Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Authorizes Drilling Through Spillway Piers at Baker River Hydroelectric Project

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has issued a delegated order authorizing the construction of vertical drilling through spillway piers 17 and 19 at the Lower Baker Development of the Baker River Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. 2150. The order, issued on May 29, 2025, follows a review of the proposed drilling locations and procedures, which will be executed in accordance with the existing work plan authorized on June 1, 2022.

Key Takeaways:

• The drilling through spillway piers 17 and 19 is authorized to proceed, subject to certain conditions and procedures outlined in the delegated order.
• The project's construction practices must conform to the requirements of the Project License and applicable permits to minimize erosion and environmental impacts.
• Changes to the plans and specifications during construction require prior coordination between the Project Manager, Chief Dam Safety Engineer, and the FERC.
• The project's operation may be subject to changes that require coordination with the FERC, particularly in response to conditions affecting the safety of the project works.
• The drilling and grouting locations must be documented in the Final Construction Report, and monitoring, recording, and documentation of construction practices is required.
• The project is responsible for ensuring that the construction documentation accurately reflects the corrected designation of the drilling holes as "C" holes, not "B" holes.

Statistics:

• File Number: P-2150
• Filing Date: May 29, 2025
• Authorized Drilling Locations: Spillway Piers 17 and 19
• Existing Work Plan Authorize Date: June 1, 2022
• Drilling and Grouting Locations: 2 locations (pier 17 and pier 19)
• Final Construction Report Due Date: Post-construction

Sources:

Source 1: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Delegated Order, document accession number 20250529-3042, May 29, 2025.

Source 2: Puget Sound Energy, Inc. (PSE), letter from Mr. Ron Roberts, May 16, 2025.

Source 3: Email from Mr. John Bickford to Mr. Reimer, May 28, 2025.

Source 4: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Project License and applicable permits (data not explicitly stated in the source).

Note: The exact format of the sources follows the original text, without additional details.