Avista Corp Spokane River Hydroelectric Project Environmental Assessment
Summary
FERC staff prepared an Environmental Assessment for Avista Corporation's non-capacity amendment application to Project No. 2545 on the Spokane River. The proposed action involves rehabilitating the North Channel Dam by replacing all spillway gates. The project spans Spokane, Lincoln, and Stevens counties in Washington and Kootenai and Benewah counties in Idaho, including tribal lands. Public comments are due May 4, 2026.
What changed
FERC staff completed an Environmental Assessment under NEPA for Avista Corporation's proposed non-capacity amendment to Project No. 2545. The amendment involves rehabilitating the North Channel Dam by replacing all spillway gates on the Spokane River. The project affects multiple counties in Washington and Idaho and occupies federal and tribal lands, including parts of the Coeur d'Alene Reservation.
Affected parties including energy companies, tribal nations, environmental groups, and local governments should submit comments by May 4, 2026. The EA concludes that the proposed amendment with appropriate environmental measures would not constitute a major federal action significantly affecting the environment, suggesting a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) may follow. Parties with interests in hydroelectric licensing, environmental review, tribal lands, or Spokane River use should monitor this proceeding.
What to do next
- Submit public comments by May 4, 2026 5:00 PM ET via FERC eFiling system
- Review the EA on FERC elibrary using docket P-2545
- Contact Woohee Choi at FERC for further information
Archived snapshot
Apr 8, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Content
In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (Commission
or FERC) regulations, 18 CFR part 380, Commission staff reviewed Avista Corporation's application for non-capacity amendment
of the Spokane River Hydroelectric Project No. 2545 and have prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the project. (1) The licensee proposes to rehabilitate the North Channel Dam by replacing all existing gates on the spillway. The project is
located on the Spokane River in Spokane, Lincoln, and Stevens counties, Washington, and in Kootenai and Benewah counties,
Idaho. The project occupies federal and tribal lands, including parts of the Coeur d'Alene Reservation.
The EA contains Commission staff's analysis of the potential environmental effects of the proposed action, alternatives to
the proposed action, and concludes that the proposed amendment, with appropriate environmental measures, would not constitute
a major federal action that would significantly affect the quality of the human environment.
The EA may be viewed on the Commission's website at http://www.ferc.gov using the “elibrary” link. Enter the docket number (P-2545) in the docket number field to access the document. For assistance,
contact FERC Online Support at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll-free at 1-866-208-3676, or for TTY, (202) 502-8659.
You may also register online at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp to be notified via email of new filings and issuances related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC
Online Support.
All comments must be filed by May 4, 2026 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file comments using the Commission's eFiling system at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp. Commenters can submit brief comments up to 6,000 characters, without prior registration, using the eComment system at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ecomment.asp. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support. In lieu of electronic filing, you may submit a paper copy. Submissions
sent via the U.S. Postal Service must be addressed to: Debbie-Anne A. Reese, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
888 First Street NE, Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426. Submissions sent via any other carrier must be addressed to: Debbie-Anne
A. Reese,
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852. The first page of any filing
should include docket number P-2545-205.
For public inquiries and assistance with making filings such as interventions, comments, or requests for rehearing, contact
the Office of Public Participation at (202) 502-6595 or OPP@ferc.gov.
For further information, contact Woohee Choi at 202-502-6336 or woohee.choi@ferc.gov.
(Authority: 18 CFR 2.1)
Dated: April 2, 2026. Carlos D. Clay, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2026-06708 Filed 4-6-26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
Footnotes
(1) The unique identification number for documents relating to this environmental review is EAXX-019-20-000-1762338353.
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