MORGANTOWN – The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has scheduled a virtual meeting at the request of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation to discuss concerns raised by the Save Cheat Lake community group about the Lake Lynn Generation hydropower project relicensing application.
FERC posted the notice on Thursday. The meeting is set for 1-2 p.m. April 29.
FERC said staff will hold the meeting with representatives from the ACHP, the West Virginia State Historic Preservation Office, the Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Office, Lake Lynn Generation and interested Tribes.
The meeting will be held virtually via Microsoft Teams, FERC said.
Members of the public and intervenors in the proceeding may attend as observers, FERC said. But participation will be limited to representatives from the groups mentioned. “If meeting attendees decide to disclose information about a specific location which could create a risk or harm to an archaeological site or Native American cultural resource, attendees other than [the] representatives … and commission staff will be excused for that portion of the meeting.
FERC said a summary of the meeting will be placed in the public record of this proceeding. As appropriate, the meeting summary will include both a public, redacted version that excludes any information about the specific location of an archaeological site or Native American cultural resource and an unredacted privileged version.
The ACHP contacted FERC on March 30 about Save Cheat Lake’s concerns. Save Cheat Lake described its concerns about historic preservation issues at the dam project – which includes Cheat Lake – in a March 25 letter to ACHP.
“We have identified substantial deficiencies that undermine the adequacy of the Section 106 process,” Save Cheat Lake said.
ACHP explains that Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 requires federal agencies to consider the effects on historic properties of projects they carry out, assist, permit, license, or approve. This includes hydroelectric projects such as Lake Lynn.
Save Cheat Lake said, “ These deficiencies are so significant that ACHP participation is essential to ensure a legally sufficient and comprehensive review.”
Members of the public wishing to attend the virtual meeting should call or email Christopher Brosman at (202) 502-8573, or christopher.brosman@ferc.gov, by Friday, April 24, to RSVP and to receive specific instructions for logging in to the meeting.
