Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond said Friday he is grateful a federal agency has put the brakes on a proposed hydroelectric power plant on the Kiamichi River in Pushmataha County near Talihina.
Plans called for the plant to be located in Pushmataha County along the Kiamichi River near Talihina. The 1,200-megawatt plant would be used to transmit power to a substation in Paris, Texas, according to plans filed by the corporation with the federal government.
Drummond, in a press release on Friday, said he was grateful the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission “is putting the brakes” on the plant’s proposal.
According to Drummond, the FERC found the plant’s updated proposed study plan was insufficient to proceed with the study planning process in a letter last month to Southeast Oklahoma Power Corporation and that the Dallas-based SEOPC must file a second updated proposed study plan with FERC that includes the required explanations by March 22.
“This is welcome news for Oklahomans who treasure the Kiamichi River and how this proposal would adversely impact property owners, wildlife and the river itself,” Drummond said.
Formal letters of opposition were sent to the FERC from the Choctaw Nation and Oklahoma Drummond stating concerns about the proposed plant.
U.S. Rep. Josh Brecheen, R-Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State Rep. Jim Grego, R-Wilburton, also voiced public opposition to the plant.
“One of our Tribe’s top priorities is defending our sovereignty, which includes protecting our culture and community. These efforts include being good stewards of our land and natural resources,” Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Chief Gary Batton said in his letter. “Fortunately, FERC has recognized it must not issue preliminary permits for projects on tribal land if a project is opposed by a tribe, and we call on the agency to adhere to that policy.”
Drummond in his letter stated the project appeared to be inconsistent with an agreement between Oklahoma and the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations intended to preserve the flow of the Kiamichi River and surrounding resources.
“As the chief law officer of the State of Oklahoma, I will not tolerate violation of Oklahoma law or flagrant disregard for the sovereignty or federal law, protected rights of a tribal nation and similarly situated property owners,” Drummond wrote in his letter. “Most of the proud Oklahomans who call the Kiamichi region home have lived there for generations. I intend, as Oklahoma’s Attorney General, to ensure that their private property rights are safeguarded to the full extent of the law.”
Batton said his tribe appreciated the efforts of the FERC to halt the project, which his tribe adamantly opposed.
“ As a sovereign nation, we will continue fighting for our people and land,” Batton said in a statement. “We thank FERC for thoroughly examining this project and look forward to continuing to collaborate with our partners to support the communities and resources on the reservation.”