In a startling announcement the federal agency considering a proposed $7-9 billion diversion of the Green River has dismissed the application for the project. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) was weighing an initial permit for the massive proposed diversion of the Green River at Flaming Gorge submitted by a Colorado water speculator.
This permit was dismissed as “premature” by FERC. Considering that FERC seemingly hands permits out like candy their denial of this preliminary permit speaks to how much opposition there was against this project. Indeed, the impact of the proposal can be seen by the sheer number of parties who protested the application. Intervening parties included U.S Forest Service, City of Green River, Wyoming, Sweetwater County Wyoming, Wyoming Fish and Game Department, Wyoming Governor’s Office, Colorado River and Upper Yampa Water Conservation Districts, Colorado Spring’s Utilities, Uintah County Commission and Conservation District, Sublette County Commission and Conservation District and a plethora of environmental groups including URC represented by Earthjustice. This FERC denial follows a similar dismissal by the Army Corps of Engineers in 2011.
The costly project would pull 250,000 acre feet of water through a 501-mile-long pipeline that would extend from two points of diversion on the Green River to a new reservoir near Pueblo, Colorado. The proposal threatened all those who depend on the Green and Colorado River’s for existence, play or business. The denial of this preliminary proposal is welcome news for water users, farmers, ranchers, recreationists and thousands of businesses that depend on this water source for their livelihood. The Colorado River is a globally important river that must be protected from short-sighted speculators.
Aaron Million, the speculator behind the project, has now appealed to FERC to “clarify and reconsider” their decision. Million seems to think this process is like an Etch-A-Sketch, where he can just keep shaking and redrawing until he finally wears down the federal agencies and the opposition. FERC often issues an additional order to deny rehearing and explain why the initial decision was correct. Please visit our website www.utahrivers.org to get the most up to date information on this issue.




