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Dam
transfer considered
PacifiCorp
talking with government officials
By
TY BEAVER
H&N
Staff Writer
The transfer of ownership of four
According to area government officials and others,
PacifiCorp is discussing that possibility for dams integral to the
Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement, a proposal released in January by a
group of stakeholders interested in irrigation water, power rates, fish
habitat and river restoration and more.
Company spokesmen confirmed that they are talking to
government officials, including the U.S. Department of the Interior, but
would not say exactly what those talks entail.
Others said they assumed the issue of transfer was
understood.
“I was under the impression that wasn’t a
secret,” said Jim Cook,
Such a transfer could help the company with costs to
consumers and stockholders, as well as help relieve it of liability for
the uncertainties of dam removal, including the effects such a project
could have years later.
Dam removal
Proponents want the dams (one in
“That certainly might be an approach to it,” said
Toby Freeman, PacifiCorp’s regional community director.
Stakeholder representatives for the agreement, which
took well over two years of negotiating and collaboration, including
Cook, Klamath County Commissioner Al Switzer, Craig Tucker of the Karuk
Tribe and Steve Kandra of Klamath Water Users Association, said the
concept of transferring ownership has been discussed, but are unaware
where things stand.
Cook said the agency receiving ownership would take on
responsibility for any consequences of dam removal, such as
environmental problems or property value decreases, a great concern in
Federal
government
The federal government is likely the only entity that
could accept the burden, given the cost of removal and any future
liabilities, Switzer said.
Tom Towslee, a spokesman with U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden,
D-Ore., said he was unaware of the concept, but said it warrants
consideration if it can solve the water problems in the
“We certainly need the support of all congressional
offices to move a concept like that through Congress,” said PacifiCorp
spokesman Art Sasse.
Calls were made to U.S. Sens. Gordon Smith, R-Ore.,
Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and Diane Feinstein, D-Calif., and U.S. Reps.
Greg Walden, R-Ore., Wally Herger, R-Calif., and John Doolittle,
R-Calif. Their staff either said the lawmakers could not comment because
they did not know details of recent discussions or did not return calls.
Some said they would call back after researching the matter.
Calls also were made to PacifiCorp President Pat
Reiten, Oregon state Sen. Doug Whitsett, R-Klamath Falls, Oregon state
Reps. Bill Garrard, R-Klamath Falls, and George Gilman, R-Medford, and
California state Sens. Sam Aanestad, R-Grass Valley, and Dave Cox,
R-Fair Oaks, and California Assemblyman Doug La Malfa, R-Richvale, the
Klamath and Yurok tribes and Humboldt County. They were unable to
comment or did not return calls.
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