Crescent Bar residents retain attorney

CRESCENT BAR — The Grant County PUD is planning no response to a March 23 letter it recently received from an attorney representing the Crescent Bar Condominium Master Association (CBCMA).

“No response is planned since the letter from Markham Quehrn merely shares information and states the stance of CBCMA,” stated Dorothy Harris, a utility spokesperson, this week.

The letter from the CBCMA was written in response to a March 10 letter the utility received from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

FERC’s letter to the PUD stated that having people live on the island is against its policies.

FERC granted a license to the PUD to continue owning and operating its Columbia River dams in 2008.

Now the PUD is working through relicensing requirements. At the same time, a lease allowing 400 leaseholders on the PUD-owned island expires in 2012.

On Monday, PUD staff recommended raising lease rents significantly to reflect fair market values and charging residents additional monthly fees.

PUD commissioners vote on the recommendation April 19.

The CBCMA’s letter refers to an alleged conversation between Christopher Yeakel, of FERC, and Quehrn.

Yeakel declined comment, referring questions to the commission’s external affairs department.

“It is FERC policy not to comment on matters pending before the Commission,” stated Tamara Young-Allen, of FERC’s Division of Media Relations.

But from the alleged conversation between Quehrn and Yeakel, “CBCMA further understands that FERC has not made any predetermination of what residential development may be allowed past 2012 as a non-project use,” the letter states.

“…While the shoreline management plan (SMP) is to articulate the values of FERC policies for recreational development at licensed projects, FERC regulations and policies do not require exclusion of residential uses or structures within project areas if such uses or structures are found to be consistent with the goals and objectives of the SMP and in accordance with the use and occupancy provisions of the respective license,” according to the letter.

Heather Trautmann, with the CBCMA, said she was “completely thrilled with the letter.”

“It’s a fabulous letter; it states our point well by citing those various FERC cases,” she said. “There’s many cases in the US where FERC allows residential use on project lands.”