1985-07-25 Char-Koosta News

              Property Ot
Salish Kootenai Community College
Pablo, Montana
FERC says yes' to Kerr Dam relicensing agreement
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) met in regular session July 17 in Washington, D.C., and approved a 50-year "joint offer of settlement" for the operation of the Ken-Dam by the Montana Power Company and the Tribes.
Word about the decision was re-
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ceived by Tribal officials about 830 the morning of the 17th
Teresa Wall McDonald said the formal order accompanying the decision was signed about eight hours later. The agreement will become effective 50 days after the FERC order is issued, she said, with the first quarterly payment due shortly thereafter.
The first 30 of the 50 days are an appeal period, she said, during which the decision might be contested. Because several special-interest groups signed the agreement in addition to MPC and the Tribes, no protest is expected from those quarters.
The agreement, finalized October 4,
1984, after months of public hearings, debates and negotiation, calls for the Montana Power Company to operate the 50-year-old dam for the next 30 years, while paying the Tribes $9 million a year for use of the site, payable in quarterly installments. At the end of 30 years, the Tribes can buy out MPCs investment in the facility and then operate it
Other terms concerned transmission lines, Tribal member training, river flow rates, and dismissal of a court case about rental adjustments since the original license expired in 1980.
Tribal officials are happy about the (Continues on page 3)
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But what about the August per capita payment ? See Page 7
Irrigation O & M to be discussed August 9.
Are you an Indian landowner who has been wondering for years why you have to pay 0 & M charges to the Flathead Irrigation Project?
That question and related concerns will be the first topic of discussion at the August 9 regularly scheduled Council meeting in Pablo.
Acting project engineer August Mueller and 0 & M clerk Joan Krantz
are scheduled to be present to explain all the particulars and answer questions between 9 and 11 am
All affected Indian landowners are urged to attend the Friday meeting. Questions about the meeting may be addressed to Teresa Wall McDonald at 675-2700.