Congressman Hastings rejects snake river dam removal 073109

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Date: 7/31/2009

by Congressman Doc Hastings, WA-04 House Natural Resources Committee, co-chair of the Northwest Energy Caucus and member of the Specialty Crop Caucus and the Rural Health Care Coalition.

HASTINGS STATEMENT ON TODAY’S INTRODUCTION OF SNAKE RIVER DAM REMOVAL LEGISLATION
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Congressman Doc Hastings (WA-04), the top Republican on the House Natural Resources Committee, released the following statement today regarding the introduction of Snake River Dam Removal legislation. A bill targeting the Snake River dams for removal was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives today by Seattle Congressman Jim McDermott and a handful of Representatives from outside the Pacific Northwest.

“One of first places this dam removal bill will land in Congress is on my desk as the top Republican on the House Natural Resources Committee, and I pledge to do everything in my power to stop it.

“Dam removal is an extreme action that would have devastating consequences on our region’s economy. These four dams are valuable components of the Northwest’s clean, low-cost hydropower system that thousands and thousands of jobs rely upon. Dam removal would kill jobs, lead to huge increases in greenhouse gas emissions, and there’s no scientific proof that it would actually guarantee salmon recovery.

“This risky gamble has been rejected again and again, yet dam removal extremists continue their lawsuits, their fundraising campaigns and their fight to spoil agreement on policies that will actually recover fish in the Northwest.

“Professional activists who make a living off of pushing their dam removal agenda may not like to hear it, but Northwest citizens understand we can protect our clean, renewable hydropower dams and recover salmon at the same time.”