BUXTON — An environmental assessment has been prepared by an agency of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as part of the relicensing process for the West Buxton Hydroelectric Project.

The Office of Energy Projects of the FERC reviewed the application for the hydroelectric project on the Saco River in York and Cumberland Counties prior to releasing its environmental assessment report.

The environmental assessment examined the environmental consequences, both positive and negative, before a decision can be made by FERC to move forward with granting a continued license for the project.  

A notice published in the Federal Register said that FERC staff members have studied “the potential effects of the project, and conclude that licensing the project, with appropriate environmental protective measures, would not constitute a major federal action that would significantly affect the quality of the human environment.”

The licensing process also exmaines the environmental impact of the hydroelectric project and downstream passages upon fish and eel species in the Saco River including American eels, American shad, herring and adult Atlantic salmon.  

The West Buxton Hydroelectic Project has the capacity to produce 8,125 kilowatts per second and its current license expires Dec, 31, 2017.    

For more information about the environmental asseessment, call Allan Creamer at 202-502-8365, or by email at [email protected].

— Executive Editor Ed Pierce can be reached at 282-1535 ext. 326 or by email at [email protected]