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(OFFICIAL) STATEMENT OF THE COUNTY OF SISKIYOU regarding the
Agreement in Principle
11/19/08
The County of Siskiyou wishes
to express its concern with the recent Agreement in
Principle (AlP) issued with respect to removing the Irongate
Dam, the Copco 1 Dam, the Copco 2 Dam, and the J. C. Boyle
Dam, and other works presently licensed to PacifiCorp.
While the County of Siskiyou is appreciative of the parties
permitting the County to participate in the discussions, the
Agreement that has been undertaken by the parties still
leaves significant issues unaddressed, not the least of
which is the fact that it does not clearly address the cost
and impacts to the County of Siskiyou and its constituents,
nor does it provide sufficient provisions for determining
such impacts. Unanswered by the Agreement in Principle (AlP)
are the specific studies that will be undertaken, the degree
to which local entities such as Siskiyou County will be
permitted to participate, and provisions which essentially
allow PacifiCorp and other parties to avoid any liability
arising from its ownership and operation of the facilities.
Unexplained is the scope of liability for the Dam Removal
Entity (ORE) envisioned by the Agreement. In fact, no local
input is provided for with respect to who is going to remove
these dams which have been such an essential and integral
part of Siskiyou County for many years.
Siskiyou County does acknowledge that, under the
Miscellaneous Provisions of the Agreement in Principle (AlP),
it does state that the Final Agreement "may" address the
economic impact of the facilities removal on Siskiyou County
and "may" address the issues regarding the City of Yreka's
water supply, as well as other terms. However, these terms
are not mandatorily required. The Board of Supervisors
opposes the AIP and the process described therein. The
County of Siskiyou is of the opinion that those matters
addressed in its Resolution in April, 2008, opposing a Sense
of Congress Resolution requiring dam removal remain
unanswered and that the removal of the dams will be a
crippling blow to the County of Siskiyou. The County remains
opposed to the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement. The
Board of Supervisors directs County Counsel to issue
Requests for Qualifications for special counsel to assist
County Counsel as part of the Board's intention to assemble
a team to oppose the removal of the dams.
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