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Pact could remove four Klamath River dams
BY
CHRIS
RIZO
November
14, 2008
 |
 |
 |
| Ted Kulongoski (D) |
SALEM,
Ore. (Legal Newsline)-The
U.S. government, along
with Oregon and
California, and
PacifiCorp have
announced an agreement
that could resolve the
long-running
environmental dispute
over Klamath River water
by removing four dams on
the river by 2020.
The Agreement in Principle announced Thursday provides a framework for the presumed transfer of four hydroelectric dams from PacifiCorp to a government-designated dam removal entity, which would undertake the removal of those dams, and sets a time line for the signing of a final agreement.
The nonbinding agreement calls for a final agreement by June 30, 2009. It gives the U.S. secretary of the interior until 2012 to determine whether removing the aging dams is feasible.
PacifiCorp has agreed to raise $200 million of the cost of removing of the dams, which have been blamed for diminishing fish stocks, by implementing a surcharge on its customers in California and Oregon.
The agreement was hailed by the states, federal government, tribes and environmentalists.
"While many months of work lay ahead, this historic agreement provides a path forward to achieve the largest river and salmon restoration effort ever undertaken in a way that's good for fish, PacifiCorp customers, and local communities and our sovereign tribes," Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski said.
"With Oregon's best interests in mind, it is with great pride that I will be taking the first step in implementing this agreement by offering legislation to support the dam decommissioning and removal process," the Democratic governor added.
U.S. Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne said the path forward will help protect fish, PacifiCorp customers and the local cultures and communities in the two-state Klamath River basin.
The Agreement in Principle announced Thursday provides a framework for the presumed transfer of four hydroelectric dams from PacifiCorp to a government-designated dam removal entity, which would undertake the removal of those dams, and sets a time line for the signing of a final agreement.
The nonbinding agreement calls for a final agreement by June 30, 2009. It gives the U.S. secretary of the interior until 2012 to determine whether removing the aging dams is feasible.
PacifiCorp has agreed to raise $200 million of the cost of removing of the dams, which have been blamed for diminishing fish stocks, by implementing a surcharge on its customers in California and Oregon.
The agreement was hailed by the states, federal government, tribes and environmentalists.
"While many months of work lay ahead, this historic agreement provides a path forward to achieve the largest river and salmon restoration effort ever undertaken in a way that's good for fish, PacifiCorp customers, and local communities and our sovereign tribes," Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski said.
"With Oregon's best interests in mind, it is with great pride that I will be taking the first step in implementing this agreement by offering legislation to support the dam decommissioning and removal process," the Democratic governor added.
U.S. Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne said the path forward will help protect fish, PacifiCorp customers and the local cultures and communities in the two-state Klamath River basin.
From Legal Newsline:
Reach reporter Chris Rizo at
chrisrizo@legalnewsline.com.
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