WildlifeinAlaska,"whichdiscussesecologicpro-blemsintheState(thedecreaseincaribou,theincreaseinmoose,andthebasiccausesforboth).LaterDr.Leopoldactedasanadvisoronseveralmajorpro-jectproposals:theRampartDamproposalandtheU.S.ForestServicetimbersaletoChampionInternationalinSoutheastAlaska.Hisinvolve-mentintheExternalReviewPanelhasbeeninvaluableandwillbemissed.•:-,~,..~'II..(..'.\'1,.,••,• -~•'.',susitnahydroelectricprojectnewsletterIseptember1983CulturalResourcesProgramWildlifeStudiesTransmissionLineRoutingSurveys-ComingSoonMeetingNotificationDr.H.BoltonSeedisaspecialistinearthquake-resistantdesign.APro-fessorofCivilEngineeringattheUniversityofCalifornia,Berkeley,hehasservedaschairman0.1theDepartmentofCivilEngineering.Dr.Seedhasbeenaconsultantonsoilmechanicsandseismicdesignsince1953,andhasworkedonover80damsworldwide,mostofwhichwereinseismicallyactiveareas.Hewasin-volvedinanalyzingthe1964Alaskaearthquake.AfteradamfailureinCaliforniaintheearly70s,Dr.SeedwrotedesignproceduresforCalifor-niatoavoidfuturedamfailures.Theseproceduresarenowusedthroughouttheworldtoproducesafeseismicdesigns.StanleyD.Wilson,P.E.,isaCon-sultingCivilEngineerandformerEx-ecutiveVice-PresidentofShannon&Wilson,Inc.Mr.Wilsonisaninterna-tionallyrecognizedauthorityonearthandrockfilldamsandservesasaIn1980,aculturalresourcesprogrambeganintheSusitnaRiverBasinaspartoftheSusitnafeasibilitystudy.ArcheologistsfromtheUniversityofAlaskaMuseumbeganidentifyingsiteswherehumanactivityhadoccur-redinhistoricandprehistorictimes.Thatfirstsummerfieldseasonfocus-edontestingtheareatoidentifypotentialsites.Nowfinishingitsfourthsummer,theUniversityofAlaskateamhascon-tinuedtoidentifyculturalsites(suchashomesites,campsites,andhuntingbasecamps)andsystematicallyTheeffectsoftheSusitnaProjectonwildlifeandtheirhabitatsareamajorfocusofcontinuedstudies.ThePowerAuthorityhassupportedintensivewildlifestudiessince1980.Togetherwithearlierworkintheprojectarea,thesestudieshavesubstantiallyexpandedtherangeofknowledgeofwildlifeandvegetationwhichallowsthedevelopmentofimpactassessmentsandmitigationplans.Continuinginvestigationsaredesignedtorefineimpactassessmentandmitigationplans,especiallyforbiggamemammals.FieldstudiescontinueonmooseTheSusitnaProjectlicenseapplica-tionshowsroutesselectedforcarry-ingSusitnaenergytousers.TransmissionlinesfromWatanaandDevilCanyonwillberunwestwardtoconnectwithandparalleltheAnchorage-FairbanksIntertie,whichwillhavecapacityaddedtohandletheadditionalSusitnapowerload.SurveyteamswillbecontactingasampleofhouseholdsinCantwell,TrapperCreekandTalkeetnainOc-tober.Informationonpopulation,housing,employmentandotherfac-torswillbecollectedforuseinplan-ningfortheSusitnaProject.Thepur-poseofthesurveysistogainamorecompleteunderstandingoftoday'sAweeklylistingofSusitnatechnicalworkingmeetingsbetweenthePowerAuthorityandresourceagen-consultantonmajorhydroelectricpro-jectsallovertheworld.Heisalsoanexpertinlaboratoryandfieldin-strumentationusedingeotechnicalengineeringandhasdevelopedtechniquesandspecialequipmentformeasurementsofearthandrockmovements.Mr.Wilsondevelopedatiltmeter,nowknownasaSlopeIndicatorinstrument,afterextensiveresearchofearthandrockmovementsunderdynamicloadsandlandslideconditions.HealsoworkedinresearchingeffectsoftheAlaskaearthquakein1964.Dr.VeraAlexanderiscurrentlyDeanoftheCollegeofEnvironmentalSciencesfortheUniversityofAlaskaatFairbanks.Additionally,shedirectstheDivisionofMarineScienceandtheInstituteofMarineScience.Herareasofexpertiseincludenutrientcyclesofaquaticsystems,primaryproductivity,arcticandsubarcticlim-nology,biologicaloceanography,andnutrientcycling,withspecialexcavateeachsite.Mostsitesarefoundwhereexpected:attractivecampingareas,highwell-drainedground,huntingtrails,andgoodview-points.Typicalevidenceofhumanac-tivityincludes"debitage,"orflakesfromformingtools,burnedfragmentsofanimalbones,andsomeflakedstonetools.Mostartifactsareverysmall,buttheirimportanceisthatdif-ferentsitescanberelatedtooneanotherbyusingfourtephras(distinctvolcanicashlayers)thatcoverthestudyarea.Allartifactshavebeencatalogedandarebeingheldinthe(bothintheprojectareaanddownstream),caribou,Dallsheep,brownandblackbears, wolves,beaver,hawksandeagles,andvegetation.Mostofthewildlifeinfor-mationisobtainedbyaerialsurveytodeterminenumbers,sexandageclass,distribution,habitatuse,andseasonalmovements.Radiocollarshavebeenplacedonsomeanimalstoprovidebetterinformationonage,sex,andhealth.Bytrackingtheanimalsfromaircraft,detailsoftheirmovements,habitatuse,reproductivesuccess,andeventually,causeofdeath,canbeobtained.RoutesextendingfromtheIntertieendpoints(WillowandHealy)totheAnchorageandFairbanksareaswereselectedaswell.Therecommendedtransmissionlinesystemandroutesresultedfromanevaluationofnumerousalternativecorridors.Re-quirementsincludedtechnicalandeconomicfeasibility,environmentalconditionsincommunitieslikelytobeaffectedbyconstructionandopera-tionoftheSusitnaProject.Representativesmaycometoyourhometointerviewanadultwholivesthere.Weappreciateyourcoopera-tionwiththeinterviewersandwillholdallreportscompletelyconfidential.cieswillbepostedatthePowerAuthorityoffices.Thatinformationwillalsobeavailablebycalling276-0001.emphasisonlowtrophiclevelbiology,nitrogenfixationinaquaticandterres-trialecosystems,anddynamicsofma-rinemarginalicezoneecosystems.Dr.RoyE.NakataniistheAssociateDirectoroftheFisheriesResearchIn-stituteattheUniversityofWashington.CurrentlyheservesasafisheriesconsultanttoCentraliaCityLight,assessinginstreamflowissuesontheNisquallyRiver.Hehaswrittennumerouspublicationsrelatedtowater quality,bioassayandheavymetalmetabolizationinfishes.Dr.Nakatanihasservedasascientificconsultantandlecturerforen-vironmentalmanagementtoanumberofagenciesandcompaniesworkingintheenergyfieldinthePacificNorthwest.AdditionallyhehastestifiedasanexpertwitnessinFederalEnergyRegUlatoryCommis-sionhearingsonfishery-hydropro-blems,aswellasconductingin-dependenttechnicalreviewofEn-vironmentallmpactStatements.UniversityofAlaskaMuseum'sSusit-nacollectioninFairbanks,althoughownershipremainswiththelandholders.ResultsofthisprogramwillallowmitigationplanningwithinFederalandStateguidelinesforculturalsitesthatwillbedirectlyaffectedbytheproject;forexample,coveredwithwaterordisturbedbyconstruction.Planningformitigationactivitieswilloccurin1984and1985.Thestudieswillhelparcheologistsinreconstruc-tingtheprehistoryandhistoryoftheSusitnaRiverBasin.ComputermodelshavebeendevelopedtopredictpotentialprojecteffectsonseveralspeciesinclUdingmoose,brownandblackbears,andbeaver.Biologistsuseinformationfromthemodelstoidentifybothadverseandbeneficialimpactsandtodeterminewhatfurtherstudiesaremostimportanttorefinemitigationplans.Examplesofmitigationtechniquesthatarebeingstudiedincludeevaluatingenhancementofmoosehabitatandtechniquesforprovidingartificialnestingsites.suitability,landavailability,andcompatibleexistinglanduses.ThePowerAuthorityisnowfurtherevaluatingandrefiningtherouteselection.CommunitymeetingswereheldinMay1983toseekpublicideasontherouting.Therefinementstudieswillbecompletedlatein1983.Weareinterestedinhearingfromyou.Pleasegiveusyourquestionsorcom-mentsonthisnewsletter,theSusitnaProject,orothertopicsyouwouldliketoreadaboutinthefuturebywriting:AlaskaPowerAuthoritySusitnaProjectOffice334W.5thAvenueAnchorage,Alaska99501Dr.A.StarkerLeopold,recentlydeceased,wasnationallyrecognizedasazoologistandhadworkedinAlaskasince the1950s.Heco-authoredthebook"WildlifeinAlaska,"whichdiscussesecologicpro-blemsintheState(thedecreaseincaribou,theincreaseinmoose,andthebasiccausesforboth).LaterDr.Leopoldactedasanadvisoronseveralmajorpro-jectproposals:theRampartDamproposalandtheU.S.ForestServicetimbersaletoChampionInternationalinSoutheastAlaska.Hisinvolve-mentintheExternalReviewPanelhasbeeninvaluableandwillbemissed. •It..ALASKAPOWERAUTHORITY•'..PUBLICPARTICIPATIONOFFICE•,~"334W.5thAvenue. •Anchorage,Alaska99501-IN~mlSISSUE:,","....A.....