FERC Begins Process of Terminating Crown Hydro License

With a letter dated May 25, 2011, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has begun the proccess of termintating the license of Crown Hydro to build a hydroelectric powerplant at Mill Ruins Park in the Mill District of Minneapolis.

Download the letter...

Other comments from the web:

FROM MINNEAPOLIS PARKWATCH -

FERC PULLS THE PLUG ON CROWN HYDRO

Park Watch has learned that in a letter dated May 25, 2011, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) informed Crown Mill Hydro President Tom Griffin that FERC staff consider the "Crown Mill Hydro Project to be abandoned."

In a discussion of the project, which was described as "unconstructed," it was pointed out that there has been no progress moving the Crown Mill Hydro Project forward and Crown's mandatory reporting on plans, activities and filings "are long overdue."

Crown Hydro has 30 days "to show cause why the Commission should not initiate proceedings for terminating the license."

It is interesting to note that FERC refers to the Crown Hydro Project by its proper name--the Crown Mill Hydro Project. That's because the FERC license that Crown holds is not for the Mill Ruins Park location.  The license that Crown holds was issued on March 19, 1999, and it was for the basement of the Crown Roller Mill Building--not for Mill Ruins Park. So, while Crown was attempting to pressure the Park Board to gain control of the Mill Ruins Park location for its proposed facility, Crown never held a license to construct its hydro facility on MPRB property.  In order to build on Mill Ruins Park, it would have had to get an amendment of the license it had for the obsolete Crown Roller Mill site.

FROM SHAWNE FITZGERALD on e-Democracy

In a letter dated May 25th, FERC notified CH that it has 30 days "to show cause why the Commission would not initiate proceedings for terminating the license...." FERC notes the project is unconstructed and lists four required plans never submitted:

-Schedule for submission of design documents and plans and specs for the project (Art. 301)

-Memorandum of Agreement with the Corps (Art. 303)

-Pedestrian Walkway and Bridge construction (Art. 402)

-Operation and Management Plan (Art. 406) These plans were due 90-365 days after CH received a FERC license on March 19, 1999.

FERC also enclosed information on surrendering a license. The letter is posted at the FERC Online e-library.

Search for docket number P-11175. http://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/search/fercgensearch.asp

FYI, Shawne FitzGerald

Update on Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 9:55AM by David Tinjum

Nick Halter from The Journal just tweeted -  "Crown Hydro attny Todd Guerrero says the project will continue and plans to respond to FERC letter within 30-day requirement"

Update on Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 6:15PM by David Tinjum

The Journal published an update here -

http://www.downtownjournal.com/index.php?&story=16957&page=65