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Toledo Bend BI-State Alliance
Meeting Minutes
April 23, 2001
The meeting was called to order by Larry Kelly
Jack Clark led the group in prayer
Introductions of those present were conducted.
The minutes of the last meeting were approved as posted on the Internet.
The treasurer was absent but the report indicated that the there was $2452.48 in the bank.
An agenda change was made to the new business section to add an item about election of a co chairman from Texas.
There was no DEDA report
There was no Region I report.
Modification to the By Laws are to be submitted to the membership and will be voted on in May.
The purpose of the modification is to allow the elected officials to have longer terms. This limitation of office was installed in the By Laws to ensure that individuals from both states would participate in the leadership. Since there is now a C0-Chairman from each state this limitation is not needed.
A motion was made seconded and passed authorizing the payment of 5.00 for the renewal of the licensed to operate.
The SRA provides weather information on frequency 162.425.
Lake Level Project
A report by the attorney for the SRALA was to be reviewed and comments returned by the following Friday. The draft report represented his interpretation of the capabilities of the SRAs to act on the lake level considering the legal documents he reviewed. The draft report supports the position the TBBSA has expressed all along.
Larry Kelly pointed out that the Toledo Bend Project Joint Technical Board meets in private and then makes recommendations to the Joint Operations Board without giving them adequate time to review and evaluate other options.
There is a plan now being considered to overhaul the generation units at the dam. It is estimated that it will take 6 months to overhaul each unit. The second generator will be overhauled the following year. The Joint Technical Board using the theory of protecting the dam and reduce the risk of flooding the SRAs intend to bring the water level to 165 ft MSL through December both years since they will have only one generator available. The power companies will do the work.
The following year the water level will be taken to 165 ft MSL in for the same reasons however, the SRA will try to have the FERC conduct their five-year dam inspection during that period.
The question was raised as to why the inspection was not moved up a year and conducted when the lake was down due to the generator overhaul. It was also questioned as to why the lake needed to be lowered that much. There may be a special joint board meeting convened to review these issues.
Also the members of the TBBSA questioned the length of the overhaul period and asked Larry to see about obtaining a timeline of the activity.
The next FERC collaboration meeting will be held April 24th. The dispute resolution team from FERC will be present at this meeting.
Agenda items at the meeting will be:
A review of the SRA actions associated with the drowning of a man and his son during the last flood.
Review the last meeting
Review the purpose of this meeting.
Obtain agreement on the agenda for this meeting
Discuss the confidentiality agreement and the ground rules.
Discuss the plans for the next meeting.
Several of the agencies wishing to participate in the collaborative process may be unable to if confidentiality agreements are required. This is because they are public agencies and cannot have closed door sessions. The forestry service and the TP&W have already said they cannot participate in the meetings if the confidentiality agreement is required to be signed by them. Larry has had some feedback from the Texas Attorney General indicating that the SRA may have the same problem.
A bill was filed with the LA Legislature for the control of the lake level. The reason for filing this bill has been the failure to respond on the part of the power companies to agreeing not to create agreements with the SRAs which would limit their ability to stop routine generation at 168 ft MSL.
Larry Kelly met with the governors office of LA., the power companies LA Senator Mike Smith and Rep Joe Salter who are supporting the bill The original bill may not be constitutional. The meeting resulted in an agreement to introduce another bill to establish a joint legislative group to study the lake level issue. The TBBSA and the Power Companies agreed to the proposal. The governors staff has also agreed to help this process. Larry has prepared a write up of what the TBBSA has done The power companies were cooperative.
On May 8 another FERC meeting will be held to deal with the concerns of the down river people.
The goals of the TBBSA concerning the FERC meetings were again reviewed.
New Business
A new C0-Chairman from Texas is needed as Maurice Patterson has submitted his resignation. Charles English and Bill McCarty will identify candidates.
A discussion of the lake level issues and the Texas legislation was conducted. It was felt that more contact would be required with Ron Lewis, Staples, and Christian.
A motion was made seconded and passed to pay a bill for 40.82 for copying expenses, It was also approved that a tank of gas be purchased for Larry’s trip to Houston.
The meeting was adjourned.
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