~~I.'!"_",,..,.:.."~."',~'""""~8\1811;'.';pro~..1.V\M::lIii"@".",,,,,';,.",rtf""'".".~.(*"".,,,,,,If.'.f"~R~"'~'I"':'~"'iJ,'""<~.,~,,:,;:1l!J''':._,:'1~,~d<:2>'.~,:¥:'.JceftSngproetJas';!I'"a,It,:l"".'."".....;,.,''''"jI••-..',_II._c'wtfO·is::invol\led~.iii'~~,'Jj'_.~,_r:II....interviewwithFER£:proJect,manager.~",Il~,~'3, .:':'...,.",'.','.-"'•.'J~':,"1iI«ll!l'"';"ll,!j,,.',~_rgylo~sts'reVtsed,.,it··',.,•..'"'''.';~jOl.ll•.••'..:.:4·de·,.s····lgn·I'lftst''sa'~:.N"J-'n'g":~'.'"""":',c.';~',~'4',.~,'"_,"• -J.,..\_l...,"w~_"'.~.""'.~.iiIii..'.~•.".,:'.0,,1:•,..'_~l<,,;":..~."iI..',r...,',.,...II:~.;."....,""."..,5''wl",ergeotechQlcatPIPgram,.:,.,.,,io",.~".'.!-:',environtnenfalandengjneeringpro,grams,6..1:externaJ18Viewpanell'.,"il...~.:.fi~."'iI'•••'~il·iOIl,"·e~1BULKRATEU.S.POSTAGEPAIDPERMITNO.272ANCH.AK.99502'INTlfIS!SSUE:susitnaprojec;ftodal...,...\I••• • • "*\I•\I•2~~~~~~........--~~.........---..~fERC.liceltslngproetfss'......,,"-."",. " "2wtfO-isinvolved?"interviewwithFERGproJectmanager...Jj•3~nergyloreeastsrevised.1t•".."".'•• " "•"4dEfsignCDstsavings"iii""\I" •••".." " "•••4wintergeDtecbnicalpmgram""\I,"..""..""5environmentalandengineeringprograms6..7externalreviewpanel'"". " .J(" •"•IIII" •6.7T/JeatateofAlaskaisalleqpaJoppqttunlfyemployer••It..ALASKAPOWERAUTHORITY•'..PUBLICPARTICIPATIONOFFICE•.~..334W.5thAvenue.•Anchorage,Alaska99501BULKRATEU.S.POSTAGEPAIDPERMITNO.272ANCH.AK.99502 TI"(,/;<5•58A:2.~no.313;1.:february1984'/.:5bV..:Suuu33755ARLIS.AlaskaResourcesLibrary&InformationServicesAnrhnr'HTPAl'JCbsusitnalYreecdiversiontunnelsreroutetheriverwaterduringdamconstruction.Thecofferdamheightwouldbeincreasedforaddedprotectionagainsticebuildupandthetunnelsmodifiedtoreducesedimentdeposits.•Thechannelsapproachingthepowerstation intakestructureandthespillwaywouldbecombinedtoim-provehydraulicefficiency.•Basedonareassessmentofgeotechnicalinformation,theunder-groundpowerhousewouldberealign-edtobemorecompatiblewiththerockjoints.Insteadofsixpowertun-nels,threetunnelswouldcarrywatertothegenerators.Thesepowertun-nelswouldalsoberealignedtoreduceconstructioncostwithoutsacrificingpoweroutput.•Themainspillwaywouldbeenlargedtohandleallpredictedflows,insteadoftheearlierarrangementofaservicespillwayfornormalflooddischargesandanemergencyspillwayforthemaximumprobableflood.TheDevilCanyondevelopment,plannedtobebuiltafterWatana,wouldhaveonlyonedesignrefinement.AsatWatana,theemergencyspillwaywouldbeeliminatedandacombinedspillwaylargeenoughforallfloodswouldbeincluded.TheserefinementswouldnotchangethebasicconceptbeingreviewedbyFERC,yetcouldsavetheprojectover$400million,reducingtheestimatedcostoftheprojectfrom$5.4billionto$5.0billion(bothin1983dollars).environmentalstudieswillalsocon-tinueintoFY1985(e.g.theaquatic,wildlife,habitat,andsocioeconomicsprograms).TheSusitnaProjectlicenseapplicationcontainsaconceptualdesignofthetwo-damprojectandallrelatedfacilities,alongwithdetailedinforma-tiononprojectcosts,economics,andenvironmentalimpacts.Furtherreviewhasrevealedseveralareasthat,basedonthelatestgeo-technicalandengineeringinformation,canbechangedtosavemoneyandminimizeenvironmentalimpacts.TheBoardvotedtoincorporatethefollowingrefinementstotheWatanadevelop-ment,withtheunderstandingthatin-cludingthemintheapplicationwouldnotsignificantlydelaythelicensingprocess.•Foundationexcavationswouldbereducedby3.5millioncubicyardsbecauseofnewgeotechnicalinfor-mationonthequalityoftherockunderthedam.•TheWatanadamdesignuseszonesofdifferentearthandrockmaterials(e.g.gravel,sand,earth).Basedonrevisedexcavationplansandloca-tionofconstructionmaterials,somechangeswouldbemadeinhowthezoneswouldbearranged.Thechangeswouldmakebetteruseofavailablematerialswithoutaffectingdamsafety.Theembankmentslopewouldalsobechangedslightlytofurtherreduceearthquakerisk.•TheupstreamcofferdamandPowerAuthorityBoardMakesSusitnaDecisionsActionstakenbytheAlaskaPowerAuthorityBoardofDirectorsinOctoberandNovemberwillmaintain"fast-track"licensingoftheSusitnaHydro-electricProject.TheBoardapprovedbudgetsthroughmid-1985thatprovideenvironmentalandengineeringsupportforthelicenseapplicationnowunderreviewbytheFederalEnergyRegulatoryCommission(FERC).TheworkinvolvescontinuingprogramssuchasfisheriesandsocioeconomicsmonitoringaswellassupplyingFERCwiththeadditionalengineering,geologic,economic,andenvironmentalinformationtheyneedtoevaluatetheproject.GovernorSheffieldapproveda$22millionbudgetforworkinFiscalYear1984(endingJune30,1984),with$6millioninadditionalfundssetasideasacontingencytobeusedattheBoard'sdiscretion.Becauseitwasnotknownexactlywhataddedlicensinginforma-tionwouldberequestedbyFERC,thecontingencyfundwasincludedtocoverunforeseenactivities.ThePowerAuthorityBoardhasapproved useof$2.8millionofthefundatthistime,makingtheworkingbudgetforthisyear$24.9million.Theadditionalfundswereappliedtoeffortsoftheaquaticpro-gram(AlaskaDepartmentofFishandGame),updatingprojecteconomicandfinancialanalyses,andmaintainingthefast-tracklicensingschedule.ForFiscalYear1985(July1,1984throughJune30,1985)theBoardofDirectorsapprovedaSusitnabudgetof$32million.ThiswillcontinuesupportoflicensingasFERCcompletestheen-vironmentalimpactstatement,holdshearings,andcontinuestheirdetailedreviewoftheproject.Several IsusitnaInrOlectV\fO'3\3~.¢,.1.-february1984,_"..1ProfileBoardofDirectorsTheAlaskaPowerAuthorityBoardofDirectorsoverseesallactivitiesandsetspolicytofulfilltheAuthority'smis-sionofdevelopingnew,cost-efficientsourcesofenergyfortheStateofAlaska.MembersareappointedbytheGovernorandconfirmedbytheLegislature;publicmembersserve2to3yeartermsandstateagencyof-ficialsserveforunspecifieddurations.TheChairmanoftheBoardisRichardLyon,CommissioneroftheAlaskaDepartmentofCommerceandEco-nomicDevelopment.CommissionerLyonwasappointedinlate1982,andbringsavarietyofpublicandbusi-nessexperiencestotheorganization.ChairmanLyonwasinterviewedre-centlyabouttheroleoftheBoard:Question:HowwereyouchosenasamemberoftheAlaskaPowerAuthorityBoardofDirectors?Lyon:IwassworninasCommis-sionerattffeTame~timeasGovernorSheffield,December6,1982.SittingonthePowerAuthorityBoardisamat-terofstatute,butbeingChairmanisnot.Iwassel~ctedforthatpositionbytheotherdirectors.SincethePowerAuthorityisintheDepartmentofCommerceandEconomicDevelop-mentforadministrativepurposes,theBoardfeltitwouldbesimplertohavetheChairmanandtheCommissionerbethesameperson.Question:WhatisthecompositionandorganizationoftheBoard?Lyon:WehavethreeothercabinetmembersontheBoard,andwe'realsoreallyfortunateinourthreeprivatesectormembers(seeprofileofBoardmembersbelow).Thecurrentmembershipgivesusgoodregionalandexperiencebalance.IamverycomfortablewiththecalibreoftheBoardandIthinktheStateisgoingtobeweilserved.Question:ArealltheBoardmembersnew?Lyon:TheGovernorhasfeltstronglythathewantstotakeanewlookateverythingtheStateisdoing,andhasalotofnewdepartmentheads.Inad-dition';theentire7-personPowerAuthorityBoardisnew.Question:ThereisamanagementstudyofthePowerAuthorityunder-waynowbytheCharlesT.MainCom-pany.Dotheyhaveanyrecommenda-tionsonthefunction'oftheBoard?Lyon:Phase1ofthestudyhasbeencompleted.TheMainanalysisindicatesthatthePowerAuthorityandtheBoardshoulddealmorewithplan-RobertHeath,CommissionerofAlaskaDepartmentofRevenueRobertHeathcametostategovernmentin1983fromseveralpositionsinprivateindustry.HehasservedasSeniorVicePresidentforAdministrationforWesternAirlines,andasVicePresidentofFinanceforAlaskaInternationalIndustriesandBurgessConstructionCompany.Mr.HeathwasalsoControllerfortheAnchorageNaturalGasCompany.ning,andthat'sreceivingmoreatten-tionwithinthePowerAuthority,asitiswithintheAdministration.TheDepart-mentofCommerceandEconomicDevelopmentnowhasanOfficeofEnergyandwe'vehadahighdegreeofcooperationwiththePowerAuthori-tyontheStateEnergyPlan.Qu,stion:HowarePowerAuthoritydecisionsactuallymade?Lyon:There'sacleardistinctionbe-tweenday-to-dayoperatingdecisionsandpolicydecisions.WearetryingtodefinethisverycarefullysotheBoardisnotinvolvedinoperatingdecisionsandisnotinvolvedinnegotiatingforthePowerAuthority.Mostofthosethingsarestafffunctions.Thestatecontractingprocedures,forexample,alreadyputeverycontractthrougharigorousprocessofapproval.Question:WhatisyourfeelingonthestatusoftheFERCfast-tracklicens-ingschedulefortheSusitnaProject?Lyon:Ifeelquiteconfidentaboutourabilitytostaywiththeprocess.LastDecember,ImetwithFERCCommis-sionerGeorgianaSheldoninWash-ington,D.C.andassuredherofnotonlytheBoard'sbutalsotheGov-ernor'sdedicationtomaintainingtheSusitnalicensingschedule.WeRichardLyon,BoardChairmanrecognizesomelicensingneedsarehardtopredict,butifwefailitwon'tbeforlackofcommitment.ThePowerAuthority'spostureisthatwe'refullysupportingthefast-tracklicensingprocess,andthatprocesswillanswersomebasicquestions:arethedamssafe,dowene~dthepower,andisitfeasible?TheGoye,rnorwillbeworkingwiththePowerAuthorityonoutreachwithintheStatetoinvolve,intheplanningallthefolkswhowillbeusingthepower.PeterMcDowell,DirectorofOfficeofManagementandBudget.PeteMcDowelladministersbudgetandinternalauditingasDirectoroftheGovernor'sOfficeofManagementandBudget.HeservedontheBusinel:1sManagementTaskForceoftheGovernor'sTransitionTeam.Mr.McDowellhasextensivemanagementconsultingandfinancialauditexperienceinindustry,andisalsoatrusteeoftheAlaskaPermanentFundCorporation.LeeNunn,ARCO,Inc.LeeNunn,thethirdpublicmemberoftheBoard,isthePrudhoeBayOperationsStaffManagerforARCO,Inc.HewasformerlyAlaskaDistrictEngineerofthe·ArmyCorpsofEngineers.Mr.Nunn,aWestPointgraduate,hasbeenaWhiteHouseFellowandholdsamaster'sdegreeinnuclearengineering.DavidAllison,PastPresidentofAlaskaEnvironmentalLobbyDavidAllison,apracticingJuneauattorney,isanotherpublicBoardmember.HeservedaspresidentoftheAlaskaEnvironmentalLobby,acoalitionofenvironmentalgroupsintheState,andwasalsoapolicyprogramspecialistfortheHammondAdministration.Mr.Allison'sexperienceincludestwoyearsintheIndianaHouseofRepresentatives.RobertHufman,PastGeneralManagerofGoldenValleyElectricAssociationRobertHufmanisoneofthreepublicmembersoftheBoard.HeretiredasgeneralmanagerofGoldenValleyElectricAssociationafter14years,withearlierexperienceinadditionasalinemanandlinesupervisor.Hisexcellentworkingknowledgeofelectricalutilities,ratestructures,andtheregion,addsdepthtoBoarddecisions.EstherWunnicke,CommissionerofAlaskaDepartmentofNaturalResourcesEstherWunnickeholdsresponsibilityformanagingAlaska'snaturalresourcestothebenefitofallAlaskans.ShehasservedontheBoardsince1982.EarliershemanagedtheOuterContinentalShelfOfficeoftheDepartmentofInteriorandchairedtheFederal-StateLandUsePlanningCommission.CommissionerWunnickechairstheResourcesCommitteeoftheBoard. ,,'2susltnahydroelectricprojectnewsletterIfebruary1984mationonthemisavailablebycallingtheAlaskaPowerAuthorityat276-0001.Issuesimportanttoorgani-zationsandindividualswhohavebeengrantedintervenorstatushavebeengatheredfromtheirpetitionsandwillbeaddressedwithasimilarprocessoncethefirststepiscompleted.Withdefinitionoftheissues,thenextstepistoconsolidatethelistsofissues,addresseachissueindividual-ly,andtrytoreachagreementonhowtoresolveit.Theissuesgenerallyfallintofourcategories:•aquatic•socioeconomic•wildlife•landrelatedIyrequestedandbeengrantedpartici-pationinthelicensingprocessbyFERC.Anintervenormaysupportoropposetheproject,andisinvolvedtoseethatparticularissuesareade-quatelyaddressed.)Thefirststepinthesettlementpro-cessistoidentifythekeyissuesandtheagenciesorothergroupswithwhomtheseissuesmustberesolved.ThatactiVityiswellunderway.Listsofissuesandconcernsraisedthrough-outtheprojecthavebeensortedbycommentorsandgiventothemforreview.Meetingshavethenbeenheldwitheachgrouptodiscusstheirissuesandarriveatacurrentlist.Thesemeetingsareopentothepub-licandscheduledinadvance;infor-.'L.,~l~AgencyparticipantsandprojectteammembersdiscusswildlifemitigationIssuesaspartoftheSusltnaProjectissuessettlementprocess.'Issuessettlementisbeingcoor-dinatedbyTomArminski,AlaskaPowerAuthorityDeputyProjectMan-agerforPermitting.LegalexpertiseisbeingprovidedbyJaneDrennan,aspecialistinFERClicensingwiththeWashington,D.C.lawfirmofPillsbury,MadisonandSutro.Locallegalsup-portcomesfromRichardHaggartandJeffLowenfels,AnchorageattorneyswithBirch,HortonandBittner.Theirexperiencehasfocusedlargelyonresourceissues.ThegoalistoresolveoutstandingissuesbyDecember1984.Thesettle-mentprocessisplannedtoreachagreementonprojectimpactassessmentsandtoagreeonanac-ceptablelevelofenvironmentalmitigation.Aftermorethanfouryearsofstudies,alargeamountofbaselineenviron-mentaldatahasbeencollected.ThisinformationisbeingevaluatedbyFERCinthelicensingprocess.Thesettlementprocessaddsanaddi-tionalmechanismforinvolvingresourceagenciesandintervenorsinthatlicensingprocess.(Anintervenorisagrouporindividualwithaninterestintheprojectwhohasformal-AprojectaslargeandcomplexasSusitnaraisesavarietyofissues-engineering,economic,andenviron-mental.Theprojecthasbeenreview-edsincethebeginningofthefeasibili·tystudybythepublic,nativegroups,andlocal,state,andfederalagencies.Aprimarygoalnowistoidentifyandresolveoutstandingissues.Twoparalleleffortsareunderway:theprocessofsettlingenvironmentalissuesandtheneed-for-powerevalua-tion.Thesettlementprocessisdesignedtoresolveenvironmentallyrelatedissueswiththeresponsibleresourceagencies,whileneed-for-powerhearingsaredesignedtorespondtotheeconomicandpowerneedissuesraisedbyFERCintheiranalysisofthelicenseapplication.Theenvironmentalandeconomicissuescometogether,forexample,inthedevelopmentofflowregimes.FERC'sschedulefortheSusitna,Project,inordertomeetthefast-trackgoal,callsforearlyneed-for-powerhearings,earlyissuessettlementwithsubsequentenvironmentalhearings,andalicensingdecisionthatcon-sidersbothpaths.Inthisissueweconsidertheissuessettlementprocessinsomedetail.ThenextSusitnaHydroelectricProjectNewsletterwillfocusonneed-for-powerissues.ProcessUnderwayToResolveEnvironmentalByresolvingissuesatthestatelevel,\,J.t,w..