Non-Treaty Storage Agreement

• PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

  Bonneville Power Administration is negotiating a new long-term non-Treaty storage agreement (NTSA) with BC Hydro that would allow for mutual use of Canadian storage space on the Columbia River that is not part of Canadian storage under the Columbia River Treaty. If the negotiations are successful, the new NTSA would provide power and non-power benefits for BPA, BC Hydro, and Canadian and U.S. interests through September 15, 2024. The proposed agreement would provide opportunities to achieve benefits for ESA-listed fish by using non-Treaty storage in Canada to shape water releases within the year to improve summer flows, and between years to improve spring flows in the lowest water conditions, along with other benefits.

• CURRENT STATUS:

  BPA has already reached out to many stakeholders through ongoing federal, state, and tribal coordination. Public meetings were held in May and June of 2011.

  BPA prepared a categorical exclusion on March 22, 2012, for the proposed NTSA. BPA followed procedures of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Department of Energy NEPA Implementing Procedures.

• CONTACT:

  For further information on this project, please contact:

  Sandra Ackley, Environmental Protection Specialist, Bonneville Power Administration - KEC-4, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, OR 97208-3621; direct telephone 503-230-3824; toll-free telephone 1-800-282-3713; or e-mail sjackley@bpa.gov.

  Pam Kingsbury, Project Manager, Bonneville Power Administration - PGP-5, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, OR 97208-3621; direct telephone 503-230-3800; toll-free telephone 1-800-282-3713; or e-mail pakingsbury@bpa.gov.