Posted on 11/28/2023 8:11:51 AM PST by Twotone
Four Northwest Republican lawmakers asked the federal government to share details of “secretive negotiations” between the government and environmental groups that have called for the removal of dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers.
In a Nov. 20 letter to Brenda Mallory, chairwoman of the Council on Environmental Quality, the lawmakers reminded the White House that Congress has the authority to weigh in on President Joe Biden’s potential removal of dams in the Columbia River Basin to rebuild salmon runs.
“In addition to expecting the immediate transmittal of the proposed USG commitments, we find it necessary to remind you Congress alone has the authority not only to order the breach of the Lower Snake River Dams, but also exclusive authority to direct the study of breaching or to authorize replacement resources,” the letter reads.
A federal court in Oregon paused a two-year-old lawsuit on Oct. 31 until Dec. 15 after parties challenging the federal government asked for more time to negotiate with one another. Within those 45 days, parties will work to save endangered salmon runs on the rivers.
In a joint court filing from the federal government and eco-groups, parties claimed to “have developed a package of actions and commitments that they intend to discuss with the other regional sovereigns and litigation parties and, following conferral, present to the Parties’ decision-makers for final review and approval.”
The court filing states parties will ask the court for a multiyear stay of the litigation, if the package of actions and commitment is approved, but did not clarify specifics of the package. The Republican lawmakers requested access to that package by Dec. 1.
“Stakeholders and our constituents are concerned their long-standing contributions to the process have not been incorporated into the final product, nor their concerns heeded. If this were to happen, we are greatly concerned the package would not be reflective of the needs of people across the Pacific Northwest,” the letter reads, signed by Reps. Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Cliff Bentz (R-OR), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), and Russ Fulcher (R-ID).
Speaking at a conservation summit at the Interior Department in March, Biden pledged to work with tribes and Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID) to help protect salmon in the basin.
Republican lawmakers and players in Washington’s public power industry, such as Public Power Council, have voiced frustration at the Biden administration for overlooking their concerns and leaving them out of the process.
“The people of the Pacific Northwest have really been let down by this so-called process being run by the Council on Environmental Quality,” Public Power Council CEO and Executive Director Scott Simms said in a press statement.
“Our non-profit, community-owned member utilities and their customers were never given a real chance from the get-go, as we just recently learned a few parties in the litigation were working secretly with the federal government for more than six months on a ‘package of actions and commitments,’” Simms said.
In a September memo, the Biden administration did not explicitly call for the breaching of four hydroelectric dams on the Lower Snake River in Washington state, a move tribes and environmental groups have pushed for years. Instead, Biden urged federal agencies to restore native fish populations in the basin, honoring the administration’s treaty responsibilities with Pacific Northwest tribes.
Cloward-Piven.
They aim to destroy America......................
This is why CA has such horrible droughts. We have lost so many dams up here in Northern CA because of the stupid a$$ greenies.
If these people are for it, it is destructive to America and I am totally against it. That's pretty easy.
If the cowardly, spineless, house republicans had any stones they would cut the funds for any and all democrat douchebaggery.
Countdown for the first whoops dam accident...or maybe just plain midnight sabotage.
Damn. How much damage is this idiot going to be allowed to cause in America before his ass finally croaks?
The SC begins debate on ‘administrative overreach’—this is a perfect example—and should put a stop to this country being run by the 5th estate of unelected bureaucrats.
I can not imagine a SC leaning R 6-3 would endorse this travesty to continue.
Only beavers should be allowed to build dams.
They aim to destroy America......................
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seems like it’s everyday that I log on to the forum only to find out that the brandon/hussein administration has come up with a new way to F this country up
Yea, then to add insult to injury they will ban us from ever fishing the Salmon.
People wanted to really help the enviroment, really protect species and wildlife they would do this:
1) Any City of greater than 100K people within 100 miles of an ocean must use Desalination or recycled water to provide it’s citizens with freshwater.
2) Any City of greater than 1 million people must use Desalination with pipeline and Recycled water to account for 90% of water use.
3) Beachfront access for pipelines for desalination must be accessible for all of the above.
This alone would create two realities. First it would allow for return of multiple estuaries and river flow in the US. Second, it would free up water for use in irrigation for crops and not toilets. Third, it would shift back onto the cities the environmental costs that they have burdened rural america with.
Now there’s a good idea....from the Communists in the NW.
Moving out of Portland was the best decision I ever made.
I count three realities.
Add those losses to the future loss on electricity production...in the face of demands for everything to be all electric.
Then contemplate the spring flooding when there are NO DAMS to hold back the melting water & spring rain.
I remember when flooding breached the Levees along the Sacramento river & cattle were standing on the top of all the bridges. Had to drop hay to them by helicopter. MAYBE 1996??
One cattle dog-—ROWDY—got stranded on the top of the farm house. Water was rising. Helo pilot (Viet Nam helo vet)was broadcasting all day from the area. Channel 4 out of Sacto.
As the sun was setting, the water kept rising-—he flew to farm house—hovered—and camera guy rescued ROWDY.
BOTH got fired. Created quite a ruckus against NBC.
Lived in that area at that time-—
REFUSED to watch NBC while I still lived there. Left in 2004.
That’s just super, Patty.
So now I can look forward to paying
$0.270 per kWh (Boston, MA) instead
of the $0.0688 per kWh I’m paying now.
But there will be plenty of cheap salmon
on the menu.
Sheesh!!!!
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