The Snake River Dams Are Threatened Again

  November 16, 2016

The Snake River Dams Are Threatened Again

Federal agencies are holding a series of public meetings about the federal hydropower dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers. The purpose is to hear from Northwest residents about dam operations, benefits, and the dams’ environmental impact.
 
Press conference
November 15, 2016
 
Meetings Scheduled to Examine Value and Impact of Northwest Hydrosystem
The Snake River Dams Are Threatened Again
        
Federal agencies are holding a series of public meetings about the federal hydropower dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers. The purpose is to hear from Northwest residents about dam operations, benefits, and the dams’ environmental impact.
 
It is critical that the agencies hear from local people, businesses and organizations who support the hydrosystem and the Snake River Dams.
 
  • When, where? The meetings will run from October through December 2016 in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana.
The local meeting will be held Monday, November 21, 4 pm to 7 pm
at the Pasco Holiday Inn Express. 
  • Supporters of the dams will hold a press conference prior to the meeting: 3:30 pm
in the southeast corner of the TRAC parking lot (next to Pasco Holiday Inn Express). Public is invited!
                  
  • Who’s holding the meetings? Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation.
 
  • Background: In a May 2016 ruling, U.S. District Judge Michael Simon requested the agencies to review all reasonable options for achieving the goals of the hydrosystem including power generation, flood control, navigation, irrigation, and recreation. The first step in this three year review process are 16 public “scoping” meetings across the region—also called NEPA meetings, after the National Environmental Policy Act, also called the Columbia Snake River System Operations Review. 
 
  • What will happen? The format is “workshop-style,” with information stations staffed by subject matter experts from the federal agencies, and opportunities to submit your written comments.
 
  • Can people speak? A stenographer will be available to record oral comments (3-minute limit).
 
  • What happens to comments? They will influence the scope of the agencies’ review of the hydrosystem, called an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
 
  • What happens next? A draft EIS is scheduled to be published for public comment in March 2020. 
 
For more information contact: Benton PUD, Karen Miller, 509-582-1228
                                                  Franklin PUD, Debbie Bone-Harris 509-546-5973
                                                  TRIDEC, Gary Peterson, 509-735-1000
Supporters of Our Dams

Benton PUD
Franklin PUD
TRIDEC
Pasco Chamber of Commerce
Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce
Columbia Snake River Irrigators Assoc.
Port of Pasco
Tippett Company
Northwest RiverPartners