Dam removal agreement reached

The parties announced an “agreement in principle” in which the federal government would begin assessing the benefits and costs associated with removing four dams along the Klamath River in both Oregon and California as a means of improving water quality and fish habitats.

"This is a historic announcement and the culmination of years of hard work from the numerous negotiators from the federal government and the states of California and Oregon, and PacifiCorp representatives who have worked toward a common goal of how best to protect the uniqueness of this region,” Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne said in a news release. “We have agreed to a path forward that will protect fish, PacifiCorp customers and the local cultures and communities in the two-state Klamath River basin.”

The task is complex, bridging the push for environmental restoration with the needs of Portland-based PacifiCorp, parent company of electric utility Pacific Power, to provide electricity to its customers.

Under the agreement, the federal government will determine by March 31, 2012 whether removing the dams justifies the costs. If the dams are to be removed — a move that would ultimately be determined by the Secretary of the Interior — federal officials will designate a “non-federal dam removal entity” to start the process. If not, PacifiCorp will return to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to relicense the dams.

The timing of each dam removal will be balanced “with operating conditions and the costs of replacement power for PacifiCorp customers,” according to a news release.

The dam removal process would be complete by 2020.

The agreement also protects PacifiCorp customers from any liability associated with dam removal and limits how much customers would pay for the removal process and environmental improvements.

Negotiators have already scheduled talks in the hopes of having a final dam resolution concluded by June 2009.

Assuming that agreement is reached and pending Congressional approval, PacifiCorp said it intends to set aside “millions of dollars” to conduct immediate environmental improvements.

Gov. Ted Kulongoski said he would offer legislation to support the dam decommissioning process.

“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,” Kulongoski said in a news release.