-~'-~~-'--"-""'---­itmaybepossibletoreduceor,,IssuespossiblyavoidtheneedforFERCen-\vironmentalhearings,providinganSettlement-"Alas~ansolutio~"toen~ironmentalf.questions,EvenIfsomeIssuescan-'Ve'yGoalnotbefullyresolved,hearingsmaybeNreducedinlength,complexity,andcost.AquaticIssues:TheprojectwillchangeflowsintheSusitnaRiver,decreasingflowsinsummerandincreasingtheminwinter.Itwillalsocausesomechangesinwatertemperatures,coolerinsummerandwarmerinwinter.Suspendedsedimentintheriverwilldecreaseinsummerandin-creaseinwinter.Thelicenseapplicationpresentedestimatesofaquaticimpacts,butdatacollectedsincethenareprovidingmorepreciseprojections.Modelsarebeingusedtolookatdifferentwaysofoperatingtheprojectandhowthesescenarioswouldchangedownstreameffects.Thegoaloftheaquaticsettlementprocessisanacceptableprojectoper-atingplan.Theplanmustconsiderprojectedeffectsonfishandaquaticresources.Theseeffectswillthenbebalancedagainsteconomicsandoperatingconcernstoarriveatafinalplan.Inordertoensurethattheobjec-tivesofwaterresourceandfisheriesmanagersandfishing/recreationgroupsarefUllyconsidered,work-shopswillbeheld.Theywillacquaintresourceagencieswiththeaquaticmodelsandallowdiscussionoftheissuesandalternatives.Thework-shopresultswillbeusedtohelpdeterminealternativeflowplans.Ifitisnotpossibletoreachagreementonasuitableflowregime,theissuewillbedecidedbyFERCfollowinghearings.Onceaflowplanisagreedupon,itmaybecomepartoftheFERClicenseandotherpermitspecifications.SocioeconomicIssues:Socioeconomicissuesinvolvetheef-fectsthattheprojectmayhaveonnearbycommunitiesaswellasontheregionandtheState.Thesocio-economicmodelusedtopredictim-pactsforthelicenseapplicationhasbeenupdatedtomatchcurrentpopu-lationgrowthpredictionsandsurveysoftheadjacentcommunitieshaveaddedtothebaselineofcommunityinformation(seearticleonpage6).Keyissueshavebeenidentified,andprogramswillbedevelopedtomini-mizecommunityimpacts.Participantsinresolvingsocioeconomicissuesin-cludetheMat-SuBorough,theAlaskaDepartmentofCommunityandRegionalAffairsandDepartmentofLabor,andlocalcommunities.WildlifeIssues:Resolutionofwildlifeissueswillpro-ceedinmuchthesamewayastheaquaticandsocioeconomicissues.Issuesconcernlossofhabitatanddisplacementofanimalsduetopro-jectactivities.MitigationplansarebeingdiscussedwiththeAlaskaDepartmentofFishandGame,AlaskaDepartmentofNatural·Resources,U.S.FishandWildlife,andotherresourceagencies,andassessmentsoftheimpactsoftheprojectonwildlifecontinuetobere-fined.Discussionswithresourceagencieswillresultinaplanforavoiding ormitigatingadverseim-pactsontheanimalsthemselvesandonhabitats.Land-RelatedIssues:Land-relatedissuesconcernhowlandwillbeacquiredfortheproject,whichstatelandsmaybe devotedforwildlifemitigation,andpotentialnewlanduses.Inaddition,aLandManagers'TaskForceisbeingformedtoincludetheDepartmentofNaturalResources,BureauofLandManagement,Nativecorporations,Mat-SuBorough,andothers.Thisgroupwillconsiderhowtheprojectmightaffectcurrentlandusesandprovideaforumtoallowcomprehensivelanduseplanningrelativetotheproject.BoardAddsResourcesCommitteeEarlyin1983,thePowerAuthorityBoardofDirectorsestablishedacom-mitteesysteminordertomorecloselyexaminepolicyissuesandstreamlinetheoperationofthefullBoard.Threecommitteeswereoriginallyestab-lished:Finance,Audit,andProjectManagement.InDecember,theBoardcombinedtheFinanceandAuditCommitteesandaddedaResourcesCommitte'e.TheResourcesCommitteewasadd-edtoprovideguidanceonresourcesissuesrelatedtoPowerAuthoritypro-jects.ChairedbyEstherWunnicke,CommissionerofNaturalResources,theResourcesCommittee'seffortswillensurethatBoardpolicydeci-sionsincludeconsiderationofresourceissuesandconcerns.Thegroupwillmeetregularlytocon-siderenvironmentalandresourcemattersandmakerecommendationstothefullBoard.InadditiontoBoardmembersWunnicke,DavidAllison,andPeterMcDowell,thecommitteewillalsoincludenon-votingrepre-sentativesoftheDepartmentsofFishandGame,EnvironmentalConserva-tion,andCommunityandRegionalAffairs.CommissionerWunnickefeelsthatthisprovidesabroaderforuminwhichPowerAuthorityresourcepolicycanbedeveloped.ShefeltthatthecommitteecanhelptoevaluatetheSusitnaProjectenvironmentalstudies,identifyinformationneeds,andmakesurethattheBoardhasthefactsandthetoolsneededforgooddecisionmaking.CommissionerWunnickeleadsResourcesCommittee. susitnahydroelectricprojectnewsletterIfebruary1984LicensingIssues3NeedforSusitnaPower-KeyGoalEnvironmentalImpactStatement-DrafttoFinalNewPowerAuthorityExecutiveDirectorProjectinghowmuchelectricitytheRailbeltneedsinthenext50yearsisacomplexproblem.Theamountofpowerneededforhomesandindustrydependsonpopulationgrowth,electricitycosts,andavailabilityofothersources.ProjectionshavebeenmadeforthesefactorsinplanningfortheSusitnaProject.Thelicenseapplicationexplainsindetailhowtheprojectedneedwasestablished,whatthealternativesareforproducingtheneededelectricity,andhowSusitnacompareswiththosealternatives.AsFERCreviewsthelicenseapplication,theyarecriticallyTheFederalEnergyRegulatoryCom-mission,orFERC,isresponsibleforassessingenvironmentalimpactsoftheproposedprojectandpreparinganenvironmentalimpactstatement(EIS).Informationinthe18-volumelicenseapplication,additionalre-questedsupplementaldata,agencycommentsontheapplication,andthePowerAuthority'sreplytothecom-ments,allserveasthebasisforevaluatingalternativesandassessingimpacts.InJuly1983FERCaskedAlaskanagenciesandresidentstosuggestkeyprojectissues.Atscopingmeet-ingsheldinAnchorage,Talkeetna,Cantw~1IandFairbanks,agenciesandthepublicreviewedaproposedlistofissuesandaddedtheirideas.LarryCrawford,newExecutiveDirec-torfortheAlaskaPowerAuthority,wasconfirmedbytheBoardofDirectorsonNovember16,1983.Mr.CrawfordcametothePowerAuthorityfromtheGovernor'sOffice,whereheservedasGovernorSheffield'sChiefofStaff.PriortobecomingtheGovernor'sChiefofStaffinDecember1982,Mr.CrawfordhadservedasExecutiveVicePresidentandGeneralManagerofMultiVisions,anAnchorage-basedcabletelevisioncompany.Beforeassumingthatpost,CrawfordhadservedtheMunicipalityofAnchorageasMunicipalManagerforthreeyearsandDirectorofManagementandBudgetfortwoyears.HeisaCertifiedPublicAccountantwithnineyearsofexperiencewithaninternationalaccountingfirm.Heanswerssomequestionsbelowonhisnewposition.Question:WhatareyourchiefresponsibilitiesindirectingtheAlaskaPowerAuthority?Crawford:IamthechiefoperatingofficerfortheAuthority.PolicymattersarebroughtbeforetheBoard,andwecarryoutthatpolicywiththeirguidance.OurchiefresponsibilityistodevelopanelectrificationprogramandplanforAlaska,includinganimplementationschedule.AnotherkeyjobistoworkwiththeutilitiesthroughouttheStatetodeterminewiththemtheleast-costalternativesforgeneratingelectricity.Findingcreativewaystofinancepro-jectsiscertainlyanothermajorresponsibility.Wearebecomingmoreorientedtoanapproachofplanningaproject,marketingitspower,andthenbuilding,inthatorder.Workingwithutilitieswillbeveryimportant.evaluatingtheassumptionsusedinplanning,andaremakingtheirownanalysestotesttheresults.Apartofthelicensingprocessinvolvesadministrativehearingsonneedforpower.Thathearingprocessisscheduledtobegininlatespring1984withprehearingconferences,whichareopportunitiestoidentifytheactiveparties,sethearingschedules,andordertheperiodofdiscovery.Aperiodofdiscoveryallowstheparticipants(AlaskaPowerAuthority,FERC,intervenors)torequestrelevantdocumentsfromeachother.Directandrebuttaltestimonyispresented,withfollowingcross-examination.FERCthenpreparedadocumentcalled"SusitnaHydroelectricProject,ScopingDocumentII,"whichinclud-edissuesidentifiedatthescopingmeetings,andoutlinedthedraftEISwhichisbeingprepared.FERChascontractedwithtwofederallaborato~ies(OakRidgeandArgonne)todevelopthedraftEISbyMay1984.ThedraftEISwilldiscusstheneedfortheprojectandalternativewaystoproducetheneededelectricity.Inad-dition,itwilldescribetheprojectfacilitiesandplansforconstructionandoperation.Environmentalim-pactswillbediscussed,includinglanduse,meteorology,waterqualityandquantity,fishandwildlife,vegeta-tion,threatenedorendangeredspecies,recreation,socioeconomics,Question:HowdoestheroleofthePowerAuthorityfitwithinthenewStateEnergyPlan?Crawford:IseetheEnergyPlanasabroadpolicydocument.Wewillderiveasetofassump-tionsfromitwhichwillguideusaswedevelopourspecificprogram,undertheumbrellaoftheplan.ThePowerAuthorityhasakeyroletoplayincarryingitout.Question:WhatisyourorganizationalstructureforaprojectsuchasSusitna?Crawford:Ourorganiza-tionisorientedalongfunc-tionallines,withprojectteamsputtogetherfromvariousfunctionalareastocarryoutaspecificprojectplan.ThepeopleontheSusitnaProjectteamhave"homes"withintheseareas,buttheyworkontheprojectandreporttothefulltimeProjectManager,JonFerguson,forthedurationoftheirassignments.Question:WhatareyourthoughtsonGovernorSheffield'sSusitnaProjectbudgetrecommendationof$8millionforFY1985?Crawford:TheGovernorhasmadeacommitmenttoSusitna,andhisintentseemstobetohavetheLegislaturedeterminetheirownlevelofcommit-mentintheirappropriationdecision.Briefsarguingthefactsandlawinthecasearefiledwiththeadministrativelawjudge,whodeciQeswhetheraneedforpowerhasbeendemonstrated.Thatdecisionisscheduledforapproximatelyonemonthafterthebriefsarefiled.Apositivedecisiononneedforpowerisnotanauthorizationtoproceed;FERCmuststillconsiderdamsafetyandenvironmentalissues.CurrentlyFERCisschedulinghearingsonsafetyandenvironmentalmatterstobegininFebruary1985andcontinueinto1986.Licenseissuancewouldbeinlate1986orearly1987.andvisualandculturalresources.TheSusitnaProjectandallproposedalternativeswillbedescribedintermsofeachofthesecategories,andtheirenvironmentalimpactscompared.TheEISwillprovideconclusionsonimpactsandrecommendactions.Anappropriatemitigationstrategywillbeassigned,andthelicensemayin-cluderequirementsforcontinueden-vironmentalstudies.WhenthedraftEISiscompleteinMay,FERCwillpublishanoticeintheFederalRegister,andagencyandpublicreviewandcommentwillbein-vited.Aftera60-daycommentperiod,thefinalEISwillbecompletedandissuedbyFERCinDecember1984.FERCwillprovideanadditionalop-portunityforinterventionatthattime.Question:WhatisyourpositiononfinancingdevelopmentsliketheSusitnaProject?Crawford:Ifproperlydone,theelec-trificationprogramcanbecomeself-sustaining,returningequityinvest-mentsandprovidingadditionalmoniesinthelongtermforgenerationandtransmission.IthinkweneedtolookatcreativewaysoffinancingtheSusitnaProjectsotheStatecanleverageitsequityandmaximizepotentialstaterevenuesfromtheproject. 4susitnahydroelectricprojectnewsletterIfebruary1984AquaticStudiesKeyEnvironrrTomTrerit,AquaticStudiesCoordinatorforADF&GSuHydroAquaticStudiesTeam..."Substantialprogresshasbeenmadesince1981inmovingfromreconnaissance-leveldatacollectiontoquantifyingfishpopulationsandhabitats...."TheADF&GGoldCreekCamp,shownhere,isapproximately35milesupriverfromTalkeetna.Inhydroelectricprojectplanning,protectionoffisheriesandmaintenanceoffishresourcesmustbebalancedwiththeconstructionandoperationoftheproject.AquaticstudieshavebeencdnductedintheSusitnaRiverBasinsince1974.Thesestudieshaveprovidedabroadbaseofinformationontheriver,itstributariesandsloughs,andthedistributionandabundanceoffish.IntheJanuary1982issueoftheSusitnaNewsletter,fisheriesspecialistsontheprojectteamwereinter-viewed.ThatissuealsohighlightedtheactivitiesoftheAlaskaDepartmentofFishandGame(ADF&G)SuHydroAquaticStudiesTeam.Now,twoyearslater,membersoftheaquaticteamha~eupdatedthose.thoughts.FollowingisaninterviewwithTomTrent,theAquaticStudiesCoordi-natorfortheADF&GAquaticStudiesTeam.Heanswersquestionsonhowtheprogramhasevolvedsincetheoriginalarticle.Question:Since1981,whathavebeenthemajorchangesintheADF&GSuHydroAquaticStudies?Trent:Thebasicfieldstudycom-ponentsremain:studiesofadultanadromousfish;residentandjuvenileanadromousfish;andaquatichabitatandinstreamflow.Substantialprogresshasbeenmadesince1981inmovingfromreconnais-sance-leveldatacollectiontoquanti-fyingfishpopulationsandhabitats.Populationsofsockeye,pink,chum,andcohosalmonintheSusitnaRiversystemarestillmonitoredannuallyatfoursites,andwearemonitoringnumbersofspawningsalmonandtheirdistributionintributaryandsloughhabitatsaboveTalkeetna.Wehavecutbackontheuseofsonarsalmoncountersinthemainchannel,andarerelyingalmostexclusivelyontraditionaltaggingandrecapturemethods.In1982,webegancountingchinooksalmonthatpassedthemainchannelsitesatSunshine,Talkeetna,andCurry.Wealsomadeacom-prehensivestudyoftheeulachonorsmeltpopulations.Samplingtodeter-minesalmonandBeringciscospawn-ingareasinthemainchannelwascompletedin1983,butnewworkbegantoevaluatesalmoneggpro-ductionandtheresidencetimeofadultsockeyeandchumsalmonoccupyingsloughhabitatsupstreamofTalkeetna.Studiesthatdescribedthefishspeciesandtheirseasonalhabitatusenowfocusonmeasuringandquantifyingtheavailablehabitatasrelatedtothenaturallyvaryingflowsoftheriver.Ourinformationonadultresidentandjuvenileanadromousfishhasbeenrefinedeachyear,asisessentialtodeterminethenumberoffishandamountoftheirhabitatthatmaybeimpactedbytheproject.WehavemarkedandrecapturedgraylingintheWatanaimpoundmentareatodefinetheagestructureofthepopulation,andhavemodeledtheeffectsofsportfishingonlong-termyield.Thesestreamsmayexperienceincreasedfishingwhenimprovedac-cessisprovidedduringprojectcon-struction.Themodelwillhelptomanagethesegraylingfisheriesandmitigateimpactsofincreasedfishing.Weexpandedthestudiesofhydraulicconditionsneededforsalmonspawn-ingtoincludetributary,tributarymouth,sidechannel,andmainstemhabitats,inadditiontosloughhabitatswhichwerealreadybeingstudied.Thisinformationisthenusedtodeter-minetheavailabilityofslough,sidechannel,andtributaryhabitatusedbyspawningsalmonasafunctionofmainstemflow.Question:Hasthegeographicscopeofyourpr~ectchanged?Trent:Basically,no.Groundsurveysofsalmonspawningworkwereex-pandedtoincludemonitoringofchinooksalmondiscoveredinthreetributariesabovetheDevilCanyonsite,andstudiesoffisheriesresourcesinstreamscrossedbyac-cessroadcorridorswereincludedinour1983investigations.OurprimaryemphasishasbeenontheSusitnaRiverfromDevilCanyontoTalkeetna,becauseoftheprobablemagnitudeoftheeffectsofflowregu-lation.Wewillworkonprovidingsimi-larlevelsofquantificationinthereachofriverbelowTalkeetnain1984,becausethisareahasverylargenumbersofsalmonassociatedwithitseasonally.Question:Whatkindofnewinforma-tionisavailableregardingtheSusitnaRiversalmonresources?Trent:Wehaveconcludedthattwomigrationsofsockeyesalmonentertheriver,andonlythesecondmigra-tionspawnsinsloughhabitatsupstreamofTalkeetna.WehavealsodeterminedthatSusitnaRiverchumsalmon,whichmakeup80percentormoreofthechumreturningtoCookInlet,areproducedmostlyintheTalkeetnaRiverdrainage.Ourdatahaveallowedustoquantifyescape-mentnumbersofSusitnaRiverchi-nooksalmonaswellassockeye,pink,chum,andcohosalmonfor1982and1983,andforthefirsttimewehavedocumentedsmallnumbersofchi-nookspawningintributariesaboveDevilCanyon.Withthenewdata,wehavebeenabletorefineourestimatesofthenumbersofsockeye,pink,chum,andcohosalmonthatspawnbetweenTalkeetnaandDevilCanyon.