[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 53 (Wednesday, March 22, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E656-E657]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                   TALENT IRRIGATION DISTRICT LICENSE

                                 ______


                            HON. WES COOLEY

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 22, 1995
  Mr. COOLEY. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation which 
allows the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to grant the Talent 
Irrigation District, which is in my district in Jackson County, OR, an 
extension of its hydro project construction commencement deadline.
  The project is a 2.4-megawatt powerhouse, planned as an attachment to 
the existing Emigrant Dam, on the Emigrant River in southern Oregon. 
Low water conditions in the Emigrant River resulting from 8 years of 
continuous drought in Oregon have caused the irrigation district to 
reevaluate the project's operating plan. I believe granting an 
extension in this case will enable local officials to better configure 
this project to maximize power production and fish enhancement in light 
of the reduced water flows in the Emigrant River.
  Construction of the existing Emigrant Dam was completed in 1959. It 
is a structural height of 176 feet and impounds 39,000 acre feet of 
water, which is delivered to about 8,000 users, irrigating 
approximately 30,000 acres. [[Page E657]] 
  On May 24, 1989, FERC issued a construction license to the Talent 
Irrigation District for the hydro project extension at Emigrant Dam. 
The license required construction to commence within 2 years--by May 
24, 1991. In January 1991, the district requested and received a 2-year 
extension of the construction commencement deadline, until May 14, 
1993, citing the need to consult further with the Bureau of Reclamation 
and continue negotiating a power sales agreement.
  All negotiations were completed by April 1992, but the low flow 
conditions in the Emigrant River caused the Talent Irrigation District 
to postpone the commencement of construction and reevaluate the hydro 
project's proposed operating plan. When the 2-year extension expired on 
May 24, 1993, FERC canceled the license.
  In order to commence with this project, the district needs its 
license reinstated and additional time to carefully evaluate the 
operating plan for the Emigrant hydro project and adjust it to perform 
better under low water conditions, both for power production and fish 
enhancement. The Federal Power Act, however, only allows FERC to grant 
one 2-year extension to the district, which is granted in 1991. 
Therefore, legislation is required to authorize FERC to extend the 
deadline further.
  The legislation I am introducing today reinstates the Talent 
Irrigation District license and grants the district up to 4 years to 
begin construction.


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