Groups Sign Broad River Hydropower Relicensing Agreement

In June, after nearly 6 years of work, several government agencies and conservation organizations signed a comprehensive relicensing settlement agreement (CRSA) for SCE&G's Parr and Fairfield hydroelectric facilities on the Broad River north of Columbia. The stakeholders that participated in the relicensing process included the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service, American Rivers, American Whitewater, Congaree Riverkeeper, and others. 

On June 28th, after the signing of the settlement agreement, SCE&G submitted the final relicensing application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Over the next few years, FERC will review the application, seek public comments, and make a final decision on the license.

The settlement agreement and new license should result in several environmental and recreational improvements. Through this process we expect to see improved minimum flows, water quality, and fisheries protection for the Broad River. There will also be improvements to recreational facilities, the establishment of a habitat enhancement fund, and several other initiatives.

You can see the CRSA and Final License Application on the Parr/Fairfield relicensing website here. You can also find more information in this press release from SCE&G and this blog post from American Rivers.