The action sets in motion the environmental assessment for the proposed pipeline and a public review process scheduled to begin this month.

The state, working with the water-conservancy districts in Washington, Kane and Iron counties, wants to build a 139-mile pipeline to bring 100,000 acre-feet of water from Lake Powell in southeastern Utah to a reservoir outside St. George, with a diversion in Kane County.

Water would then be pumped about 40 miles north to an area near Cedar City.

There are seven hydroelectric generating stations planned along the proposed route.

The federal application was discussed on Wednesday in St. George at a meeting of the Lake Powell Pipeline Management Committee.

Larry Anderson, the state's project manager, said the decision to request FERC as the lead agency was made because it licenses the hydroelectric elements of the project.

There are four community meetings planned in southern Utah. The meetings are meant to inform residents and landowners and are not for public comment.

mhavnes@sltrib.com