I understand that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has received a Notice of Intent and Pre-Application Document from Southeast Oklahoma Power Corporation (SEOPC) for a proposed pumped storage facility in Pushmataha County, Oklahoma. The project intends to
store energy and send it to Texas within the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) power grid.

By signing this petition, I confirm that am oppose this project as it would adversely affect my property and livelihood.

Help us to Save the Kiamichi River.

The applicant needs to perform more studies to fully quantify the damages that may occur to our natural resources through their project development. Additional study requests are included in this
letter.
The pumped storage hydroelectric plant has indicated that it intends to divert water directly from the Kiamichi River via an intake 1.5 feet from the bottom of the riverbed. This is concerning as the region has recently seen increased tourism from visitors who want to spend time on the river
and in the area. This large project being placed directly off the river will significantly affect that industry.
Landowners with senior water rights downstream of this proposed project will see a reduction in their ability to utilize their permits for this junior user. Ecosystems dependent on river flows will suffer due to the massive amount of water this project will remove from the river to fill the
impoundments.
Lake Hugo receives its water from the Kiamichi River, which flows downstream. The volume of water used to fill the impoundments has the potential to degrade the water flowing into the United States Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) reservoir, which serves not only as a recreational area but also as a residential public water supply.
Digging into the subsurface could damage the senior property rights of groundwater wells in the general area. Domestic wells can experience drawdown if the subsurface water table has been breached and the water enters the impoundment rather than the river.

I am concerned that debris and unvegetated soil from construction activities could damage the Kiamichi River's water quality during high precipitation events. This would reduce the water quality for senior water rights users and aquatic wildlife and diminish the flows in the Kiamichi
downstream due to sedimentation accumulations.
I have a list of potential concerns, and I encourage SEOPC to study in good faith as a good neighbor to reduce or mitigate the damages that will occur with this proposed project.

Scope of Study Area
� I request that the study area be modified to include the Little River Basin. The proposed applicant intends to dam the headwaters of Long Creek, which flows into the Little River Basin. The impacts on the Little River and the Little River Basin should be studied as part of this project to determine the impacts on aquatic life.
� I request that the study area be modified to include the Red River Basin as the water flow from the Kiamichi River will be decreased during construction by 10-15% (per the applicant), and long-term, will be reduced to accommodate evaporative losses. The Kiamichi River flows into the Red River. What are the impacts on the Red River Basin
and associated groundwater wells?
Geology and Soils
� What are the potential impacts to flow, and their magnitude, from subsurface seepage through the surrounding alluvium aquifer in the Kiamichi River Basin due to digging the impoundment pond and lower reservoir through and below the alluvium?
� If any impacts occur, how will they be mitigated to prevent unpermitted subsurface flow, surface water quality, and water quantity issues?
� How will erosion from the edge of the Kiamichi River channel to the impoundment pond be mitigated? Will it be continuously monitored during the project's life, 30, 40, 50 years into the future?
� Where will the spoil/debris go from excavating the impoundment pond? Will they impact water quality or surrounding terrestrial habitats? If so, how will that be avoided, minimized, or mitigated?
� Will there be a management plan for stormwater runoff during initial construction? If so, can the general public review and address any concerns related to that plan?
Aquatic Resources
� Will the reservoirs or impoundment pond be lined with a material to prevent seepage into or from the aquifer? What materials will be used?
� What management plan will be developed for hazardous materials during construction (e.g., fuel) to prevent contamination of water resources in the watershed?

� Will water quality monitoring, including salinity, be established in the reservoirs after construction and on any discharges into the Kiamichi River and its watershed?
� Will algaecides and biocides be used in the reservoirs or pumping mechanisms? What will those be, and what are the potential impacts on water, aquatic wildlife, and the surrounding environment?
� Will measures be in place to prevent avian and aquatic interactions with both reservoirs and the impoundment pond?
� Will corrosion inhibitors, lubricants, or potentially carcinogenetic chemicals be added to the water at any time during the life of this project? If so, what are they and what are they used for, specifically?
� How will diversions be monitored during the initial fill and each year thereafter? Will gages be installed? What, if any, methodology will be used?
� Once initial fill is achieved, how will flooding events be addressed to prevent excess water consumption into the system?
� Should discharges occur in the upper reservoir, will those discharges be considered in-basin or out-of-basin discharges from the Kiamichi River Basin to the Little River Basin?
How will this be addressed under the Water Settlement Agreement and Water Settlement Act?
Terrestrial Resources
� Is there a management plan in place defining BMPs to minimize disturbances to the existing vegetation during construction and promptly revegetate the area to control erosion and protect terrestrial wildlife habitat?
� Are there annual and seasonal management plans to protect and prevent the extermination of federal endangered species in the project area?
� Will a preconstruction survey be performed to identify specific locations of endangered species within the project area?
� Will there be any monitoring of migratory waterfowl that would utilize the waters in the project area? What steps will be taken during the operation to protect these avian populations?
� What steps will be taken to protect terrestrial wildlife and people from accessing areas near the project area before, during, and after construction?
� Will access to the site be monitored? If so, how?
� Will fencing and subsequent signage be placed on the reservoirs, denoting their use and indicating that fishing, swimming, or other recreational activities are not allowed on the reservoirs and the site?
Cultural Resources
� Will there be an in-person and on-site archaeological assessment and coordination with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma prior to excavation and construction to identify culturally significant artifacts, sites, plants, or historic sites?

� Will an archaeologist be on-site during excavation and construction to monitor construction activities that may yield previously unidentified cultural resources?
� What management plan is in place if items of cultural significance are found? Who will be contacted? How will they be protected?
Socioeconomic Resources
� How many local permanent employees will be retained at the facility after completion?
� Will these employees be sourced locally, or will they be from outside locations?
� Will any educational seminars, workshops, or information be provided to surrounding landowners and communities?
� How will the existing landowner be compensated?
Mental Health
� What are the mental health implications of this project continuing to move forward in the approval process?
� How does SEOPC plan to address the mental health concerns of the community and those within the project area?
� Will SEOPC be compensating people who must seek mental health treatment for issues related to this project?

Study of Alternatives
� I request that the applicant and FERC review alternatives given the rapid advances in BESS (Battery Energy Storage Systems)

I oppose this proposed project and encourage the Commission to deny the permit.