Great Falls Tribune
November 21, 2008
Plant's impact on historic site could hamper water access By RICHARD ECKE Tribune Staff Writer
Developers of the Highwood Generating Station have a temporary solution, but still lack federal approval for a permanent source of raw water for its operation.
During early construction work on the project, which began Oct. 15, workers have had access to water from the Missouri River based upon approval by the state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, city of Great Falls Fiscal Officer Coleen Balzarini told the City Commission this week.
Developers of the plant still must obtain federal approval to install permanent water intake equipment and a transmission line from the river to the plant site eight miles east of Great Falls along Salem Road.
The project also is trying to overcome objections that the plant would be located near a National Historic Landmark. Capts. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark explored the area close to where the coal-fired plant is under construction, and wind turbines envisioned by the developer would be installed directly on the landmark.
In a July 11 letter, Allan Steinle, Montana program manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers office in Helena, told developer Southern Montana Electric Generation & Transmission Cooperative that any work to bring water to the power plant from the Missouri River could not proceed. Steinle also noted that a federal review of the project's impact on historic areas had not been completed. He said Tuesday that the discussions of the impact on the historical landmark are continuing.
"We're working with SME right now on that Section 106 review," Steinle said in a telephone interview. "It's hard to say when that will wrap up."
Preservationists must be consulted in order for the process to be completed, Steinle added. The Corps of Engineers became the lead agency on the project earlier this year after the federal Rural Utilities Service decided to quit giving rural electric co-ops new loans to build coal-fired power plants.
Several preservationists and historians have criticized the proposed coal-fired plant for intruding on Lewis and Clark's path. SME General Manager Tim Gregori, who is a Lewis and Clark buff, noted the plant's footprint was moved to accommodate history concerns. Gregori, who was in New York late this week, could not be reached for additional comment.
At Tuesday night's City Commission meeting, plant opponent and city Commissioner Mary Jolley asked Balzarini about the history issue. The city of Great Falls previously agreed to sell water from the Missouri, which it has rights to, to the plant.
"You need to satisfy and complete this 106 process (before work on the water intake can proceed)," Balzarini said. She noted there are alternative solutions for a water intake in case talks between SME and preservationists reach an impasse but did not know where that would be.