City of Centralia, Washington v. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and Pacific Power and Light Company, Respondent-Intervenor

REINHARDT, Circuit Judge:

In this challenge to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s disposition of two competing applications to develop a hydroelectric project at a dam, we review the policies developed by the Commission to reconcile its differing mandates under the Federal Power Act and the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978, as amended by the Energy Security Act of 1980. We affirm those policies under the two acts and affirm its disposition of the competing applications.

I. BACKGROUND

A. Statutory Framework

Congress enacted the Federal Power Act (FPA) to promote the “…