As part of his longtime leadership of working with his Lake of the Ozarks communities fighting the potentially serious impacts of a shoreline management plan proposed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-9) is calling on the federal agency to quickly review Ameren’s submitted shoreline plan proposal for the area that was submitted yesterday.

In a letter sent to FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff, Luetkemeyer is seeking an expedited review of the FERC proposal in order to provide as much certainty as possible to concerned local property owners. Ameren’s proposal on project boundary changes at the Lake of the Ozarks must be approved by FERC before they can take effect.     

“I am pleased to see that Ameren understood the importance of this situation, and that they have worked quickly to remedy the shoreline management plan issue. It is my hope that FERC will do everything they can to ensure a speedy and appropriate response to Ameren’s shoreline plan so that our property owners will have some resolution to this issue,” Luetkemeyer said. “As a lifelong resident of Miller County, I have a unique understanding of what folks are going through right now, and that is why I continue to closely monitor the progress of the proposed management plan.”

On July 26, 2011, FERC issued an order modifying Ameren’s shoreline management plan for the Lake of the Ozarks.  This proposed order contained vague language that could have resulted in the removal of thousands of homes and other structures located within the newly determined project boundary.  The consequences could have been dire, not only for property owners, but everyone invested in the community. Luetkemeyer expressed serious concerns with FERC’s actions and worked with the Lake-area communities to address this troubling proposal.

On November 10, 2011, FERC granted Ameren’s request for a rehearing, along with a statement that ensured that any new shoreline management plan at the Lake of Ozarks would not adversely impact homes and structures.  It has been Luetkemeyer’s goal from the very beginning of this process to ensure that FERC’s revisions to the shoreline plan would not adversely impact the people and property at the Lake of the Ozarks.  

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