The Federal Register issued a Notice this week of a ‘Surrender of License’ application from Moon Lake Electric Association concerning the Uintah Hydroelectric Project. Located in Duchesne County near the town of Neola, the project diverts water from the Uinta River, Big Springs Creek, and Pole Creek and nearly all project features are located on Tribal lands of the Uintah and Ouray Native American Reservation and federal lands. The Description of Request on the Federal Register states: Following the 2017 filing of a license application and continued consultation with parties regarding potential licensing recommendations, the applicant ultimately determined that the appropriate course of action is to surrender the project license. The project includes two concrete diversion structures, two canals, a forebay, a penstock, a powerhouse with two generating units, and interconnection facilities. Under the proposal, some of these project features will be removed while leaving others in place. Those retained features will then be transferred to the Ute Indian Tribe. Project features to be removed include the scour protection weir which traverses the Uinta River; the elevated pipeline that supplies water to the main canal; the Pole Creek diversion structure; the substation; and two operator houses. Features to be retained include: the main canal heading structure and main canal, the Big Springs diversion structure (and access road); the project forebay, the powerhouse; and garage. The transmission line that provides electricity to legacy cabins and the nearby Ute Fish Hatchery will be retained. Some of the project fencing will also be retained. The deadline for filing comments is March 31st.
