LaMalfa Thanks Interior for Withdrawing
Obama-era Policy on Klamath Dams

 May 20, 2019 PRESS RELEASE:

(Washington, DC) – Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) issued the following statement after U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) Secretary David Bernhardt sent a letter to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Secretary Kimberly Bose withdrawing Interior’s support for the removal of Klamath Dams.

LaMalfa said: “Before Secretary Bernhardt was confirmed as head of Interior, I made it clear to him our wishes for the Department to retract the letter of support for Klamath Dam removal issued under the Obama Administration. I’m glad to see he listened to our concerns. This course-reversal by Interior is a big victory for those fighting this misguided dam removal and a positive development for Northern California – we need to support new and existing water infrastructure projects, not tear them down. Siskiyou and Klamath Counties have voted overwhelmingly to retain the dams. I thank Secretary Bernhardt for using input of local citizens who are adamantly against this project to make this important decision.”

On October 17, 2016, President Obama’s Secretary of Interior Sally Jewel sent a letter to FERC urging the approval of an application to remove the Klamath Dams. On May 17, 2019, Secretary Bernhardt reversed that stance by Interior and has withdrawn the 2016 letter. FERC has authority to approve or deny the project and the application is currently still under review.

Congressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou and Tehama Counties.