<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 />
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