Public raises considerations about Lake Lynn Technology’s stewardship of Cheat Lake Park, different public areas

MORGANTOWN – The general public stays skeptical of Lake Lynn Technology/Eagle Creek Renewable Vitality’s proposal to take away 307.1 acres surrounding Cheat Lake from federal safety.

Among the many complaints voiced on the Sept. 25 public assembly held to debate Lake Lynn Technology’s utility to resume its Lake Lynn Hydroelectric Mission license have been the corporate’s insufficient upkeep of Cheat Lake Park.

Feedback filed with the Federal Vitality Regulatory Fee by the Cheat Lake Setting and Recreation Affiliation on Thursday illustrate these considerations.

It says, partly, “Timber stay down on the path for weeks, washouts stay unfixed for over a 12 months, trails are worse for put on, the swimming seaside goes with out sand and stuffed with particles, docks disintegrate, viewing benches are damaged and unusable, loos are out of fee, and many others., and many others.

“Then shoreline erosion goes unchecked, and dredging will not be frequent sufficient for boat passage. Now they need to take away 300 acres from the venture lands opening up the potential for promoting it off for growth.”

CLEAR’s suggestion: “The present relicensing mustn’t go ahead till the language is powerful sufficient to carry the licensee chargeable for sustaining the venture lands to the specs wanted to maintain the operation protected and venture space recreation pleasant. The present proprietor must cease the dereliction of obligation.”

In mid-September, Jody Smet, chief compliance officer and vice chairman of regulatory affairs for Lake Lynn Technology and Eagle Creek Renewable Vitality, informed The Dominion Put up, “Stewardship is an organization worth, and we’re dedicated to defending the lake and the lands round it.”

Given the considerations about Cheat Lake Park, we contacted Smet twice final week with a sequence of questions concerning the complaints, its stewardship and its plans to handle the considerations; we even quoted Smet’s prior remark.

Smet didn’t reply to both contact try.

CLEAR will not be alone in its criticisms. We beforehand famous the feedback of Pennsylvania state legislator Charity Grimm Krupa, who represents the world of Fayette County affected by the dam venture.

We quote them in full right here: “Initially, Ontario Energy Technology Inc.’s lack of repairs and failure to finish common upkeep is noteworthy because it evidences a common perspective of gross neglect and broad contempt for the general public lands underneath its purview and management because the operator of the ability station and surrounding areas.

“They’ve refused to offer the naked requirements for public use. For instance, it has been reported that the general public restrooms are unusable because the bathrooms, urinals, and sinks aren’t operable and no bathroom paper or cleaning soap is supplied.

“The overwhelming majority of the water fountains don’t function. The conventional trash generated by public use will not be dealt with appropriately, typically left unattended for prolonged intervals of time, thus leading to rubbish being scattered throughout the park and into the lake itself.

“Primary security measures are disregarded. Instances for fireplace extinguishers stay empty. Forty-two lakeside lights which mechanically illuminated underneath prior operators haven’t labored since Ontario Energy Technology Inc. took over.

“Below earlier management, Millstone Level Seashore yearly acquired a load of recent sand however not this 12 months. Below the present reign, uncut grasses and weeds have grown to virtually 5 ft excessive at occasions.”

A gaggle calling itself Save Cheat Lake famous the identical issues in a PowerPoint submitted to FERC.

The Dominion Put up visited the park final week. It’s low season so the restrooms have been closed, and the water fountains weren’t working. It was daytime, so we couldn’t inform if the lights have been working. All the trash cans had been emptied, the grass was not overly excessive, and a pile of handled lumber sat close to the principle constructing, indicating some form of upkeep was underway, however no staff have been there.

CLEAR is amongst these calling on FERC to disclaim Lake Lynn Technology’s proposal to take away the acreage from FERC oversight. FERC Mission Coordinator Allan Creamer stated in the course of the Sept. 25 assembly that if FERC permits the boundary adjustment, it’s going to haven’t any say in what the present homeowners do with the land.

And the West Virginia Division of Pure Assets is among the many many who’ve stated the adjustment would open the acreage to personal growth.

Smet stated on the Sept. 25 assembly that they aren’t eradicating public entry areas from FERC safety underneath their proposal: Cheat Lake Park, Cheat Haven and Tower Run nature viewing areas, Sundown Marina boat ramp and car parking zone, Tailwater fishing entry.

However, as we stated, Smet didn’t reply to our questions on public feedback on its lack of stewardship.

CLEAR and others need FERC to make sure that the hydroelectric venture license renewal would require the homeowners to offer a recreation plan and shoreline plan earlier than relicensing is finished. CLEAR can be amongst those that need assurance that every one stakeholders will stay concerned: the local people, native and state governments, and the suitable federal businesses.

CLEAR stated, “We should make sure the license gives a mechanism to carry the Mission proprietor chargeable for correcting deviations from the license in a well timed method.”

Creamer defined the timeline on the Sept. 25 assembly. FERC employees was to have reviewed the scoping assembly feedback by Oct. 25, after which should put together for and undertake a radical environmental evaluate for a Nationwide Vitality Coverage Act report, which might be topic to public feedback. FERC will then subject a licensing choice, and events with intervenor standing may have 30 days to request a rehearing.

Among the many safety, mitigation and enhancement measures, Lake Lynn Technology should develop a shoreline administration plan and a historic properties administration plan. FERC will evaluate things like the consequences of shoreline growth on erosion and sedimentation.

And, in regards to the proposed boundary change, FERC will evaluate the potential results of eradicating the land from federal safety on things like aquatic life, endangered species recreation alternatives, archaeological websites and cultural sources.

Whereas the present public remark interval has expired, the general public can evaluate all submitted feedback and different updates on the FERC e-library, coming into docket quantity P-2459.

E-mail: [email protected].