PP&L, Inc. kicked off a five-year process to renew its Federal Energy Regulatory Commission license to operate the Lake Wallenpaupack Dam and hydroelectric project Wednesday (4/14).

The utility's current FERC license expires in 2004. PP&L, Inc. plans to use a new process offered by FERC for relicensing called the Applicant-Prepared Environmental Assessment process.

"The APEA process provides opportunity for upfront involvement of all the project's stakeholders, including local, state and federal agencies; local government; community groups; businesses; property owners; and the public," said William J. Bergstresser, PP&L, Inc.'s Honesdale area community development director.

On Wednesday, PP&L, Inc. brought representatives of the groups together at the Settlers Inn, Hawley, for an organizational meeting of a core relicensing team that will work together to identify issues and resolve any potential concerns with the operation of the lake and its hydroelectric facility.

About 45 people attended, Bergstresser said. Groups represented included Palmyra Township supervisors; Hawley Borough; Pike and Wayne County commissioners; Wallenpaupack Area School District; Delaware River Basin Commission; Lake Wallenpaupack Watershed Association; the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Department of Environmental Protection and Fish and Boat Commission; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; FERC; local chambers of commerce; Power Boaters Association; Trout Unlimited; Lacawac Sanctuary; Pennsylvania Angler Sportsmen's Association; the Delaware River Master; and Pike County Conservation District.

The APEA process gives the utility and the stakeholders the first shot at balancing diverse interests in lake and hydroelectric plant operation, Bergstresser said. Some of these interests include recreation, water quality, sediment and erosion control, preservation of wildlife species and electricity generation.

"We want to express our appreciation to PP&L, Inc. and FERC for providing this opportunity," said Tom Peifer, Wallenpaupack Area School District superintendent. "Out of this process, we want to reach a consensus that will benefit the community."

"This process is the best thing that's happened around the lake in 30 years," said Andy Anderson of the Lake Wallenpaupack Watershed Association, noting that it offers an opportunity for all the parties to reach a compromise about lake operation.

The relicensing team will meet bimonthly during 1999 and expects to form work groups that will address the areas of operations and water use, water quality and recreation and boating, Bergstresser said.

PP&L, Inc. will hold a public meeting Sept. 1 at Wallenpaupack Area High School, Route 6, Palmyra Township, to offer an opportunity for anyone in the area to bring forward concerns about the relicensing, Bergstresser added.

"Lake Wallenpaupack provides an important economic, environmental and recreational resource for the area," he said. "Input from the many stakeholders is vital to the relicensing effort. We want to work with everyone to reach consensus about the operation of the lake and the hydroelectric facility."