DAM REMOVAL: Legal and Regulatory Issues

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DAM REMOVAL Legal and Regulatory Issues
EWRI Dam Removal Workshop Elizabeth Maclin,
American Rivers Ann Arbor, MichiganJuly 12, 2004
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Overview

• WHETHER TO REMOVE A DAM?
• Legal tools
• HOW TO REMOVE A DAM?
• Legal obligations

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Overview

• WHETHER TO REMOVE A DAM?
• Legal tools
• Dam safety proceedings
• Hydropower dam regulations
• Endangered Species Act authority
• Other laws and regulations
• HOW TO REMOVE A DAM?
• Legal obligations

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Dam Safety Proceedings

• State authority to inspect dams
• State can order elimination of safety problem
• Choice of removal vs. repair usually owners
  decision

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Woolen Mills Dam, Milwaukee River, WI Repair
estimate 3.3 million
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Milwaukee River, WI after removal Removal cost
85,000
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Hydropower Dam Regulations

• Hydropower dam relicensing
• FERC dam safety authority
• License surrender or non-power license

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Hydropower Dam Regulations

• Hydropower dam relicensing
• FERC-ordered dam removal
• FERC Relicensing settlement agreements
• FERC dam safety authority
• License surrender or non-power license

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FERC-Ordered Dam Removal Edwards Dam, Kennebec
River, ME
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FERC Relicensing Settlement Agreements Condit
Dam, White Salmon River, WA
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Hydropower Dam Regulations

• Hydropower dam relicensing
• FERC-ordered dam removal
• Relicensing settlement agreements
• FERC dam safety authority
• License surrender or non-power license

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Hydropower Dam Regulations

• Hydropower dam relicensing
• FERC-ordered dam removal
• Relicensing settlement agreements
• FERC dam safety authority
• License surrender or non-power license

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FERC License Surrender Smelt Hill Dam,
Presumpscot River, ME
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Endangered Species Act Authority

• ESA-Mandated Dam Removal
• ESA-Influenced Dam Removal

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Endangered Species Act Authority

• ESA-mandated dam removal
• Section 7 jeopardy consultation
• Section 9 take prohibitions
• Recovery planning implementation
• ESA-influenced dam removal

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ESA Authority Section 7

• Prohibits federal actions that
• Jeopardize continued existence of listed species
• Destroy or adversely modify critical habitat
• Federal actor must consult with NMFS/USFWS
• NMFS/USFWS issues biological opinion
• Determine if jeopardy will result
• Recommend reasonable prudent alternatives
• Alternatives must be consistent with original
  purpose of project
• If no alternative, God Squad may be called to
  intervene

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ESA Authority Section 7 Elk Creek Dam, Elk
Creek, OR
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ESA Authority Section 7 4 dams, Lower Snake
River, WA
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ESA Authority Section 7

• Limitations
• Only applies to federal actions
• Only triggered by a proposed action
• Hard to demonstrate threat to entire species
• Hard to demonstrate that dam removal is only
  solution
• Solution must be consistent with original purpose
  of project
• No mandate to restore critical habitat

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ESA Authority Section 9

• Forbids all persons from taking listed species
• Harm to species habitat may constitute take
• Exemption from take
• Allowed with incidental take permit
• Only issued for federal actors in conjunction
  with Section 7 biological opinion
• Only issued for non-federal actors in conjunction
  with habitat conservation plan

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ESA Authority Section 9 Savage Rapids Dam,
Rogue River, OR
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ESA Authority Section 9

• Benefits
• Applies to all actions (not just federal)
• Applies when even one fish is affected
• Limitations
• Evidentiary challenges
• Remedy is fines
• Never been tested

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ESA Authority Recovery Planning Implementation

• Section 4(f) recovery plans
• Only applies to NMFS/FWS
• Recovery plans not always developed
• Enforceable?
• Section 7(a)(1) obligations for other agencies
• Obligation to follow recovery plans
• Enforceable?

