Milltown Dam Project-License
Surrender
NorthWestern Energy
Clark Fork and Blackfoot Rivers, MT
Kleinschmidt is preparing the License
Surrender Application, including
a detailed environmental analysis, for the Milltown Dam Project (FERC
No. 2543) near Missoula, Montana. During the past century, mine wastes
and natural sediment materials washed downstream from upstream mining
operations depositing some 6.6 million cubic yards of contaminated sediment
behind the Milltown Dam. This area is now a U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) designated CERCLA Superfund site. EPA and other resource
agencies developed a proposed remediation and restoration plan for the
site that calls for the decommissioning and removal of the Milltown Dam.
Ultimately, the process will result in returning the Clark Fork River
to a more natural channel and restoring an unimpeded migration corridor
for the federally threatened bull trout in both the Clark Fork and Blackfoot
rivers.
NorthWestern hired Kleinschmidt to prepare the necessary documents and documentation to ensure FERC compliance. In 2004, Kleinschmidt prepared a non-capacity related amendment to the current license to permit an extended drawdown of the reservoir and construction activities to prepare a by-pass channel within the Project boundary. Kleinschmidt is currently preparing an application for License Surrender that will be filed in early 2005. To fulfill FERC obligations under the license, Kleinschmidt prepared an Historic Properties Management Plan and a Programmatic Agreement to ensure compliance with Section 106 of the NHPA and is consulting with State and Federal Agencies on endangered species, wetlands and other environmental issues.
For more information contact Gary Liimatainen.