FERC, The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, has denied a request by the Grant County Public Utility District to bypass state and local guidelines in building a hatchery and rearing pond project on the White River.

 

The decision came last week after the PUD appealed a ruling by the Chelan County Hearing Examiner that the plans violated county code.

 

The controversial project has been many years in the making, was meant to meet the requirement to build a hatchery complex to offset salmon losses caused elsewhere by Grant County PUD hydro-electric dams. 

 

Mike Kaputa, Director of Chelan County Natural Resources, tells us that he was disappointed in GrantCounty’s decision to take the case to FERC, and is satisfied with the outcome.

 

Kaputa adds that the county is currently revising its shoreline development rules, and could possibly make projects, such as this, possible along the White River.

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