Following the Final Environmental Impact Assessment, and Statement (FEIS), the Commission’s staff reviewed the feedback on the draft EIS and made the recommendation mostly based on Appalachian Power’s resource management plans for the scheme. The owner plans no new capacity build at the facility .
The scheme comprises two dams (Smith Mountain, Leesville) and 586MW installed capacity at the main powerhouse plus 50MW at a second facility. The upper lake is 64km long and has a shoreline length of 800km.
Appalachian Power’s initial public work on the relicensing proposal began just over four years ago. The FERC licence expires next year.
The resource management plans include erosion and sedimentation, water management and quality, habitat and aquatic vegetation, recreation, navigation, and cultural and historical resources.
Appalachian Power Co is owned by American Electric Power.