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Endangered Species Act Authority

• ESA-mandated dam removal
• ESA-influenced dam removal

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ESA-Influenced Dam Removal Saeltzer Dam, Clear
Creek, CA
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Other Laws Regulations

• State fish passage laws
• Clean Water Act regulations

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Good Hope Dam RemovalConodoguinet Creek,
PA(removed November 2001)
Before Removal

• After Removal

During Removal
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Clean Water Act Influenced Project Kent Dam,
Cuyahoga River, OH
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Overview

• WHETHER TO REMOVE A DAM?
• Legal tools
• HOW TO REMOVE A DAM?
• Legal obligations
• Federal permits
• Federal consultations
• State permits
• Municipal permits

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How to Remove a Dam

• Federal permits
• Clean Water Act (CWA), Section 404 Dredge Fill
• Rivers Harbors Act, Section 10
• FERC surrender or non-power license approval
• National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA)
  review
• Federal consultations
• State permits
• Municipal permits

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How to Remove a Dam

• Federal permits
• Federal consultations
• Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 7
• Magnuson-Stevenson Act
• National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA)
• State certifications
• Water quality certification
• Coastal Zone Management Act certification
• State permits
• Municipal permits

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How to Remove a Dam

• Federal permits
• Federal consultations
• State permits
• Waterways development
• Dam safety
• State NEPA
• Historic preservation
• Resetting floodplain
• State certifications
• Other permits
• Municipal permits

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How to Remove a Dam

• Federal permits
• Federal consultations
• State permits
• Municipal permits
• Demolition permits
• Building/construction permits
• Other permits
• Shoreland zoning
• Floodplain
• Sedimentation erosion plans

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Pennsylvania Permitting Requirements

• Pre-permit requirements of dam owner
• Pre-permit requirements of PA DEP
• Post-permit / pre-removal requirements
• Post-removal requirements

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Pennsylvania Permitting Requirements

• Pre-permit requirements of dam owner
• Removal must restore river to qualify for waiver
• Submittal of proposed removal plans to PA DEP
• Plan view
• Cross-sections
• Pre-permit requirements of PA DEP
• Post-permit / pre-removal requirements
• Post-removal requirements

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Pennsylvania Permitting Requirements

• Pre-permit requirements of dam owner
• Pre-permit requirements of PA DEP
• Reviews plan
• Conducts environmental assessment
• Coordinates with
• PA Fish Boat Commission (PFBC)
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
• County Conservation District
• Notifies PA Historic Museum Commission through
  publication in PA Bulletin
• Post-permit / pre-removal requirements
• Post-removal requirements

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Pennsylvania Permitting Requirements

• Pre-permit requirements of dam owner
• Pre-permit requirements of PA DEP
• Post-permit / pre-removal requirements
• County Conservation District approves erosion
  sediment control plan
• Drawdown permit obtained from PFBC, if necessary
• Notifications
• PFBC notified prior to removal
• PA DEP notified 10 days prior to removal
• Local municipality notified 10 days prior
• Post-removal requirements

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Pennsylvania Permitting Requirements

• Pre-permit requirements of dam owner
• Pre-permit requirements of PA DEP
• Post-permit / pre-removal requirements
• Post-removal requirements
• PA DEP notified that removal complete
• PA DEP conducts site inspection

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Daniel Esh Dam RemovalMill Creek, PA(removed
July 2003)
Before Removal

• After Removal

During Removal
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Tips for Successful Permitting

• Involving permitting agencies early
• Scheduling time for permitting process
• Establishing relationship with permitting
  agencies
• Providing information about proposed project

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For additional information contact

• Elizabeth MaclinDirector, Rivers
  UnpluggedAmerican Rivers1025 Vermont Avenue,
  NWSuite 720Washington, DC 20005(202)
  347-7550www.AmericanRivers.orgRiversUnplugged_at_am
  rivers.org