Article from Chico Enterprise-Record.
https://www.chicoer.com/2022/10/28/pge-ordered-to-build-poe-powerhouse-hiking-trail/
By Michael Weber | mweber@chicoer.com |
October 28, 2022 at 9:48 a.m.
OROVILLE — When PG&E was issued a new license to operate the Poe Powerhouse along the North Fork Feather River in 2018, it was ordered to file a recreation plan including the construction of potential hiking trails.
After a back-and-forth about whether or not the hiking trails were feasible to build, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ordered PG&E on Oct. 20 to proceed with planning and constructing one trail called the Poe Hiking Trail.
“It’s one of the few places in the Feather River Canyon where you get away from the highway and you really feel like you’re somewhere out in the middle of nowhere,” American Whitewater Hydropower Specialist Dave Steindorf said.
In previous hearings, PG&E argued that the Poe Hiking Trail would be costly to build at around $2.5 million, much more than another estimation of $645,000 in a feasibility study by the Butte County Resource Conservation District.
It also said construction would impact private property and the local environment; and that the trail in general is not needed because demand for hiking in the area was low.
PG&E requested a rehearing on March 30 and an extension on Aug. 4 to modify or set aside the requirement to build the trail.
On Aug. 18, American Whitewater and the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance filed responses opposing PG&E’s request for extension on suspicion that the request is not based on the need for additional time to continue good-faith work, but rather an attempt to stay the commission’s order.
On Oct. 20, the commission denied the extension and ordered PG&E to file a plan and schedule for construction for the trail while rebutting against the energy company’s feasibility concerns.
In its order, the commission stated the feasibility study’s cost estimate was reasonable; the impacts to the environment and private property can be addressed; and that PG&E’s suggestion of low demand for the trail was an “impermissible collateral attack” on previous findings, backed up with no new evidence.
“It’s nice to see FERC affirm the things we said in our arguments,” Steindorf said. “FERC quite often has a history of just taking whatever the licensees say and treating that as gospel, but flatly rejected (their arguments).”
PG&E spokesperson Megan McFarland said the company has begun to reach out to stakeholders to determine an appropriate route for the Poe Hiking Trail.
As part of the planning process, PG&E will need to seek appropriate private land permits, address the need to conduct environmental surveys of plants, animals and cultural resources.
“PG&E is committed to designing and building safe recreation sites, including trails such as the Poe Hiking Trail. We will design the trail to meet PG&E safety standards, as well as standards from the U.S. Forest Service on their lands,” McFarland said in an email.
Construction will begin after all land rights and permits have been obtained.
The Poe Hiking Trail will follow closely along the North Fork Feather River and will be accessible off Highway 70 near the community of Pulga.
The new trail will revitalize trails originally constructed for resource extraction, approximately 3.4 miles in length including historic mining trails, according to a study by the Butte County Resource Conservation District.
About 20% of the trail is currently suitable for recreational use while the rest needs construction to be suitable for recreational use, the report said.
The trail is located near the ignition point of the 2018 Camp Fire.