Sen. Shelley Moore Capito is asking the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to look into allegations about poor maintenance of Cheat Lake Park and lake recreation areas by Lake Lynn Generation, and to supply her with answers.

In her letter – dated Sept. 30 and published on Wednesday – Capito tells FERC she is sharing with it a letter submitted to her by the Rotary Club of Cheat Lake about the conditions at the park.

“I request that FERC look into this issue and request a response on your findings that I can provide the Rotary Club and my constituents who have raised additional concerns regarding the upkeep issues at Cheat Lake Park,” she tells FERC.

The club asks Capito for assistance regarding “growing concerns within our community” about Lake Lynn’s compliance with its licensing requirements for recreation management. “Recent observations and community reports have raised serious concerns about the conditions of public recreation areas maintained under Lake Lynn Generation’s license.”

The club highlights four topics:

• Deteriorating docks and eroded trails left unrepaired for extended periods;
• Restroom facilities that are frequently inoperative or unsanitary;
• Trash and debris not removed in a timely manner;
• Overflow parking congestion and limited site capacity on peak weekends.

The company, the club said, is obliged to maintain all recreation facilities. “Despite this, the visible and persistent neglect undermines the quality of public access and safety, and fails to meet the spirit of the [licensing] agreement.”

The club tells Capito it held poker runs on June 21 and Aug. 2. Both times, the restrooms were locked and a posted sign said they were inoperable. The club believes they were locked between the two poker runs, and remain locked.

“We ask for your support,” the club tells Capito, “in urging FERC and relevant federal authorities to more actively enforce the terms of the Recreation Management Plan, and to hold Lake Lynn Generation accountable to the public trust they are licensed to uphold.”

The club concludes, saying it would welcome the opportunity to meet with her to discuss its concerns and potential avenues for federal oversight or assistance.