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Pacific Rivers and Idaho Rivers United File Petition Challenging Clean Water Act Certification by Tess Goodwin Boise Public Radio, July 25, 2019

Original 50-year Federal Energy Regulatory Commission license issued to the Hells Canyon Complex expired in 2005;
the Commission must certify that the Complex's activities will not violate Oregon's water quality standards

This week, Pacific Rivers and Idaho Rivers United filed a petition challenging the way power is harnessed at the Hells Canyon complex. The groups claim the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, or DEQ, did not meet requirements when they gave certification to Idaho Power.

Idaho Power is seeking a 50-year license for the dams. Hells Canyon is on a state line, meaning both the Oregon and Idaho DEQs must give certifications for the utility to license their dams.

Kevin Lewis with Idaho Rivers United says there are multiple violations -- including temperature, mercury and fish migration -- that this certification ignored. These violations, says Lewis, can't wait any longer to be addressed.

"It will be a 50-year license and we think we shouldn't be kicking the can down the road for 50 more years before we even start talking about this", says Lewis. "This is something we need to address sooner than 50 years from now."

These claims will be heard by the Oregon State Court.