Ceremony to mark Carmen-Smith Hydroelectric Project relicensing agreement, media advisory 101708

For More Information Contact:
Lance Robertson, 984-4716
Eugene Water & Electric Board

Oct. 17, 2008

Media advisory: Ceremony to mark Carmen-Smith Hydroelectric Project relicensing agreement

WHAT:	The Eugene Water & Electric Board and 16 other parties are signing an agreement outlining the environmental, recreational, cultural and historical improvements that the parties believe should be part of a new operating license for EWEB’s Carmen-Smith Hydroelectric Project in the upper McKenzie River watershed. Specific details of the agreement will be released at a news conference following the ceremony. Individuals also will be available for media interviews.
WHEN:	4 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 21. The signing ceremony follows a 3 p.m. special meeting of the EWEB Board of Commissioners.
WHERE:	The Training Room of the North Building at EWEB, 500 E. Fourth Ave., Eugene.
WHO:	Representatives of EWEB and other parties to the agreement will be on hand for the signing ceremony and will be available for questions. The parties to the agreement are: EWEB; the U.S. Forest Service; National Marine Fisheries Service; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife; Oregon Parks and Recreation Department; Oregon Department of Environmental Quality; the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon; the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon; and the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon; Oregon Wild; McKenzie Flyfishers; American Whitewater; Cascadia Wildlands Project; Oregon Hunters Association; Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation; and Trout Unlimited
WHY:	EWEB has applied to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for a new license for the Carmen-Smith Hydroelectric Project. Part of the license application includes the improvements EWEB plans to undertake to mitigate the project’s impacts on fish and wildlife, as well as improve the surrounding environment and recreational opportunities. The agreement is the culmination of nearly two years of negotiations among EWEB and the interested parties. The agreement will be jointly submitted to FERC as part of the relicensing process.

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