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<br /> <br />~_. <br /> <br />n~ O.'j <br />'I .,i"~ <br />....J..,.c".,.t/"-.,.., <br /> <br />and a pipeline to the dam and reservoir at Sulphur Gulch. This <br />alternative is described as National Economic Development Plan B in <br />chapter V. <br /> <br /> <br />Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Role. Section <br />7(b)(ii) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act places a moratorium on <br />the issuance of permits or licenses by the Federal Energy <br />Regulatory Commission on rivers designated for study as possible <br />additions to the national system. To date the FERC has not issued <br />licenses for development of any of the described proposals. <br />However, FERC (then the Federal Power Commission) received an <br />application for a preliminary permit from the City of Delta in <br />February 1977 for its proposed Smith Fork hydroelectrc p.roject. <br />On August 1, 1978, FERC--over the objections of the Department of <br />the Interior--issued a preliminary permit authorizing investigation of <br />this proposal (see apendices A and B in the environmental statement <br />for this study). The preliminary permit, however, does not <br />authorize any construction activity. <br /> <br />In commenting to FERC on the preliminary application for the Smith <br />Fork project, the U.S. Department of the Interior insisted that a <br />permit not be issued until details of the investigatory work to be <br />undertaken are known and an assessment could be made of the <br />resultant effects on the river study area. It was pointed out that <br />". . . the project would likely have a direct and adverse effect on <br />the values for which the river might be designated" and ". . . that <br />even the study of' this project may jeopardize the area's unique <br />values. 1\ The project also 1\. . . has the potential for causing <br />serious adverse environmental impact on the fish and wildlife <br />resources of the Black Canyon area of the Gunnison River, II an <br />area that II .. serves as critical ""intlilr range for deer and elk <br />and is a very important raptor area. II <br /> <br />96 <br /> <br />I <br />,I <br />1 <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />