Major Projects Division

The Major Projects Division is a technical assistance group comprised of three sections, the Oil Spill Team, Major Projects Section and the Wind and Water Energy Section.

Major Projects staff provides technical assistance on oil spills municipal and agricultural water supply and storage, energy projects, (natural gas, wind, hydroelectric, wave, tidal and nuclear). Technical assistance activities include both existing and proposed energy facilities. . Staff operates within the regulatory framework of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) licensing process, the Federal Clean Water Act (Section) 401 (K) process, the State of Washington Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) process and various other regulatory processes.

The Major Projects Division works to address the needs of fish and wildlife and their habitats to enhance and protect natural resources and develop mitigation for power generation. This is accomplished through a collaborative process involving the project proponent, state, federal and tribal agencies, and species experts with disciplines specific to natural resources in Washington State and the Pacific Northwest.

Major Projects Division Sections

Major Projects Section

The Major Projects Section provides technical assistance on the largest of Washington’s Energy and Water Projects. These include hydroelectric energy, thermal electric power plants, marine energy, water storage, flow management and nuclear energy. Project impacts are oftentimes on the scale of 10’s to 100,000’s of acres.

The Major Projects Section staff works regionally and statewide to provide comprehensive programmatic level resource protection and management recommendations. Project issues are oftentimes significant, complex, and involve many opposing interests, taking years to resolve.

 

Wind and Water Energy Section

The Wind and Water Energy Section currently reviews and provides technical support for all wind turbine power generation projects and assists the Washington Department of Ecology with 401 certification of hydroelectric projects under the Federal Clean Water Act (Section) 401 (K). This is accomplished through the coordination of technical expertise from representatives of other state and federal agencies, Tribes, nonprofit organizations, private stakeholders and WDFW biologists.

The 2003 “WDFW Wind Power Guidelines” are currently under a comprehensive stakeholder review. The outcome of this effort will be an updated and revised guidance document for wind power developers in Washington State. The revised Wind Power Guidelines will incorporate recent research and assessment of effects on fish and wildlife related to Wind Power Development, providing technical assistance in the review of Wind Energy proposals throughout the State of Washington.