Integrated Licensing Process (ILP)

On December 17th, FERC issued its first license for a project using the ILP, Mystic Lake on West Rose Bud Creek in Montana. FERC # P-2301. The Developer is PPL Montana, and Mystic Lake is an 11.25 megawatt (MW) project near Fishtail, MT. The license requires the construction of public recreation facilities near the project as well as enhanced flows for whitewater boating. The license also requires the installation of new shutoff and minimum-flow valves to improve minimum flow reliability which would protect fish in the project’s bypassed reach. Other requirements would protect, mitigate and enhance water quality, fisheries, wildlife and cultural resources at the project.

http://www.ferc.gov/news/news-releases/2007/2007-4/12-17-07.asp [1]

Adopted in 2003, The Integrated Licensing Process (ILP) [2] integrates the development of license application and environmental review, and it coordinates FERC and other regulatory agencies that undertake such environmental review. In 2005, the ILP became the default process for relicensing within FERC. The Traditional (TLP) and Alternative Licensing Process (ALP) have tended to suffer from recurring process inefficiencies, including running disputes between FERC and other agencies over the boundaries between their respective jurisdictions. As a result, certain participants, including the HRC and the National Hydropower Association, formed the National Review Group (1998-2002), which developed joint recommendations for administrative reform. Federal agencies formed the Interagency Task Force (1999-2001) for the same purpose. FERC initiated the ILP rulemaking in response to these recommendations.