(Seetableonoppositepage.)Newinformationhasbeengatheredonjuvenilefishaswell.WecannowestimatebyspeciesthenumberofjuvenilesalmonwhichoutmigratefromtheDevilCanyon-Talkeetnareach,andhaveestimatednumbersandsurvivalforjuvenilesockeyeandchumthatwerespawnedinthisreach.Thesedataonlycoveronecompleteyearoftheopenwaterout-migrationcycle,however.Question:Whatkindofnewinforma-tionisavailableregardingtheresidentfisheryresourcesoftheSusitnaRiver?Trent:Wehavebeenstudyingresi-dentfishsothathabitatcriteriacanbedevelopedforuseininstreamflowmodeling.Monitoringradio-taggedrainbowtrouttellsusabouttheiruseoftheSusitnaandtributariesbyseason.Itwouldhavebeendifficulttouseothermeansbecauseoflowpopulationdensitiesandtheglacialnatureoftheriver.Theserainbowstudiesarehelpingusunderstandtherelativepopulationsizeandprimaryspawningareasforthisspecies.Question:Whatkindofnewinforma-tionisavailableregardingtheSusitnaaquatichabitats?Trent:Wehaveworkedonprovidinginformationtodefinetheinstreamflowsthatareneededtoallowadultsalmontopassintosloughs.Informa-tionisnowalsoavailableontherela-tionshipsbetweenmainstemflow,waterqualitycharacteristics,andwaterlevelsinvarioushabitats.Question:Youmentionedanin-streamflowstudyinyouranswertothepriorquestions.Whatisanin-streamflowstudy,andwhyisitimportant?Trent:Instreamflowstudiesestimatethelossesorgainsoffishandwildlifehabitatorotherinstreamusesasafunctionofchangesintheflowregimewithintheriver.Theprimaryeffectsofhydroelectricprojectsondownstreamresourcesarechangesinnaturallyoccurringflows,soitisimportanttoquantifytheprojecteffectsonvariousflow-dependentresourcesanduses.Thisinformationisthenusedtodecidehowflowscanberegulatedtosupportbothgenerationneedsandotherinstreamflow-dependentvaluessuchasfisheries,recreation,andnavigation.Ideally,aninstreamflowregimewillbeestablishedwhichsup-portsseveralbeneficialuses.Question:Isanyofyourworkdirectedtowardanalyzingtheimpactsofthisproject?Trent:ImpactanalysisisnotoneofthedirectresponsibilitiesoftheADF&GSuHydroTeam.Ourchargeistoprovidethedataandanalyticaltoolstosupportthatanalysis.Question:Basedonyourpreviousresponse,isanyofyourworkdirectedtowarddevelopmentofmitigationoptions?Trent:Instreamflowstudiescanbeusedtoassessprojectimpacts,andtheycanalsobeusedtoestimateflowsthatmayimproveorenhancefishhabitats.Therefore,flowrecom-mendationsmaymitigatesomeoftheadverseprojectimpacts.Wehavepro-posedstudiesin1984toweighthefeasibilityofenhancingselectedareasbyaddinggravelormodifyingthechannel.Thesemethodsneedtobecoupled,however,withproperin-streamflowstoensuretheywillwork.Aswiththeimpactanalysiswork,ourstudiesaredirectedtowarddevelop-ment ofthedataandtoolsthatcanbeusedbyotherstoprepareprojectmitigationplans. susitnahydroelectricprojectnewsletterIfebruary19845rttallssuei~----------WoodyTriheyhasparticipatedintheSusitnaaquaticstudiesprogramsince1980.HeisaregisteredPro-fessionalEngineerspecializinginrivermechanicsandinstreamflowassessments.HehasprovidedthefollowinganswerstosomequestionsthatpertaintoinstreamflowaspectsofSusitnaProjectlicensing."""TAHA~""/~"0/0OFSALMONSUSITNARUNSPECIES(1981-1983)Chum12%Coho9%Pink7%Sockeye20/0ThesefiguresrepresentthepercentagesofsalmonenteringtheSusitnaRiverthatreachedtheTalkeetna-DevilCanyonareain1981,1982and1983.(EstimatesbasedonstudiesatthefourADF&Gsamplingsta-tionsshownonmap.)Question:Youwerefirstinterviewedin1981abouttheSusitnaProject'seffectsonfisheries.Haveyouseenmajorchangesintheaquaticprogramsincethen?Trihey:Thebasicframeworkandgoalsoftheaquaticstudiesprogramhavenotchangedsignificantly;how-ever,therehavebeenseveralmajoraccomplishmentssince1981thathavemovedthestudyteammuchfur-theralongwithregardtoquantifyingprojecteffectsandidentifyingmitiga-tionopportunities.OneofthemajoraccomplishmentshasbeenADF&G's'identificationoftheseasonalfishuseofsixmajorriverinehabitattypesintheSusitnaRivercorridor:mainstem,side-channel,side-slough, upland-slough,tributary,andtributary-mouthhabitats.Engineeringstudieshavealsoadvancedalongway,greatlyimprovingourknowledgeofwith-projectstreamflow,streamtempera-ture,andsedimentconditionsintheriver.Question:Whatisaninstreamflowassessment?Trihey:Basically,itisascientificstudyundertakentodefinethecause-effectrelationshipsbetweenchangesinstreamflowandvarioususesoftheriver.Morespecifically,itincludesanevaluationoftheeffectsofchangesinstreamflow,watertemperature,sedi-menttransport,andwaterquality,oninstreamusesorresources.SuchanassessmentisbasedonthepremisethatthephysicalconditionandqualityMr.ArtAllenretiredfromHarzaEngineeringin1982withnearly40yearsexperienceindesigning,licensing,andbuildinghydroelectricprojects.HehasbeencalledbacktohelpindesigninganoperatingplanfortheSusitnaProjectthatwillaccommodateconcernsfortheaquaticresources.Heanswersques-tionsbelowonthatprocess.Question:Whatareyourprimaryobjectivesindesigninganoperatingregimeforahydroelectricproject?Allen:Ourenergygoalistoproducetheneededelectricityasefficientlyandeconomicallyaspossible,takingfulladvantageofhydroelectricpower'sstablelong-termcosts.Customerdemandchangesthrough-outeachday,startingoutlowinearlymorningandpeakingduringtheday.About9p.m.theloadstartstodropsteadilyuntilitstartstoincreaseagainearlyinthemorning.Amixedsystemofthermalandhydroelectricplantscanusethecoalorgasunitstoin-creaseoutputgradually,meetingfaster-increasingloadswiththehydro-electricunits.Itismostefficientandofastreamdetermineitsusefulnesstofisheriesoranyotherinstreamuse.Thefirststepistolookatnaturalphysicalprocessesthatprovideforwaterquality,sedimenttransport,temperatureandstreamflow,andthentodeterminehowthesephysicalpro-cessesinteractwithbiologicpro-cessestoprovideahabitatwhichisoccupiedbyfishandotherbiologicalorganisms.Thesecondstepistoidentifyhowaproposeddevelopmentmightalterthesenaturalprocessesandinterpretthesignificanceofthephysicalchangefromabiologicperspective.Thisgivesusasolidframeworkforidentifyingspecificimpactsonthatnaturalsystem,anddevelopingamiti-gationplanthataddressestherealproblem.Question:Whatarethefactorsyouconsiderininstreamflowassessment?Trihey:Thebasicfactoristhewater-shed,whichdrivesfourmajorcom-ponentsoffishhabitat:foodweb,waterquality,flowregime,andchan-nelstructure.Thesecomponentsinteracttomakeupfishhabitat.Inaninstreamflowassessment,onecare-fullyexaminesaproposedprojecttoidentifyhowitwillinfluencetheexist-ingrelationshipswithineachcomponent.Question:Howarethehabitatcom-ponentsrelatedtothefisheriesresource?costsleasttomaintainalevelthermalloadwheneverpossible.Themixtureofhydrowiththermalworkswell,becausehydrocanbestarted,changeload,andshutdownveryquicklywithminimaleffortorcostandwithminimumlossofefficiency.Theamountofthermalgeneratingcapaci-tythathastobebuiltandpaidforcanthenbereducedandtheefficiencyofthethermalplantscanbeimproved.OntheSusitnaRiver,theidealopera-tion,fromjustapowerviewpoint,wouldbetomaintainacontinualdischargedownriver,withvariationsindischargefromhourtohour.Suchdischargevariationusesallavailablewatertoproduceenergy,ratherthanhavingenergylossesonoccasionswhen,otherwise,waterwouldhavetobereleasedbymeansotherthanthroughtheturbines.Thesearethekindsofoperatingissuesweconsider.Question:Arethereotherfactorsthatyouconsider?Allen:Seasonalchangesinloadde-mandmeanthatmoreelectricityisneededinthewinter,whilethemax-imumnaturalstreamflowsareintheTrihey:Datahavebeencollectedthatdefinetheimportanceofavarietyofphysicalaspectsofthenaturalsystem.Forexample,wecandemon-stratetheimportanceofupwellingwatertospawningchumandsockeyesalmon,theresponseofjuvenilesal-montothepresenceorabsenceofstreambankcover,ortheresponseofresidentfishsuchasburbotorrain-bowtochangesinturbidity.Under-standinghowtheproposeddevelop-mentmightchangethesephysicalaspectsofhabitat,investigatorscanforecastquiteaccuratelytheeffectsoftheproposedprojectonexistingfishhabitats.Question:CanyoudescribethefisheriesmanagementobjectivesthatgenerallyareusedtorepresentAlaskapolicy?Trihey:TheU.S.FishandWildlifeServiceintroducedamitigationpolicyincooperationwithseveralotherfederalagenciesin1981.ItismyunderstandingthattheForestServicepolicyiscompatiblewiththegeneralpoliciesandmanagementobjectivesoftheADF&GandotherresourceagenciesinAlaska.Basically,themitigationpolicyrecommendsavoid-ingorminimizingimpactsasthepre-ferredformofmitigation.Remedialorcorrective