Wyden, Merkley Urge Feds to Begin Expedited Review of Klamath Dam Removal Plan
Letter: “Timely removal of these dams is critical to tribes in the Klamath Basin, West Coast fishing and recreation communities, and farmers and ranchers in Southern Oregon and Northern California.”
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today wrote federal regulators to urge consideration of an amended application for the Lower Klamath Project and begin environmental reviews as soon as possible of the plan’s four proposed dam removals.
The Oregon senators’ letter to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Secretary Kimberly D. Bose comes in the wake of the Nov. 17 announcement by Oregon and California agreeing to become co-licensees with the Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC) in the dam removal project.
Wyden and Merkley wrote in a letter with two other lawmakers that the KRRC has a plan, schedule and resources in place to implement the settlement, and has the financial capacity to take over the Lower Klamath Project and subsequently remove the dams.
“Additionally, KRRC’s amended application demonstrates that there is a sufficient body of environmental documentation to allow for expedited environmental review,” they wrote. “Removal of the Lower Klamath Project is necessary for the health and vitality of the Klamath River System broadly, which for decades has had fish passage blocked, experienced repeated harmful algal blooms, and seen conflicts between various stakeholder groups.
“Timely removal of these dams is critical to tribes in the Klamath Basin, West Coast fishing and recreation communities, and farmers and ranchers in Southern Oregon and Northern California,” Wyden and Merkley wrote.
In addition to Wyden and Merkley, others signing the letter are U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA).
The entire letter is below.
Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
888 First Street, N.E.
Washington, DC 20426
Dear Secretary Bose:
We write to support the amended surrender application for the Lower Klamath Project, submitted by PacifiCorp and the Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC) on November 17, 2020. In keeping with the request from PacifiCorp and KRRC, we also ask that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) expedite its consideration of this amended surrender application and begin environmental reviews as soon as possible, so that the four lowermost Klamath River Dams can be removed.
While we continue to believe FERC erred in denying outright license transfer from PacifiCorp to KRRC, the states of Oregon and California have agreed to become co-licensees with KRRC, removing PacifiCorp from the license upon FERC’s approval of the amended surrender application. According to the amended surrender application, KRRC has a plan, schedule and resources in place to implement the settlement, and has the financial capacity to take over the Lower Klamath Project and subsequently remove the dams. Additionally, KRRC’s amended application demonstrates that there is a sufficient body of environmental documentation to allow for expedited environmental review.
Removal of the Lower Klamath Project is necessary for the health and vitality of the Klamath River System broadly, which for decades has had fish passage blocked, experienced repeated harmful algal blooms, and seen conflicts between various stakeholder groups. Timely removal of these dams is critical to tribes in the Klamath Basin, West Coast fishing and recreation communities, and farmers and ranchers in Southern Oregon and Northern California.
We thank you for your consideration of our request and for your timely consideration of the amended surrender application for the Lower Klamath Project.
Sincerely,
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