OKLAHOMA CITY – Attorney General Gentner Drummond praised the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) today for dismissing a proposed hydroelectric power plant on the Kiamichi River in Pushmataha County.

The Commission halted the plan last month after finding the Southeast Oklahoma Power Corporation’s (SEOPC) Proposed Study Plan (PSP) was insufficient to proceed with planning. SEOPC submitted an updated PSP on March 17, which the FERC deemed insufficient to proceed.

“This is a victory for Oklahomans who treasure the Kiamichi River and southeast Oklahoma,” Drummond said. “The power plant threatened harm to property owners, wildlife and the river itself.”

Drummond said he believes the project was inconsistent with numerous mechanisms in the state’s Water Settlement Agreement with the Choctaw Nation and the Chickasaw Nation that is intended to preserve the flow of the Kiamichi River and protect the region.

In its April 14 filing, the FERC said SEOPC did not include explanations in its updated plan of why several requested studies were not adopted as required by the Commission’s regulations.

The Chickasaw Nation and Choctaw Nation asked SEOPC to superimpose predicted sound contours on aerial photographs or maps of the projected area, yet the corporation responded that it is not proposing to study predicted sound levels as part of its environmental study.

“In preparing the PSP, SEOPC has not demonstrated the diligence needed under the Integrated Licensing Process (ILP) for the Pushmataha Project,” wrote Nicholas Jayjack, FERC director of the Division of Hydropower Licensing in the filing. “Due to SEOPC demonstrating a continued inability to adhere to the Commission’s ILP regulations and ongoing delays, the Notice of Intent and pre-application document for the Pushmataha Project are dismissed.”

Drummond has been a staunch opponent of efforts by SEOPC to establish a transmission line extending through Pushmataha and Mc-Curtain counties to provide power for Texas. In an August 2024 letter to FERC, Drummond had urged rejection of the application, noting that SEOPC provided only limited information to the commission and had not requested the proper state licenses or permits for the project.