YBSA Monthly Report November, 2006
YBSA Monthly Report
November, 2006
The Planned Formulation Phase of the Yakima Basin Storage Study: Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) promised YBSA that the report on the Preferred Alternatives of the Yakima Basin Storage Study would be available November 14. Once again BOR is late and the report still is not available at the end of November. Every deadline the BOR has set since the start of the study has been late and the cost of the study continues to escalate. YBSA continues to try to put together a work plan for the next two years, but the delayed Preferred Alternatives report makes it difficult to complete our planning process. The BOR has stated the Yakima Basin Storage Study (Black Rock) feasibility report and Environmental Review will be completed by December, 2008. Washington State Department of Ecology has assured YBSA that they believe the BOR will meet the completion date.
YBSA Board Meeting: The YBSA Board of Directors met to plan the 2007 budget and work plan. Concerns were raised about the State’s Columbia River Initiatives, how it will affect the completion of the Black Rock Study and the Black Rock Project. Without the completed preferred alternative report planning has been postponed until December.
Meeting with Department of Energy: Members of YBSA scheduled a meeting with the Department of Energy Director Jay Manning and Derek Sandison our Regional Director. Jay couldn’t attend the meeting but called from somewhere in the Columbia Basin. YBSA expressed our concerns about all the publicity for the Columbia Basin Project being in the forefront with what appears to be little support for Black Rock. Also, our concerns that Black Rock could be delayed for years while we wait for even more studies of other alternatives. The Yakima Basin is in need of additional storage to meet the needs of fish, cool clean water, municipal growth, and agriculture and Black Rock will provide those benefits. Director Manning assured us the State is continuing its support for completion of the Yakima Basin Storage Study (Black Rock) and will continue to push the BOR to meet its stated completion date of December, 2008
Meeting with Port of Sunnyside: YBSA met at the Port of Sunnyside with our consulting firm doing the Recreation and Economic Study of property around Black Rock Reservoir. We discussed the importance of recreation and development showing both short and long term values.
Contributions to YBSA: Port of Sunnyside, Benton County and Yakima County each have contributed $25,000 to the study. Phase one of the report will be available by December 11 and the completed study by the end of December.
Energy Nothwest’s Report: The first draft of Energy Northwest’s Review of Black Rock Power Costs and Benefits is available and the final report is due shortly.
Other Meetings: Meeting with and reports were given to the Port of Benton, City of Yakima Economic Development Committee, Kennewick Irrigation District, Sunnyside Rotary (See Attachment), and a request for funding to the Yakima City Council was presented by Sid Morrision.
THE BOR JUST INFORMED YBSA THAT THEIR MEETING WITH YBSA TO REVIEW THE REPORT ON THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE WILL BE DECEMBER 7 AT 2:00 PM AT THE BOR OFFICE.
THE BOR HAS DELIVERED COPIES OF THE STUDY DEFINING THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVES WEDNESDAY EVENING AND WILL BE SENDING OUT A PRESS RELEASE THURSDAY MORNING ANNOUNCING THE REPORT.