DOE/EIS-0150: Final Environmental Impact Statement

The Western Area Power Administration (Western) proposes to establish the level of its commitment (sales) of long- term firm electrical capacity and energy from the Salt Lake City Area Integrated Projects (SLCA/IP) hydroelectric power plants. Power generated by the SLCA/IP facilities or purchased by Western from other sources is provided to Western's customers under contracts that establish the terms for how capacity (generation capacity) and energy (quantity of electrical energy) are to be sold. The contracts also specify amounts of capacity and energy that Western agrees to offer for long-term (greater than 12 months) sale to its customers. These amounts constitute Western's "commitment levels." The capacity and energy level is called "firm" when its availability is guaranteed to the customer.

The alternative commitment level selected by Western must be consistent with its statutory obligations and legal constraints. This necessity requires a weighing of economic, environmental, and other public considerations. Western's action will have to achieve a balanced mix of purposes as follows: Provide the greatest practicable amount of long-term firm capacity and energy. Provide for the meeting of firming requirements as practicable by purchases of capacity and energy. Provide long-term resource and contractual stability. Provide the greatest practical value of the power resource. Result in the lowest practicable associated adverse environmental impacts. Be responsive and adaptable to likely future operations of SLCA/IP facilities. Be responsive to decisions from the Bureau of Reclamation's (Reclamation's) Glen Canyon Dam Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) (Reclamation 1995) and the Energy Planning and Management Program (EPAMP) EIS (Western 1995).