Miami closer to resolving flooding issues

MIAMI, Okla. – Miami Mayor Bless Parker is celebrating a recent Federal Energy Regulatory Commission order that strengthens the City of Miami’s claims in its decades-long battle with the Grand River Dam Authority over flooding issues facing Miami residents.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC, affirmed in their June 27 order, that the GRDA has violated its current license, and that those violations must be remedied before GRDA receives a new license.

The commission also denied GRDA’s request for a rehearing.

Justin Alberty, GRDA spokesman sent an email declining to comment on the ruling.

Parker also called out GRDA for its use of scare tactics in the fight.

“GRDA has made claims and used scare tactics of taking property, raising electric rates before they have ever been ordered to buy any easements,” Parker said, “It’s flat-out propaganda and threats that this would have to be passed on to ratepayers, but this also seems to be GRDA’s acknowledgment of their fear of FERC holding them accountable.”

“Miami has always been willing to sit down at the table and negotiate a great solution for all parties involved, but GRDA has always resisted a fair compromise and maybe this decision will bring them to the table and solve this issue once and for all,”  Parker said.

“Miami’s ready, is GRDA?” Parker said.

The FERC Ruling

“Our argument is GRDA failed to acquire necessary flowage rights on lands exceeding the limits of its existing flowage easements by 13,000 acres in or around Miami,” Parker said.

In the new order, FERC concludes the “Mead & Hunt Model” study did not include the scenario necessary to quantify the backwater effects caused by the existence of the project.  FERC concluded that flooding has increased since the construction of the project and that the backwater effects exceed the limits of the existing flowage easements.

“In the Commission’s judgment, the evidence of record is sufficient to determine that flooding is caused by the existence and operation of the (Pensacola) project,” the June 27 order states.

FERC rejected GRDA’s attempt to blame the US Corps of Army Engineers throughout the licensing process, Parker says referring to the ruling.

“Political influence should not factor into these important decisions, and we’re glad FERC is looking at data, science, real information and facts to make their determinations,” Parker said, “This is real progress and we’re looking forward to a comprehensive solution to the flooding in Miami caused by the Pensacola Project.”

The Commission has directed GRDA only to prepare a report that will identify specific parcels of land that have been affected by flooding upstream of the project and describe the extent of the impacts, Parker said, referring to the order.

Whether GRDA must acquire additional lands is a question for a later time, he said.

Former Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe’s 2019 amendment, the Pensacola Act, specifically attempted to tilt the rules in favor of GRDA and limit FERC’s authority to regulate water levels and set project boundaries for the Pensacola Dam. The amendment also attempts to suppress tribal authority over federal land relevant to the dam.

FERC reaffirmed in its Order the Federal Power Act precludes the application of the Pensacola Act to the existing license.

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