The Feds
Are Coming, The Feds Are Coming, The Feds Are Coming!
As an organization and as interested
Grand Lakers have we been lulled to sleep because the memories of the shoreline
management process have become faded over the past three years? Yes we have and
it’s my opinion the prevailing attitude out there is that the SMP is a
done-deal and that alarmist like me were way overstating the intent of FERC and
their ilk. We need look no further than Osage Beach and Lake of the Ozarks to
get a preview of coming attractions for Grand Lake.
Lake of the Ozarks filed their plan
approximately six to nine before the Grand Lake plan was finalized and
forwarded to Washington. Most over there, who I talked with on multiple
occasions throughout the process, felt like it was a “Done-Deal.” Can you
imagine their shock when the final plan came back with more than just a few
bureaucratic additions?
I talked Friday with Joyce Miller, a
reporter for the Lake Sun Newspaper, who has authored over a hundred or so
stories on the Lake of the Ozarks FERC adventure. The most alarming addition,
compliments of FERC, was calling for the removal of most items within the
project boundary…including over 1,000 homes. It also addresses previously
permitted retaining walls, boardwalks, gazebos, patios and other structures
considered to be on Ameren Electric property. There were also some federal
surprises relating to docks, both commercial and residential, including the
exclusion of any provision for grandfathering structures completed before the
federal regs went into effect. Miller’s most recent articles can be found at www.lakenewsonline.com by searching
FERC.
I can visualize the Duck Creek Fireworks
Show paling in comparison to the explosions on Millionaire Cove if one of those
homeowners happens to be encroaching within the Ameren boundary. But we’re
finding out we’re not alone in this fight as lakes in Connecticut and Virginia
were targeted ahead of Lake of the Ozarks and Grand Lake. I believe, if I
understand it correctly, that one of the Virginia lake property owner had an
ongoing battle with FERC regarding dock permitting even prior to the heavy-handed
SMP was implemented. He formed an organization, similar to GLUE, called
Curb-FERC. Follow this link to check it out: http://www.curb-ferc-aep.com.
There is a nationwide grass roots effort
to stand up to FERC and demand some changes. The Curb-FERC group has found a
way to petition the White House to review FERC and some of what they are
shoving down our collective throats. The promise from the White House staff is
that if 5,000 petition signatures are collected by October 28th they
will review the matter. In my opinion this has gone far enough…It’s time for
all lakes under FERC control to band together and get this Gestapo agency into
the lime light.
There is an e-mail circulating on Lake of
the Ozarks which explains the petition and how to sign it. I think ‘ol Rusty
Fleming’s sig is the first one from Grand Lake and I’d like to encourage each
one of you to join me in this effort. I’ll paste the e-mail below for your
review and consideration. This kind of crap isn’t supposed to take place in
these United States of America. Join me in this FERC Revolution!
Imagine that after building a house, deck, dock or
other structure with proper approvals, the Federal government threatens
after-the-fact to force you to remove the structure. This is what is happening
at a number of lakes through-out our country!*
A petition as been created on WhiteHouse.gov
requesting the administration review the Federal Energy Regulatory Commissions
("FERC") regulations of Smith Mountain Lake, Lake of the Ozarks and
others. Even if you do not have a direct connection with these lakes, many of
you live in communities that are impacted by their success. Please
consider signing the petition and requesting others you know to do the
same.. There is no obligation required by signing the petition and the
process is easy.
The petition is online at this URL: http://wh.gov/4V0. If you are having trouble
loading the petition, it may be due to security filters on your network
(particularly if you're at work.)
I believe it is important for us to build a coalition
with other lakes through-out the country that face similar concerns with FERC.
By uniting, we stand a much better chance of affecting policy. Even if you don't
entirely agree with the petition or are not sure that the administration
will pay much heed to it, this petition does afford a way to reach-out to other
lakes and build our coalition. Please sign it now!
We petition the Obama Administration to CURB FERC
regulations, which overreach and overregulate the shorelines of its
hydroelectric projects.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is enforcing
shoreline management rules decades after hydroelectric projects were first
developed. Retroactive rules are irrational, without reason, or scientific
basis. The burden of this regulation far outweighs any public benefit. The
impact on surrounding communities cannot be exaggerated as FERC rules are
discouraging private investment, lowering property values, killing jobs,
limiting access to project waters, inhibiting landowner’s ability to sell,
violating Federal, State and local ordinances, and trampling on personal
property rights. FERC is ignoring Executive Order 13563 and the 11 July 2011
supplemental order for Independent Agencies. Wise regulatory decisions depend
on careful analysis of the likely consequences of regulation.
How to Sign the Petition:
1. First go to this link http://wh.gov/4V0
2. Each signer has to first create an account by providing your name an email
address (no other information is required!)
3. You will receive a confirmation email with your user name and password
4. You have to confirm your email address by clicking on the link in the
confirming email
5. Go back to the site http://wh.gov/4V0
sign-in and sign the petition