The Klamath Tribes Monday filed to intervene in the
Klamath River dam removal process, four days after the
deadline set in place by the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission (FERC).
If
the filing is approved post-deadline, intervenor status
gives the Tribes the opportunity to speak up during the
proceedings related to the FERC Commission's joint
application for license transfer from Pacificorp (which
owns the dams) to the Klamath River Renewal Corp. (KRRC).
The application surrounds the removal of four dams on
the Klamath River: J.C. Boyle in Oregon and Copco 1 & 2
and Iron Gate dams in Northern California.
“We thought we actually had more time based on when the
notice was filed,” Tribal Chairman Don Gentry told the
Herald and News. “We felt it was totally appropriate to
ask to be allowed to be intervenors.”
Gentry elaborated on the late
filing in the paperwork submitted to FERC, which is
available to view at www.heraldandnews.com.
“The Klamath Tribes regret that we did not file our
motion for intervention within the 30 days after
Kimberly D. Bose signed the notice,” Gentry wrote in the
filing motion. “However, we respectfully move for leave
to file the intervention late.”
Gentry referenced “confusion” about the deadline as well
as incorrect contact information for a FERC spokesperson
in attempting to meet the deadline.
He
said the Klamath Tribes has always supported dam
removal, as the Tribes believe it will open up hundreds
of miles of habitat in the future to salmon and
steelhead.
“Removal of the dams is the subject of the applications
and the Tribes interests in removing the dams and
restoring the fisheries will be directly affected by the
proceedings,” Gentry wrote in the filing motion.
“The Tribes recognizes dam removal as the most effective
and the single most important element of a large-scale
restoration effort for the fish resources of the Klamath
River.”
Although the act of seeking intervenor status does not
mean an entity or individual is in favor of or against
the dam removal process, the Klamath Tribes plan to
intervene so it's possible to speak in favor of dam
removal.
“Beyond advocating the interests of the Tribe and its
members, the Klamath Tribes desires to bring back the
salmon and other blocked aquatic species also represents
a more general, public interest concerning the Klamath
River,” Gentry said.
“Many parties and entities are dependent on the health
of the Klamath River and its fishery resources. The
Klamath Tribes has always supported removal of the dams.
The Tribes recognizes dam removal as the most effective
and the single most important element of a large-scale
restoration effort for the fish resources of the Klamath
River.”
FERC could not be reached as of presstime as to whether
the filing will be accepted after the deadline.
"I
really don't know what to expect," Gentry said. “We're a
key stakeholder. I would expect that they would honor
the filing.”
