| Coast Snubbed On Klamath Dams |
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Even though coastal areas around the Klamath River have borne the brunt of fisheries decline, partly because of four dams on the river, the federal government doesn’t plan any scoping hearings downriver about relicensing the dams.
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April 2004
That’s why the NEC is calling on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to hold a scoping session in the Eureka area, and is urging others concerned about the Scottish-owned, mid-Klamath dams to join us.
The meetings are a prelude to preparing a draft environmental impact statement about federal relicensing of the dams owned by PacifiCorp for another 50 years.
The dams produce less than 150 megawatts of electricity but they block former spawning habitat for what once were 150,000 to 400,000 returning adult salmon yearly.
The numbers of salmon landed at the ports of the Klamath Fisheries Management Zone—Fort Bragg, Eureka, Crescent City and Brookings—have dropped by more than 90%.
Nevertheless, FERC only plans meetings inland in Klamath Falls (7-9 p.m. Tuesday, May 18, at the Fairgrounds), Redding (9 a.m. to noon, Thursday, May 20, at the Hilton Garden Inn), Yreka (7-9 p.m. on Thursday, May 20, at the Boston Shaft Restaurant) and Ashland (9 a.m. to noon, Friday, May 21, at the Ashland Springs Hotel).
To complain, contact Patrick Wood, Chairman, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First St., NE, 11th Floor, Washington, DC 20462; (202) 208-0064; fax (202) 502-8000. Refer to FERC project #2082-027.
DEIS scoping comments should be sent by June 21 to the address above, but care of Magalie Salas, Secretary.
Comments may also be filed electronically at the FERC website www.ferc.gov
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Updated Monday, May 10, 2004 |
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