Pushmataha County Pumped Storage Project

The Southeast Oklahoma Power Corp. (SEOPC) has proposed to construct a hydropower project that would utilize the Kiamichi River to develop a pumped storage hydroelectric (PSH) generating facility located entirely within the Choctaw Nation Reservation in Pushmataha County, Oklahoma with transmission lines running to Paris, Texas.

Choctaw Nation’s Response

The Choctaw Nation is a federally recognized sovereign nation with rights and obligations to protect our homeland, including our cultural and ecological resources. On July 3rd, the Choctaw Nation issued a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) detailing why CNO opposed the project in our reservation.

The Choctaw Nation has concerns regarding:

• Our sovereign responsibility to the short-term and long-term sustainable use and protection of natural resources within the reservation.
• The short-term and long-term impacts to water quantity and water quality, both in groundwater and surface water.
• Protection of the Kiamichi River which sustains countless communities, ecosystems, economies, and cultures.
• Adverse impacts to endangered and threatened species, many of which are cultural resources to the Choctaw Nation.
• Protection of at least thirty-six historical and archeological sites, all of which require additional actions under the National Historic Preservation Act.
• Adherence to the historic Water Settlement Agreement with the State of Oklahoma, which recognizes Choctaw Nation treaties and addresses ecological concerns by establishing management principles related to the release and reserves of water in the Kiamichi Basin.
• Concerns for the short-term and long-term impacts to recreation, tourism, and further economic development within the Kiamichi River Basin.
• Concerns for the short-term and long-term impacts to recreation, tourism, and further economic development within the Kiamichi River Basin.

What you can do

If you share similar concerns as the Choctaw Nation or have additional concerns about the environment or properties impacted by this project, individuals have until Nov. 5 to submit public comments to FERC’s office. The links below detail how to submit comments on FERC’s website and tips for writing an effective comment. Together, we can protect the land and resources on the reservation.

To view documents related to this project, you can follow the following steps:

• In your chosen browser search for “FERC elibrary” or go to https://elibrary.ferc.gov/
• Select “General Search”
• Enter P-14890 in the “Enter Docket Number”
• In “Select Date Range”, change the “*From” date to Jan. 1, 2019, and keep the “*To” field as today’s date
• Click “Search” and all documents from the beginning of the project filings will populate for your review.

Below is the contact information to engage your Federal and State legislators: