September 14, 2023
Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) joined the House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing examining the systematic overreach from the Biden Administration’s Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), where he addressed the lack of transparency and public input throughout the mediation process of the Four Lower Snake River Dams.
Additionally, Rep. Newhouse sent a letter to CEQ Chair Brenda Mallary, who refused to attend today’s hearing, to urge the CEQ to utilize the remainder of the 60-day stay to productively engage with all the parties to the litigation in the mediation process.
WATCH REP. NEWHOUSE’S REMARKS AND QUESTIONS HERE
Read the letter Rep. Newhouse sent to CEQ Chair Brenda Mallary alongside House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries Chair Cliff Bentz (R-OR) and Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Russ Fulcher (R-ID), and Matt Rosendale (R-MT) here or see excerpts below:
As members of the Pacific Northwest delegation, we write to urge that you utilize the remainder of the 60-day stay to productively engage with all the parties to the litigation in the mediation process.
Over the past two years, we have continually heard from stakeholders that they are left in the dark as negotiations take place. While the mediation process is confidential, many of the intervenor defendants have expressed deep reservations and considerable disappointment regarding the overall process that has been followed. Of particular concern is the Biden administration’s apparent push to forgo trying to reach a “consensus” resolution and instead advance a predetermined outcome of dam removal.
Over the summer, the Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries held a field hearing in Richland, Washington, titled “The Northwest at Risk: The Environmentalist’s Effort to Destroy Navigation, Transportation, and Access to Reliable Power.” There, the Subcommittee heard from multiple industries and stakeholders on the importance and benefits the four lower Snake River dams provide to river communities, electric power cooperatives, the economy, and the environment.
Unfortunately, it has become clear that this mediation process fails to allow meaningful input from the intervenor defendants. These organizations represent millions of electricity customers, farmers, river-dependent ports, transportation, and export sectors across the Northwest whose livelihoods and interests have not had a true seat at the table. This is deeply concerning, as it implies that a small group of stakeholders is attempting to dictate decisions for our entire region regarding our climate response, electricity rates, transportation, grid reliability, food and energy security, and the future of river-dependent communities without the full opportunity of affected stakeholders to participate.
If our shared goal to establish “a durable long-term strategy” is truly the priority, then itis imperative that an inclusive mediation process needs to take place to best account for the impacts to the region’s ratepayers, and the economy. It is unacceptable that the mediation negotiations are being conducted behind closed doors via private caucuses to craft concessions to plaintiffs without regard to the impacts to the region’s ratepayers, the economy, or ensuring that the Congressionally authorized purposes of the Columbia River System are met.
We implore you to redirect your efforts towards engaging all stakeholders in the region rather than solely focusing on the plaintiffs. This will ensure a more productive, inclusive, and transparent mediation process.
Background:
A stay in long-running litigation over the Snake River Dams has been extended for 60 days from August 31st to October 31st to allow federal mediation to continue, but key stakeholders and community members directly impacted by the litigation are being left in the dark as negotiations take place behind closed doors.
The Biden Administration and dam-breaching advocates are intent on achieving a “de facto” breach of the Four Lower Snake River Dams by opening the gates to reduce the water below the minimum operating levels for hydroelectric generation.
Rep. Newhouse has been leading the efforts to protect the Four Lower Snake River Dams:
- In June, Rep. Newhouse and the House Committee on Natural Resources hosted a field hearing in Richland, WA to discuss the importance the four Lower Snake River Dams have to Central Washington and the Pacific Northwest.
- This Congress, Rep. Newhouse introduced the Northwest Energy Security Actto protect the Four Lower Snake River Dams. The legislation supports the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) and the many benefits it brings to our region by improving and maintaining hydropower assets, ensuring operations throughout the system are conducted in accordance with the latest federal scientific review, and continuing to allow native salmon to recover at record rates.
- In September 2020, the “Columbia River System Operations Environmental Impact Statement Record of Decision” for the Columbia River System Operation Environmental Impact Statement (CRSO EIS) published by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation, and Bonneville Power Administration, found that the Lower Snake River Dams should not be breached. Rather, efforts should be focused on improving and maintaining hydropower assets while working to improve salmon passage and conditions.
- In May 2021, Governor Inslee and Senator Murray publicly rebuked plans to breach the Lower Snake River Dams.
- On October 15, 2021, Governor Inslee and Senator Murray announced plans to assess the breaching of the Lower Snake River Dams.
- On October 21, 2021, the Department of Justice announced a settlement reached between the CRSO EIS plaintiffs and federal agencies on injunctive relief, including a stay on the CRSO EIS litigation until July 2022.
- On October 22, 2021, Governor Inslee and Senator Murray announced next steps to deliver a report intended to justify breaching the Lower Snake River Dams by July 2022. Reps. Newhouse, McMorris Rodgers, and Jaime Herrera Beutler released a joint statement reacting to the announcement.
- In June 2022, Rep. Newhouse led Congressional Western Caucus Members from across the United States on a field tour of the Columbia and Snake Rivers, including a tour of the Ice Harbor Dam.
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