THE ASSEMBLY ee Renan Mena Edein STATE OF NEW YORK coon rea. Shree Goceveon ALBANY eveR Lopez vowen Ascombiymar, 102" AD. lek Puerto Rear Wpanic and ‘Acar Leis Caves Albany, Counble,De'swae, usta RicavHipani Tak Force Grae, Osa, Sota te fm, Fob ane NutrtonPoiey Task Force ‘User Courees March 20, 2017 Ms. Kimberly Bose Secretary Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 888 First Street, N.E Washington, D.C. 20426 Re: Blenheim-Gilboa Pumped Storage Project, FERC No, 2685-026 Dear Secretary Bose: This letter is provided to express my office's deep concems regarding the New York Power Authoriy’s good faith engagement in flood tesiliency/mitigation issues as it seeks FERC relicensing for the Blenheim- Gilboa Pumped Storage Project (B/G) As you will note in the altached correspondence between local, state and federal interests and NYPA President/CEO Mr. Gil C. Quiniones, flood resiiencyimitigation has been a longstanding point of extreme sensitivity with the downstream communities (see letter from my office and others dated April 8, 2018). Despite assurances ftom NYPA to the contrary (see NYPA response of May 21, 2015), my office and others are of the belief that the Authority does not truly wish to modify the B/G physical plant nor its management protocols in order to provide greater protections to residents and property owners affected by /G's operation Instead, | believe that NYPA is seeking to downplay the significance of flooding and prevent this conversation from being conducted within the scope of the FERC relicensing process. In addition, | also believe that NYPA is seeking to advance analysis methodologies that minimize the significance of potential flood threats to the B/G faciity and those downstream (see my letter dated March, 20, 2017 to President Quinones). These actions are unacceptable, and | am therefore respectilly requesting that any licensing renewal granted by your ofe oocur only after FERC has conducted an exhaustive analysis of flood resilency/mitigation concerns at the B/G faclty, | am also requesting that the 80-year licensing renewal window be reduced in length to allow more frequent, artical analysts of the physical plant and its operation, While the 50-year horizon may have served a public purpose in the past, | maintain that, given more rapid changes in our society and the environment, 2 more frequent interval for assessing the B/G facility's operation would be in the public's best interest. ALBANY OFFICE: Room 402, Lesictasv Otto Bung, Aan, Now York 1224 DISTRICT OFFICES: 45 Five ie Weoee Rone, Sue 8 Cals New Yor: “13 Pak Fae, Sute 6, Sehohale, Now York 12NGT° ere 20 8-455 5260, FAX 5104555858 ‘SgebTa71, FAX S16-96.022 Prove 8 FaxBlenheinvGilboa Pumped Storage Project March 20, 2017 Page 2 Please bear in mind that this request is not made idly. | fuly understand the Blenheim-Gilboa Pumped Storage Project's purpose to help meet the peak energy supply needs of the people of the State of New York and am in no way seeking to prevent NYPA from continuing its operation. Given recent history and Projections for more intense and frequent storm events, however, it is imperative that we all exercise due dligence and caution withthe flood mitigation component of the B/G licensing application ‘Thank you for your thoughtful attention to this critical issue. | look forward to your prompt response. Respectfully, ~\ oy +@i Oe 1h Xyy Peter D. Lopez 2 Assemblyman, 102nd A.D. Enclosures oc: NY Governor Andrew Cuomo US Senator Charles Schumer US Senator Kirsten Gilbrand US Congressman John Faso, 19% CD US Congressmen Paul Tonko, 20% CD ANY Senator George Amedore, 46 SO NY Senator James Sewer, 5 SD NY Assembiyman Johin McDonald Il, 108% AD NY Assemblywoman Patricia Fahy, 109% AD NY Assembiyman Angelo Santabarbara, 1118 AD NY Assembiyman Phil Stec, 114" AD Ms. Kimberly Bose, Secretary, FERC Schoharie County + Eat Van Wormer il, Chaimnan, Board of Superisors Steve Wilson, County Administrator Shery Lergeteau, Clerk, Boer of Supervisors Inlea Jayeox, County Clerk liam Cherry, Treasurer Shawn Smith, Supervisor, Town of Blenheim Philip Skoutoe, J, Supervisor, Town of Fulton Antony Van Glad, Supervisor, Town of Giboa ‘Gerald Pete Coppalo, Sr, Superisr, Town of Middesburgh + Christopher Tague, Supenisor, Town of Schoharie + Charles Jonnston, Mayer, Vilage of Esperance Matthew Avitze, Mayor, Vilage of Midcieburgh Sohn Borst, Mayor, Vilage of Schoharie ‘Anthony Desmond, Sherif Michae! Hartz, Director, Office of Emergency Senices + Georgia Van Dyke, Executive Directar, Chamber of Commerce Montgomery County + Mathew Ossenfort, County Executive + Roy Dimond, Chairman ofthe Legislature Michae! Vila, Mayor, City of Amsterdam Schenectady County + Kathleen Rooney, County Manager + Anthony Jasensii, Chal, County Legislature + Gary MoCarthy, Mayor, Gy of Schenectady Albany County + Daniel McCoy, County Executive + Sean Ward, Cheirman of te Leoisieture + Katty Sheehan, Mayor, City of Albany ALBANY OFFICE: Room 402, Leislve Offce Bung, Abary. New York 12248" 516-455-5865, FAX S1065.5050 DETRICT OFFICES! 45 Five Ute Wooce Rone Sue 8 Cate New Yor ata“ ste-b4ee' 971, PAK Sreeeateze "18 Par Pace, Sutee, Sahohare, NOW YOx 12167 "818296-7280 Phone & Fax