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Conservation and Fishing Groups Seek Congressional Hearing on BPA's Disregard for Endangered Fish and Wildlife

Posted on: Thursday, 12 July 2007, 15:14 CDT

WASHINGTON, July 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than 25 regional and national conservation and fishing organizations, representing millions of members nationwide, are calling upon Congressman John Dingell (D-MI) to hold an oversight hearing in the House Energy & Commerce Committee to take a hard look at the Bonneville Power Administration's failure to protect endangered fish and wildlife as required by the Northwest Power Planning & Conservation Act.

That groundbreaking law, championed by Rep. Dingell when it was passed in 1980, ensures the protection, restoration and enhancement of fish and wildlife in the Columbia River Basin in the Pacific Northwest, and gives them equal status with all other users of the federal Columbia River hydrosystem, including electricity generation. But the promise of the act has not been met.

"On a regular basis, the Bonneville Power Administration makes energy decisions that fail to treat fish and wildlife concerns on par with power considerations, violating the spirit and intent of this law so carefully crafted by Congressman Dingell two decades ago," said Chris Salp, Eastern Regional Representative of Save Our Wild Salmon, which spearheaded the group sign-on letter representing more than two dozen organizations. "The agency continually sidesteps or ignores salmon protection laws. Its shortsighted dam operations have been the largest cause of recent declines for many of the Columbia and Snake River salmon and steelhead populations."

The numbers of Columbia-Snake salmon and steelhead have declined dramatically since the 1980s. Many runs are at or below the levels that initially led to their listing under the Endangered Species Act.

"Today, Columbia-Snake salmon are threatened with extinction because of blatant noncompliance with landmark laws, including the Endangered Species Act and the Northwest Power Act," said Donna Stine, deputy director of policy for Michigan United Conservation Clubs, which sent its own letter to Congressman Dingell in April. "The failure to balance sound science and economics sets a dangerous precedent by compromising our ability to protect and restore fish and wildlife populations around the country," the letter continued.

The participating groups, including seven from Michigan, are urging Congressman Dingell, as Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, to conduct an oversight hearing regarding the implementation of the Northwest Power and Conservation Act and BPA's compliance.

"Americans deserve to know why our federal agencies have failed to restore Columbia-Snake basin salmon, revitalize coastal and river communities from California to Alaska and inland to Idaho, and ensure that taxpayer dollars are being invested wisely," said James Schroeder, Senior Environmental Policy Specialist, with the National Wildlife Federation. "Without such a rigorous examination of BPA's actions and compliance record relative to the law, we fear that our nation will lose the fabled salmon and steelhead populations of the Columbia and Snake rivers forever."

Groups represented by the letter, which was delivered to both Congressman Dingell and House Energy & Commerce Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Bart Stupak (D-MI), late last month, include: American Flyfishing Trade Association; American Rivers; American Whitewater; Association of Northwest Steelheaders; Berkley Conservation Institute/Pure Fishing, Inc.; Earthjustice; Endangered Species Coalition; Federation of Flyfishers; Fly Girls of Michigan; Friends of the Earth; Idaho Steelhead and Salmon Unlimited; Izaak Walton League of America; Michigan Council, Trout Unlimited; Michigan Fly Fishing Club; Michigan River Guides Association; Michigan Sierra Club; Michigan Steelhead and Salmon Fisherman's Association; The Mountaineers; National Wildlife Federation; NW Energy Coalition; Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association; Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations; Save Our Wild Salmon Coalition; Trout Unlimited and United Anglers of California.

Save Our Wild Salmon is a nationwide coalition of businesses, conservation organizations, commercial and sportfishing associations, river groups and taxpayer advocates working collectively to restore healthy and abundant wild salmon to the rivers and streams of the Pacific Northwest. For more information, please visit http://www.wildsalmon.org/.

Save Our Wild Salmon

CONTACT: Therese Wells of Save Our Wild Salmon, +1-206-286-4455 ext.107, therese@wildsalmon.org

Web site: http://www.wildsalmon.org/

Source: PRNewswire-USNewswire

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