Laserfiche WebLink
<br />, <br /> <br />Project Nos. 4024-002, <br />et ~. <br />We reject wilcox' claim that he is entitled to the permit <br />under our City of Bedford decision. In that proceeding, after <br />rescinding the permit issued to the originally successful appli- <br />cant, we issued a permit to the next-in-line applicant, concluding <br />that the existence of a timely appeal had kept the permit proceeding <br />open pending a final decision by the Commission. Here, however, <br />the permit issued to the City had become final; no appeal or re- <br />hearing petition was pending in this proceeding when Uncompahgre's <br />applications were subsequently dismissed. ~I Thus, wilcox's <br />reliance on the City of Bedford decision is misplaced. <br /> <br />-5- <br /> <br />AS to wilcox's request for 120 days to file a license <br />application before competition is reopened, we deem it neither <br />appropriate nor necessary to further delay the solicitation <br />of development proposals for the sites on the basis of his statement <br />that he intends to file i! license application. Should Wilcox <br />actually file a license application, we will at that time entertain <br />his re4uest for a waiver of the first-to-file rule or for any other <br />equitable considerations he may wish to raise. <br /> <br />The Commission orders: <br /> <br />(A) The request for rehearing of Uncompahgre Valley Water <br />Users Association and Montrose P~rtners, filed March 5, 1984, is <br />denied. <br /> <br />(A) The petition for rehearing filed by Energenics Systems Inc. <br />on March 2, 1984, is denied. <br /> <br />(C) The request for rehearing filed by Gregory wilcox on March 2, <br />19H4, is denied. <br /> <br />Hi the Co~mission. <br /> <br />Com~issioner Hughes concurred in part and dis- <br />sented in part with a separate state~ent at- <br />tached. <br /> <br />( s ~~ ,lI, L ) <br /> <br />~~.I.8.j <br /> <br />Kenneth 1". Plumb, <br />Secretary. <br /> <br />gl <br /> <br />As noted in our earlier order, wilcox had appealed the decision <br />by tho Director, Office of Electric Power Regulation, issuing <br />the permit to the City. The Co~mission rejected the appeal <br />and Wilcox's subsequent rehearing petition. While Wilcox <br />petitioned the O.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for,the Dist:ict <br />of Columbia for review of our orders, he later WIthdrew hIS <br />appeal. (See, 24 FERC ~r6l,317 at p. 61,681 (1983)). <br /> <br />-~ <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />Uncompahgre Valley Water Users <br />Association and Montrose Partners <br />Docket No. p-6423 et a1. <br /> <br />(Issued June 7, 1984) <br />HUGHES, COMMISSIONER, concurrinq in ~ dissentinq in part: <br />Hhen we adopted our February 2, 1984, order in this matter, <br />I voiced misgivings about the sanctions we imposed on Uncompahgre <br />and its associated parties. Continued reflection has not allayed <br />these qualms. <br /> <br />Uncompahgre continues to argue, and with some merit, that <br />it has not been treated fairly in the course of these proceedings. <br />Beyond that lies the question whether the Commission's action is <br />more punitive than remedial in character, and whether the penalty <br />has consequences for the licensing program well beyond the con- <br />fines of this case. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />The Commission's choice of sanctions was made with explicit <br />recourse to equitable considerations. 26 FERC '1 61,113 at 61,276. <br />Uncompahgre argues that equitable powers should be exercised for <br />remedial, not punitive, purposes, citing Hodqson v. First Federal <br />Savinqs & Loan Association, 455 F.2d 818, 826 (5th Cir. 1972); SEC <br />v. J&B Industries, Inc., 388 F. Supp. 1082, 1084 (D. Mass. 1974); <br />and SEC v. Cornputronic Industries Corp. 294 F. Supp. 1136, 1138 <br />(N.D~ex. 1968). <br /> <br />This sanction, of course, has multiple effects. It <br />attempts to recreate the competition that would have occurred <br />at these sites absent the objectionable filings. It also aims <br />at depriving Uncompahgre of any unfair advantage or gain. A <br />third purpose is deterrence of like abuses by other entities. <br />Uncompahgre's argument is that such deterence can only be effec- <br />tive by making a punitive example of Uncompahgre. The example <br />is a sure deterent only if it deprives uncompahgre of any <br />advantage or gain, whether fairly or unfairly obtained. Yet <br />we might have achieved the ends of effective deterrence had <br />we stopped at the purely remedial step eliminating the unfair <br />advantage, but allowing Uncompahgre to take advantage of the <br />information fairly obtained. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />These points stand out in tracing the procedure the Com- <br />mission has created. Other private parties have filed permit <br />and license applications for the sites involved. The license <br />applications for the sites will be evaluated by staff. If a <br />license application is found acceptable, the Commissinn will <br />establish a deadline for filing competing applications. The <br />permit applicants and any other interested developers, public <br />or private, may file competing license applications, except <br />Uncompahgre and its sympathizers. Those entities are barred <br />