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<br />000778 <br /> <br />o <br /> <br />CREDA <br />Colorado River Energy Disbibutors Association <br /> <br />ARIZONA <br />Arizona Munidpal Power Users Association <br /> <br />Arizona Power Authority <br /> <br />Arizona Power Pooling Assodabon <br /> <br />Imgation and Electncal Districts <br />AssOCIation <br /> <br />Navajo Tribal Utility Authonty <br />(also New Mexico, Utah) <br /> <br />Salt Rjver Project <br /> <br />COLORADO <br />Colorado Spnngs Utilities <br /> <br />Intermountain Rural Electric Assoaation <br /> <br />Platte River Power Authonty <br /> <br />Tri.State Generation & TransmIssion <br />Cooperaove <br />(also Nebraska, Wyoming, New MexIco) <br /> <br />Yampa Valley Electrrc <br />Ass<x:JatJon, Inc. <br /> <br />NEVADA <br />Colorado River CommiSSion <br />of Nevada <br /> <br />Silver State Power Ass<x:Jation <br /> <br />NEW MEXICO <br />Fanmngton Electric UtJlIty System <br /> <br />Tri-State GeneraDon &. TransmiSSIon <br />Cooperatlve <br /> <br />aty of Truth or Consequences <br /> <br />lITAH <br />Oty of Provo <br /> <br />Strawberry Electric Service DiSllia <br /> <br />Utah Assoaated Mumapal Power Systems <br /> <br />Utah MuniopaJ Power Agency <br /> <br />WYOMING <br />Wyoming Munlopal Power Agency <br /> <br />Leslie Jalftel <br />~ecutive DirectOr <br />::REDA <br />:iUlte 111 <br />l600 West 8roadway Road <br />rempe, Anzona 85282 <br /> <br />'hone: <br />':ax: <br />:ellular: <br />-:mall: <br /> <br /><180-557-0987 <br /><180-557-0988 <br />602-46!H046 <br />creda{@uswest.net <br /> <br />June 24, 2002 <br /> <br />Bureau of Reclamation <br />Western Colorado Area Office <br />2764 Compass Drive <br />Grand Junction, Colorado 81S06 <br /> <br />VIA EMAlL: tstroh@uc.usbr.gov <br /> <br />RE: COMMENTS ON DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (EA) FOR MORROW POINT <br />TRASH RACK CLEANING PROJECT, dated June S, 2002 <br /> <br />Dear Mr. Stroh: <br /> <br />The Colorado River Energy Distributors ASSOCiation (CREDA) is an association of over <br />133 consumer-{lwned electric systems that purchase and distribute more than eighty-five <br />percent of the energy produced by the Colorado River Storage Project (CRSP). In addition, <br />CREDA members repay nearly ninety-five percent of the federal investment in the CRSP, <br />CREDA members have entered into long-term firm CRSP power purchase contracts with the <br />Western Area Power Admmistration (Western), and utilize CRSP resources to serve nearly <br />three million consumers In SIX Western states, CREDA represents the majority of CRSP firm <br />power contractors, who have a direct and specific interest in issues which could affect the <br />operabon of CRSP facilities, which Include the Aspmall Unit. <br /> <br />CREDA has reviewed the Draft EA projXJsing lowering the water surface elevation at <br />Morrow Point Reservoir from 7,160 feet to 7,129 feet beginning In August 2002 to facilit'lte <br />cleaning of the Morrow Point Power Plant's inlet trash racks, As indicated on pages 18-19 of <br />the Draft EA, "generation effiCiency would be lost and fewer megawatts of power wouid be <br />generated per acre-feet released," This loss would be unrecoverable to Western Area and <br />the CRSP customers, The EA also recognizes that replacement jXJwer "represent an <br />additional cost to WAPA and Its customers. Most or all of the cost could be recovered when <br />Morrow POint ReservOIr IS refilled, as power generatIon at Blue Mesa would be increased." <br /> <br />CREDA has two comments on the foregOing, First, CREDA suggests the EA should <br />contain economic analysis of the lost genera bon/replacement jXJwer Impacts to CRSP <br />customers, The EA should attempt to quantify those impacts based on draw-down rates and <br />timing, as well as wholesale market outlook, This approach would be consistent with the <br />analysiS cont'lmed In the Cimarron Dredging EA (see CREDA comments of August 31,2001). <br />Secondly, GlEDA disagrees that the cost could be recovered when Morrow POint IS refilled. <br />That statement appears to imply that there would be generation over and above a normal <br />operational level dUring fill. It is our understanding of the project there would not be water <br />bypassed, although we agree with the statement on page 19 that "....by-passed water would <br />also be considered a loss of jXJwer generation. <br /> <br />If you have any questions, I may be reached at (602) 748-1344 or <br />creda@qwest.net. <br /> <br />Sincerely, <br /> <br /> <br />L~ <br /> <br />Executive Director <br /> <br />-.:-;--. <br />'. <br />........ -. <br /> <br />-' <br /> <br />Cc: GlEDA members <br /> <br />(\ - I <br />n s '~:~,-J ~ "",-6 <br />~L'--":~ .-- <br />~CJ --- <br />Y:-"l. \ . <br />'2;,\"!'c:t+ <br /> <br />020624MorTOWPolOtEA <br />