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Title: Use of mediation to resolve the dispute over low-head hydroelectric development at Swan Lake

Abstract

In 1978, the Maine Hydroelectric Development Corporation announced that the company planned to renovate five dams on the Goose River near Belfast, Maine to generate electricity. The most important part of the plan involved the use of the first of the dams, at the lower end of Swan Lake, to regulate the flow of water to the downstream dams. For Maine Hydro, management of the Swan Lake dam could make an otherwise marginal proposal lucrative. However, Swan Lake is vitally important to the residents of Swanville. The town was so concerned about the impact of this proposed hydroelectric project that it petitioned the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to deny Maine Hydro's application on the grounds that it would damage the environment, reduce property values and eliminate recreational opportunities for its citizens. This report was written by the mediator of the dispute and represents the views and behavior of the parties as the mediator understood them. It is intended to present the mediator's observations in a way which will inform and assist others who may someday face a difficult situation like the one the Town of Swanville and Maine Hydroelectric Development Corporation faced, and successfully resolved, in the spring andmore » summer of 1979.« less

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
New England Environmental Mediation Project, Boston, MA (USA)
OSTI Identifier:
6722138
Report Number(s):
DOE/RA/50167-01
DOE Contract Number:  
AC01-77PR50167
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
13 HYDRO ENERGY; 29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY AND ECONOMY; HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS; LEGAL ASPECTS; SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS; ADVERSARIES; DECISION MAKING; INTERVENORS; MAINE; PLANNING; INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS; NORTH AMERICA; NORTH ATLANTIC REGION; POWER PLANTS; USA; 130400* - Hydro Energy- Legislation & Regulations; 130600 - Hydro Energy- Environmental Aspects; 293000 - Energy Planning & Policy- Policy, Legislation, & Regulation

Citation Formats

O'Connor, D. Use of mediation to resolve the dispute over low-head hydroelectric development at Swan Lake. United States: N. p., 1980. Web. doi:10.2172/6722138.
O'Connor, D. Use of mediation to resolve the dispute over low-head hydroelectric development at Swan Lake. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/6722138
O'Connor, D. 1980. "Use of mediation to resolve the dispute over low-head hydroelectric development at Swan Lake". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/6722138. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/6722138.
@article{osti_6722138,
title = {Use of mediation to resolve the dispute over low-head hydroelectric development at Swan Lake},
author = {O'Connor, D},
abstractNote = {In 1978, the Maine Hydroelectric Development Corporation announced that the company planned to renovate five dams on the Goose River near Belfast, Maine to generate electricity. The most important part of the plan involved the use of the first of the dams, at the lower end of Swan Lake, to regulate the flow of water to the downstream dams. For Maine Hydro, management of the Swan Lake dam could make an otherwise marginal proposal lucrative. However, Swan Lake is vitally important to the residents of Swanville. The town was so concerned about the impact of this proposed hydroelectric project that it petitioned the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to deny Maine Hydro's application on the grounds that it would damage the environment, reduce property values and eliminate recreational opportunities for its citizens. This report was written by the mediator of the dispute and represents the views and behavior of the parties as the mediator understood them. It is intended to present the mediator's observations in a way which will inform and assist others who may someday face a difficult situation like the one the Town of Swanville and Maine Hydroelectric Development Corporation faced, and successfully resolved, in the spring and summer of 1979.},
doi = {10.2172/6722138},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6722138}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1980},
month = {Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1980}
}