actionismidwaydownthelist,andcompensationforimpactsistheleast-favoredmitigationtech-nique.TheAlaskaPowerAuthority'sownmitigationpolicystrivesfornonetenvironmentalloss.Question:Whatisyouropiniononthegeneraladequacyoftheinforma-tionavailableontheproject?Trihey:IhavealotofconfidenceinourabilitytoproduceaveryfinedescriptionofhowthenaturalsystemworksandwhattheprojecteffectsarelikelytobefortheportionoftheSusit-naRiverupstreamofTalkeetna.Inmyopinion,atleastoneadditionalyearofwell-focused,concentratedstudywillberequiredtobringourknowledgeofthelowerSusitnaRiveruptoasimilarlevelofunderstandingwiththeriversegmentaboveTalkeetna.summer.Anengineerwouldsaythatthetwoare180degreesoutofphase,soweneedtobuildupenoughstoredwaterinthehighflowperiodtotransferhydroelectricenergytoenergyproductioninthelowflowperiod.Withinthelimitsofsitecharacteristicsandcost,ahigherdammakesitpossibletohavemorestorage,whichincreasesthebenefitsthathydroprovidestothesystem.Question:Whataretheconstraintsonoperatingwithmaximumbenefittothesystem?Allen:Allwehavediscussedsofarareold-fashionedeconomics;thosegoalsmostdefinitelymustbebal-ancedwithenvironmentalconcerns.Myexperiencehasbeenthatwemustanalyzeandthendecidehowtooperatethesystemforthebenefitofthepowercustomers,thelivingcreaturesinandaroundthestream,andthehumanswhodependontheriverfortheirliving.Environmentalconcernsmaysetlimitsondischargechanges.Environmentalandengi-neeringstudiesareproceedingcon-currentlyandcooperativelytoanalyzethevariousproblemsinvolved. 6susitnahydroelectricprojectnewsletterIfebruary1984eQuestionsonSocioeconomicsSocioeconomics-UpdatePresentationsOnSusitnaStatusAvailableThefollowingareresponsestofrequentlyaskedquestionsaboutthesocioeconomicimpactsoftheSusitnaProjectbyDr.RichardFleming.Dr.FlemingmanagesthesocioeconomicsprograminhisroleasDeputySusitnaProjectManager,Environmental,fortheAlaskaPowerAuthority.Heisresponsibleforoverseeingandcoordinatingtheentireenvironmentalprogram,whichisbasedon theenvironmentalissueareasdefinedbytheFERCregulatoryprocess.Dr.Fleming'sexperienceincludessupervisionofenvironmentalprogramsonseveralotherhydroelectricprojects,andheformerlyservedonthestaffoftheInstituteforEnvironmentalStudiesattheUniversityofWashington.Dr.Fleming'smaster'sdegreeinterrestrialecologyisfromtheUniversityofAlaskaFairbanks;hisB.S.andPh.D.arefromtheUniversityofWashington.SocioeconomicspecialistshavebeenexaminingpopulationandeconomiccharacteristicsofRailbeltcommuni-tiesforthepastthreeyears,andadescriptionofpotentialsocio-economicimpactsoftheprojectwasprovidedinthelicenseapplication.Twomajoractivitieshavebeenconductedsincethentorefinethatassessment:•Communitysurveysforthethreecommunitiesthatareexpectedtobemostaffectedbytheproject-TrapperCreek,Cantwell,andTalkeetna.•Updateoftheeconomic-demographicprojectionswhichareusedtoestimateprojectimpactsonlocaleconomiesandpublicfacilitiesandservices.CommunitySurveysThepurposeofthecommunitysurveys,whichwereconductedinOctoberandNovember,wastodevelopabaseofinformationforlocalcommunitiesthatwillbepotentiallyaffectedbytheproject.TheMembersoftheSusitnaprojectteammadeapresentationtotheAnch-orageLeagueofWomenVotersonNovember9.Topicsincludedback-groundontheproject,itslicensingstatus,andtheissuessettlementpro-cess.SimilarpresentationshavebeenmadeinpastmonthstotheChamberofCommerceandResourceDevelop-mentCouncil.Ifyourorganizationisinterestedinschedulingapresenta-tionforameetingprogram,contacttheSusitnaProjectOffice,279-6611.Question:WhatisthepurposeofstudyingsocioeconomicsintheSusitnaprojectarea?Fleming:Theprimarypurposeistoestablishbaselineconditionsandtrendswithouttheproject,thensuperimposetheimpactsoftheprojectforanalysis.AnexampleisthepopulationgrowthbeingexperiencednowintheMat-SuBorough.Wemustconsiderthattrendinthewithout-Susitnascenariobeforeprojectingimpactsfromtheprojectonlocalcommunitiesandtheregion.Impactsincludeeffectsonservicessuchasschools,fireprotection,etc.,andutilitysystemssuchastelephoneandwatersupply.Question:Canyoudescribethesocioeconomicprogramtodate?Fleming:Intheinitialphaseswereliedonexistingsocioeconomicinformationfromthefederalcensus,theStateandtheMat-SuBorough.Thatbaseofinformationisuneven-Cantwell,forexample,isintheunincorporatedborough,andlittleinformationwasavailable.Thisyearwehavebeencollectinginformationmorespecifictotheneedsoftheprojectthroughhousehold,businessandpublicsectorsurveys,andasurveyofIntertieconstructionworkers(seearticlebelow).Theoriginalinformationwasusedinapredictivemodelthatconsideredthegrowthassumptionsandthefeaturesoftheprojecttoproduceanestimateofprojectimpacts.Wearecurrentlyrefiningthatmodeltoincludethenewinformationandrecommendationsbysomeagencies.informationobtainedincludedpopulation,compositionofhouseholds,occupations,andhunting,fishing,andtrappingactivities.Surveyswerealsomadeoflocalbusinesses,governmentjobs,andanexistingconstructionworkforceontheIntertieproject.Thesurveyresultshavebeenusedtorevisethesocioeconomicforecasts,whichinturnwillbeusedtoplanfortheneedsoftheexistingandprojectedpopulation.Thecommunitysurveyreportwillbepublishedinearly1984andwillbesubmittedtoFERCtobecomepartofthelicensingprocess.Economic-DemographicModelAsocioeconomicimpactmodelwasusedtodevelopprojectionsforthelocalandregionalareaswhereprojectimpactsareexpected. ThelocalimpactareaisdefinedastheMat-SuBorough,includinglandinandaroundtheprojectsiteandnearbycommunitiessuchasCantwell.TheregionalimpactareaincludestheareafromKenaitoNoticeWeareinterestedinhearingyourideasandansweringyourquestionsontheSusitnaHydroelectricProject.Pleasecontactus:AlaskaPowerAuthoritySusitnaProjectOffice334W.5thAvenueAnchorage,Alaska99501279-6611Question:Howwillyoumitigateforadversesocioeconomicimpacts?Fleming:Ourfirststrategyistominimizeoravoidadverseimpactsthroughgoodplanninganddesignearlyintheproject.Oneexampleofthiswasintheselectionofanaccesscorridor.Therewas aperceptionthattheTrapperCreekandTalkeetnacommunitiesgenerallywantedonlymoderategrowthinpopulation,wishingtoavoidimpactsonthecommunitystructure,servicesandqualityoflife.Cantwell,ontheotherhand,seemedmoreinfavorofincreasedbusinessopportunitiesandgrowthinpopulation.ThesesocioeconomicfactorswereconsideredinselectinganaccessroutefromtheDenaliHighwayratherthantheParksHighway.Ifthereareimpactsthatcan'tbeavoided,thenextstepwillbetopredictthemasaccuratelyaspossibleandidentifymechanismsforaddressingthemattherighttime.Thiswillrequireeffectivecoordinationwithstateandlocalagenciesandthecommunitiesthemselves.Question:Doyouforeseeanypositiveimpactsfromtheproject?Fleming:Definingpositivesocioeconomicimpactsisdifficult-thisissomethingthatisintheeyeofthebeholder.Smallbusinessesmayseethestagedincreaseinpopulationfromtheconstructionworkforceaspositive,becauseitincreasesbusinessopportunities.Peoplewhochosetoliveinthesecommunitiesbecauseoftheremotelifestylemayseethegrowthasaproblem.Fairbanks,includingtheNorthStarBorough.Themodelwasdevelopedtoallowprojectionstobeeasilyandperiodicallyrevisedtoreflectchangesinexistingconditionssuchaspopulationorinassumptionsabouttheprojectsuchasworkforcesizeorconstructionschedule.Themodelisdividedintothreeparts.Itcalculatesprojectimpactsonem-ploymentandpopulation,bylocationandyear.Themodelalsoprovidesdetailedinformationonthemovementofworkersandtheirfamilies,whichhelpsdetermineimpactsonpublicfacilitiesandservices.Theadditionalfacilitiesandservicesthatwillbeneededtosupportbothproject-inducedandbaselinepopulationgrowtharethenestimatedforeachyearofconstructionandoperation.Finally,potentialchangestocommunityincomeandcostsareprojected.TheprojectionsmadeinthelicenseapplicationarenowbeingupdatedtoreflectchangingeconomicconditionsinAlaskaandcurrent.populationgrowthestimates.MeetingNoticesWorkingmeetingsscheduledwithresourceagenciesandthepublicaspartoftheSusitnaissuessettlementprocessarelistedeachweekattheAlaskaPowerAuthorityOffices,334W.5thAvenue,Anchorage.Youcanfindoutaboutmeetingsbystoppingbyorbycalling276-0001. susitnahydroelectricprojectnewsletterIfebruary19847WildlifeandVegetation-UpdateMoosefieldstudiesprovideinformationonmovementsandhabitatuse.ThankYouEricYouldEricP.Yould,ExecutiveDirectoroftheAlaskaPowerAuthoritysinceitscreationin1978,resignedonOctober14,1983.PowerAuthorityBoardChairman,DickLyon,alsoCommissioneroftheDepartmentofCommerceandEconomicDevelopment,statedthatYould'sdecisiontoleavereflectedpartofthetransitionoftheformeradministrationtothatofGovernorBillSheffield,whowaselectedayearago.Lyonsaidthat"intermsoftheformativeyearsofthePowerAuthority,thePowerAuthorityisinlargepartthepersonaofEricWildlifeandvegetationstudiescon-tinuetoaddtoknowledgeaboutani-malsandtheirhabitatsintheprojectarea.Inthelastyearthefollowingstudieswereunderway:•Moosewerecountedbyageandsex,andpreliminaryresultsindi-catethatabout2000mooseusetheareaofpotentialprojectim-pact.Radio-collaredmoosehavebeenmonitoredtoidentifymove-mentsanddeterminethesizeoftheirhomerange.Trackingmoosecalveswithradiocollarsisalsoim-portanttoprovideinformationoncausesofdeathandratesofpredationbybearsandwolves.Downstreamoftheprojectarea,biologistsareprovidinginforma-tiononhabitatusealongtheSusitnaRiverfloodplain.Thesestudiesalsomeasurethetenden-cytousedisturbedareas,whichiskeyinformationinevaluatingmiti-gationplans.•Especiallyseverewintersoftenchangemoosebehaviorbyforcingthemintolowerelevations,addingnutritionalstress,andaddingtopredation.AstUdytogaininforma-tiononmooseinsuchconditionshasbeenplannedifaseverewin-terwithdeepsnowshouldoccur.Itwouldinvolveincreasedcen-suses,recordinginformationondeadmoose,andmonitoringwolfkills.•TheNelchinacaribouherdrangesnorthandsouthoftheSusitnaRiver.Studieshaveaimedatlearningtheirpatternsinrelationtotheplannedreservoirsandesti-matingthesizeandproductivityoftheherd.Apotentialprojectim-pactwouldbecreationofbarriersbetweendifferentpartsofthecaribourange,whichcouldaffectmigrationandcalving.Radio-col-laringhasbeenusedtotrackindi-vidualcaribouandherdmove-ments,andtohelplocatedifferentpartsoftheherdwhencensusesareconducted.•WolfstudieSaredesignedtomaptheiruseoftheprojectareaandtoYould....Heisawidelyrecognizedandcapableengineer....Hehasprovidedagreatdealofleadership...."SinceYouldbecameDirectorin1978,thePowerAuthorityhasinitiatedmajorconstructionprojects(threehydroelectricandone170-miletransmissionlinebetweenFairbanksandAnchorage),broughttheproposed$5billion,two-damSusitnaHydroelectricProjectintotheFederalEnergyRegulatoryCommissionlicensingphase,andinitiatedotherconstructionandenergydevelopmentprojectsthroughoutAlaska.monitorchangesinwolfpacksize.Theprincipalpotentialimpactonwolveswouldbelossofpreyifmooseandcariboupopulationswerereduced,especiallymoose.Aboutsevenwolfpackshavebeenidentified,andradio-collaringhasbeenusedtotrackthenumberandsizeofthepack,locatedensites,andstudyfoodhabits.•Bothblackandbrownbearhavebeenundercontinualstudytodetermineseasonaluseofhabi-tats,locationofdens,andfoodhabits.Samplesofbothtypesofbearweretrackedandtheirdensmarkedandexamined.Theem-phasisofthefoodstudieswasonspringandearlysummerfoodhabits,especiallyuseofsalmon.Resultshaveshown,forexample,thatsalmonmakeuplessoftheblackbeardietthanpreviouslyassumed;thebearslargelyfeedonberries.Radiocollarshelpinlocatingsampledbearsandtheirdens.•Dallsheeprangehasbeenmonitoredtodetermineseasonalhabitatuse.InterestfocusedontheJayCreekminerallick,whichreceivesheavyusebysheep.Sheepwerecolor-markedandobservedfromablindtodeter-minenumbers,sex,age,anduseoftheminerallick.Lastyear'sfieldworkconfirmsthatabout200DallsheeparelocatedintheWatanaHillsareaneartheminerallick;roughlyhalfofthatpopulationhavebeenobservedtousetheJayCreeklick.Researchonlocationandmineralcontentofothermin-erallicksintheareawillhelpindesigningamitigationstrategyforportionsofthelickthatwillbeunderwateroraffectedbyconstruction.•Beluga(Belukha)whalesmigratewithinCookInletdependingonavailabilityoffishmovinginandoutofrivermouths.Reducednumbersoffishcouldaffectthewhales'foodsupplyandcalving.The whalestudycomparesfisher-LicenseApplicationOnFileAlaskaHistoricalLibraryJuneauAlaskaResourcesLibraryAnchorageAlaskaStateLibraryJuneauCenterforResearchLibrariesChicago,ILUniversityofAlaskaLibraryAnchorageNoelWienMemorialLibraryFairbanksA.HolmesJohnsonPublicLibraryKodiakKegoayahKozgaPublicLibraryNomeKenaiCommunityLibraryKenaiKetchikanPublicLibraryKetchikanKuskokwimConsortiumLibraryBethelTalkeetnaPublicLibraryTalkeetnaiesinformationwithfielddatatoestimatepotentialimpactfromproject-causedchangesintheSusitnaRiver.• Abeavercolony,inordertosur-viveawinter,willstockpilefoodinunderwatercaches.Studyingthesecachesprovidesinformationonhowmanybeaverusetheriver.Thesurveylastfallindicatedtheexistenceofaconsiderablylargernumberofcolonies(11versus2thepreviousyear),perhapsbecausethefallriverflowswerequitestable.Dataonbeaveruseoftheriverwillbecomparedwithestimatedflowstoestimateprojectimpacts.Forexample,theaverag-ingorstabilizingeffectofthepro-jectmayincreasebeavers'abilitytosuccessfullyusetheriverforcachingwintersuppliesoffood.•TheSusitnavegetationprogramhasstudiedplantphenologyandmoosebrowseintheprojectarea.Theplantphenologystudyevalu-atedthelocation,abundance,andtimingofearlyspringmooseandbearforageintheproposedreser-voirareas.Mooseareattractedtotheearlydevelopmentofplantgrowthandearlysnowmeltinlowerelevations.Similarly,brownbearemergingfromhibernationmovetothoseareasseekingover·winteringberriesandnewvegeta~tiongrowthgenerallyfoundonsouthslopes.Earlyspringisanutritionallycriticalperiodforbearsaswellasmoose,andinun-dationoftheimpoundmentareaswillhaveanimpactonboth.Thepurposeofthe1983browsestudywastodevelopcost-effectivemethodsforconductinganextensivebrowseinventoryoftheprojectarea.Thisinvent~rywillbeusedinestimatingthemoosecarryingcapacityoftheprojectareabyassessingtheamountandtypeofvegetationavailable.Moosecarryingcapacityrepresentsthenumberofmoosethatcansurviveintheimpoundmentareaoveragivenperiodoftime.TheSusitnaProjectlicenseap-plicationisavailableforpUblicreviewatthefollowinglibraries.AskfortheSusitnaHydroelectricProjectLicenseApplicationtotheFederalEnergyRegUlatoryCommission.LibraryofCongressWashington,DCZ.J.LoussacPublicLibraryAnchorageNationalLibraryofCanadaOttawa,OntarioRasmusonLibrary,UniversityofAlaska,FairbanksSeattlePublicLibrarySeattle,WASheldonJacksonCollegeLibrarySitkaUniversityofAlaskaLibraryJuneauUniversityofWashingtonLibrarySeattle,WAWashingtonStateLibraryOlympia,WAArcticEnvironmentalInformationandDataCenter,AnchoragePalmerPublicLibraryPalmer susitnaThisIstheseventhnewsletterpublishedbytheAlasksPowerAuthorityforcitizensoftheReI/belt.ThepurposeIstopresentobjectiveInformationontheprogressoftheSusltnaProjectsothetreadersmaymaketheIrownconclusionsbasedonaccurateInformation.LarryD.Crawford,ExecutiveDirectorGeorgeE.Gleason,PublicInformationOfficerPatriciaJ.Serle,PublicParticipationCoordinatorAlaskaPowerAuthority334W.5thAvenueAnchorage,Alaska99501TheStateofAlaskaIsanequalopportunityemployer.february1984INTHISISSUE:ProfileonBoard1:ProcesstoResolveIssues.. . . . . . . . . .2·3CrawfordExecutiveDirector.. . . . . . . . . . . 3AquaticStudiesKeyIssue. . . ..'. . . ...4·5SocioeconomicsUpdate' , ' 6WildlifeNegetationUpdate. . . . . . . . . . . . . 7BoardDecisions: ,,...8,ALASKAPOWERAUTHORITYPUBLICPARTICIPATIONOFFICE334W.5thAvenueAnchorage,Alaska99501I')~U1Q'\Q'\<{:r~.....\Det0::"')<!:£:xen•wO.....t!)O::CI)«<{0:::ruoa..:rldt-1U:r02Cl)r-oclBULKRATEU.S.POSTAGEPAIDPERMITNO.796ANCHORAGE99502