US Forest Service Response to Nevada Hydro's Fire Danger PlanPlan

---

Here is an excerpt from the US Forest Service's Response to the Company's inaccurate assertion of agreement.

The Forest Service was not on the same page, apparently. 

Both the Fire Plan and the Complete Response documents may be Downloaded below.

------------

"This letter responds to the Nevada Hydro Company's March 5, 2019 letter: Filing to Clarify Response and to Submit Fire Study Plan (Study 28) for Approval for the proposed Lake Elsinore Advanced Storage Project (LEAPS), Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) No. 14227. 

In their letter, The Nevada Hydro Company (TNHC) states that: Consultation between the US Forest Service has occurred and afinal (Fire) Study Plan has been completed with no disagreements between the Forest Service and the Company. This completed study plan is submitted herein for Commission's approval.

The Forest Service disagrees with THNC's characterization that agreement exists between the Forest Service and THNC on their proposed Fire Plan. The Forest Service has communicated concerns regarding the Fire Plan, and provided TNHC with written comments , however none of 

our concerns or comments appear to have been incorporated, acknowledged, or addressed in the plan recently submitted to FERC. 

We do not disagree or object to certain elements TNHC has proposed in the Fire Study, however the plan lacks the analysis we've requested to determine

how the proposed project could impact fire risk and fire management activities within the Cleveland National Forest.

Specifically, THNC has proposed to construct approximately 30 plus miles of 500 kV transmission lines within a very active and challenging wildland fire management zone of the Cleveland National Forest. The Cleveland National Forest Land Management Plan (LMP) established direction for this area, and specified forest-wide standards and guidelines, and site specific guidelines, which include:

Goal 1.1:  improve the ability of southern California communities to limit loss of life and property and recover from the high intensity wildland fires that are a natural part of this state's ecosystem. (LMP Part 1, page 20) Strategies and Tactics (LMP Part 2, pages 116-118) 

Fire 1 - Fire Prevention

Reduce the number of human-caused wildland fires and associated human and environmental impacts. Focus fire prevention programs on the urban interface; threatened, endangered, proposed, and candidate species habitat; sensitive cultural resources; vegetative areas threatened with type conversion; and areas of major recreation use.

As proposed, the transmission lines could significantly limit and impede our fire management options and operations, and increase the risk and impacts of wildland fires in this area. Such impacts could include: increasing risk and exposure of our firefighting personnel; reducing the effectiveness of fuel management projects within the project area; decreasing our ability to manage the land in accordance with our LMP direction; or increasing fire incidents and risk to the surrounding communities through project operations...."  

Learn More...Download Documents Below