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Governor joins critics of salmon ruling
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| Contributor | Ralphie |
| Last Edited | Ralphie Jun 11, 2005 08:04am |
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| Category | Legal Ruling |
| Media | Newspaper - Seattle Post-Intelligencer |
| News Date | Saturday, June 11, 2005 02:00:00 PM UTC0:0 |
| Description | Gov. Christine Gregoire joined utility executives, a conservative Eastern Washington politician and federal agencies in attacking a judge's order yesterday to help salmon pass safely through Snake and Columbia river dams this summer.
Critics said the move -- urged by environmentalists and fishermen, and expected to cost between $57 million and $81 million -- risked upsetting the state's economic recovery.
The Bonneville Power Administration, which markets electricity produced at federally operated dams on the rivers, predicted a late-2005 cost increase of 4 percent to 5 percent.
But that's wholesale. Most Seattle residential customers should see an increase of less than $1 per month, Seattle City Light said. The exact amount will be worked out later.
The ruling by U.S. District Judge James Redden means additional water that otherwise would be used to produce power in the dams' turbines will be spilled through another part of the dams to help young salmon make their way to the ocean.
"We question whether there is the environmental fish benefit. ... The science isn't really clear," said Tom Fitzsimmons, Gregoire's chief of staff. "The significance of the economic loss is what (Gregoire) is trying to highlight."
Rep. Cathy McMorris, R-Spokane, urged the federal agencies to appeal Redden's ruling.
"This is the wrong decision that ignores the progress we have made in fish recovery," said McMorris, a member of the House Resources Committee, which is considering changes to the Endangered Species Act.
"We wouldn't let a judge dictate how we use our federal highway systems, and we shouldn't let one tell us how to use our river systems." |
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