Kaurk Press Release: PacifiCorp's Revised Klamath Proposal No Help to Fish

Happy Camp, CA – The same day that California and Federal Agencies released a report describing how dam removal would save billionaire investor Warren Buffet’s PacifiCorp millions of dollars, the company proposed changes federal agencies’ mandatory fish passage plans.

“PacifiCorp is billing this revised plan as some sort of compromise when their proposal falls far short of what federal agencies are mandating and does little to stop the wholesale destruction of Klamath salmon,” according to Leaf Hillman, Vice Chairman of the Karuk Tribe.

PacifiCorp’s press release claims that the revised plan “demonstrates both its [PacifiCorp’s] willingness and strong desire to work with the Departments of Interior and Commerce to focus on improving conditions for fish,” however, a footnote on page one of the plan states “this filing should not be considered a replacement of PacifiCorp’s existing proposed alternative.”

According to Erica Terence of the Northcoast Environmental Center in Arcata, CA, “This is nothing but a corporate spin job. Don’t be fooled. Buffet’s PacifiCorp isn’t interested in doing the right thing for fish or rate payers or else they would be negotiating instead of greenwashing.”

The joint state/federal study filed last week concludes that PacifiCorp would save over $100 million by removing the dams instead of bringing the antiquated complex up to modern standards. “These savings would be passed to ratepayers. Instead, the company will try to bill ratepayers for the cost of relicensing plus a little extra as a bonus for shareholders like Warren Buffet. While our fish go extinct, Buffet will get even richer and power rates will go up,” explains Hillman.

Regulated utilities earn profits for shareholders through capital improvement projects. Shareholders pay for the improvement plus an added percentage of the cost to be given to investors. These improvement projects must be approved by state regulators.

Its not only economic studies that favor dam removal. Another California agency reported that the sediment trapped behind the dams is limited and non-toxic. That report concluded that dam removal is “safe and affordable.”

Last summer, Tribes, fishermen, and communities dependant on a healthy river for economic survival were encouraged when PacifiCorp President Bill Ferhman responded to a protest staged by dam removal advocates in Portland by stating, “We have heard the Tribes’ concerns. We are not opposed to dam removal or other settlement opportunities as long as our customers are not harmed and our property rights are respected.”

“Obviously Mr. Ferhman has not heard our concerns. Ferhman and Buffet are still clinging to these dams which are nothing less than weapons of genocide,” says Hillman.

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For more information and previous press releases log on to: http://www.karuk.us/press%20&%20campaigns/press.php

To see California study on safety and feasibility of dam removal: http://elibrary.FERC.gov/idmws/file_list.asp?accession_num=20060926-5075
Or http://www.karuk.us/press%20&%20campaigns/press.php

FERC dEIS for Klamath Project:
http://elibrary-backup.ferc.gov/idmws/common/OpenNat.asp?fileID=11141022.

Other documents including the CA/Federal economic analysis can be found at http://www.ferc.gov. The FERC project number for the Klamath Project number is 2082-027.

S. Craig Tucker, Ph.D.
Klamath Campaign Coordinator
Karuk Tribe of California
office: 530-627-3446 x3027
cell: 916-207-8294
ctucker [at] karuk.us

http://www.karuk.us