Become a friend of

   the Klamath Bucket  

            Brigade

   Send Donations Here

     All donations are tax  

             deductible

 

 

 This Website is Dedicated to

 Alvin Alexander Cheyne

January 10, 1921 - June 17, 2005

 

GovTrack.us is an independent tool to help the public research and track the activities in the U.S. Congress, promoting government transparency and civic education through novel uses of technology.

 

 

 

 

      

 

Dam removal
File photos - Four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River would be removed by 2020 under an agreement expected to be signed today. Clockwise from top left, the dams are J.C. Boyle, Iron Gate, Copco 1 and Copco 2.

Agreement in principle would pull four Klamath dams by 2020

By TY BEAVER
H&N Staff Writer

November 13, 2008
Billed as the largest salmon restoration project ever attempted, a nonbinding agreement was reached this week to remove four Klamath River dams by the year 2020.

The project could cost $450 million and much would be paid for through surcharges to PacifiCorp customers. If it works out, it would enable the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement. Made public in January, that comprehensive agreement by water resources stakeholders covers fish restoration, irrigation rights, power rates and more.

Officials from the states of Oregon and California, the Bush administration and Portland-based PacifiCorp were expected to sign the agreement by noon today. They briefed Klamath River Basin stakeholders Wednesday at a meeting in Sacramento.
H&N file photo - Four dams on the Klamath River will be removed under a nonbinding agreement that will be signed today by PacifiCorp officials and representatives from federal, Oregon and California governments.
 
‘Remarkable’

Even though it will be months before a final agreement is made, then years of research before a final determination and years more before actual removal, one PacifiCorp official lauded the document as “remarkable.”

“Our full expectation and commitment is to come to a final agreement,” said Dean Brockbank, vice president and counsel to PacifiCorp.

PacifiCorp and state officials said a final agreement must be drafted and signed by June 30, 2009.

The U.S. Department of the Interior would then have some 3.5 years to study the impacts of the proposal before finally deciding if dam removal is appropriate.

The hurdles don’t stop there — removal would be paid for with a combination of $200 million in surcharges to PacifiCorp customers in Oregon and California, and $250 million borrowed from the state of California, with voter approval required for the loan.

Surcharges

Andrea Kelly of PacifiCorp said surcharges would amount to about $1.50 a month per residential customer, or $15 to $20 per year. Irrigators would pay no more than 2 percent of their bills in surcharges.

Dam removal would require state and federal legislation. Oregon and California would have to pass bills authorizing the surcharges.

Congress would have to allocate funds for dam removal studies and to give PacifiCorp and its stockholders immunity from liability.

California Secretary for Resources Mike Chrisman said there is still much to do to hammer out details but both he and Mike Carrier, natural resources adviser to Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski called the agreement “historic.”

Those involved in crafting the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement declined to comment directly on the dam removal agreement because of a confidentiality agreement, but hinted at its impacts.

Off-Project

Tom Mallams, an irrigator off the Klamath Reclamation Project and representative of the Klamath Off-Project Water Users, said his organization was still reviewing the dam removal agreement.

He said federal officials told him they would address off-Project users’ concerns, specifically assurance of water and power, before a dam removal agreement was released, but that hasn’t happened. He is hopeful those assurances can still be secured.

“It’s got to be equitable and it’s still not equitable,” Mallams said.

Jeff Mitchell, councilman with the Klamath Tribes, and Greg Addington, executive director of Klamath Water Users Association, said their organizations would release statements today on dam removal.

“We were encouraged by what we’ve heard,” Mitchell said.

Oregon state Rep. Bill Garrard, R-Klamath Falls, said he was disappointed the dam removal agreement places the burden on ratepayers, but added that there are many things to be determined.

“This is a long and winding road they are about to enter,” he said.

Built between 1908 and 1962, the four dams block salmon from 300 miles of spawning habitat while producing enough electricity to power about 70,000 homes.
Dam removal timeline 
   
Today:

PacifiCorp officials and representatives from the federal, Oregon and California governments are scheduled to sign a nonbinding agreement by noon calling for removal of four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River.
   
June 30, 2009:

The original signers of the nonbinding dam removal agreement must sign a final agreement for dam removal efforts to continue. The final agreement would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct scientific, economic and engineering studies to determine the feasibility of dam removal.
   
March 2012:

Pending evidence supporting dam removal, the Secretary of the Interior will designate an agency to carry out dam removal with a target date of 2020.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, any copyrighted
material  herein is distributed without profit or payment to those who have
expressed  a  prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit
research and  educational purposes only. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml