[env-trinity] Fw: News Release: NEC Hosts Klamath Settlement Presentation at Wharfinger Oct. 8

[Tom Stokely]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Greg King 
Sent: Tuesday, September 09, 2008 11:47 AM
Subject: News Release: NEC Hosts Klamath Settlement Presentation at Wharfinger Oct. 8


[attachment same as below; apologies for cross-postings]


News Release
NEC Hosts Klamath Settlement�
Presentation at Wharfinger Oct. 8
For Immediate Release
Contact:�������� Greg King, Executive Director
�� �� �� �� �� �� �� �� �707-822-6918
�
ARCATA � The Northcoast Environmental Center will host a public presentation of the complex and controversial Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement (KBRA) on Wednesday, Oct. 8, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Wharfinger Building in Eureka.


The KBRA is a 256-page document created by 28 parties over a two-year period. It has been more than six months since the Klamath Settlement Group has met to finalize the Agreement, owing to the absence of an agreement with PacifiCorp to decommission four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River mainstem.


The NEC had preferred to wait for release of a dam agreement before offering a public presentation on the Restoration Agreement. However, with the �hydro agreement� now nearly one year overdue, the NEC has chosen to move forward without it.�
�We really can�t wait any longer for the dam deal,� said Greg King, executive director of the NEC. �There�s a chance we will see such a deal by the end of this month, but negotiators have promised us a hydro agreement several times during the past year and each deadline has been announced and then passed with no result. So whereas the two agreements are linked � the Restoration Agreement dies on the vine unless negotiators strike a deal to remove the four dams � it�s time for the public to hear our thoughts on the water deal.�

Last March the NEC rejected the KBRA as written because �it puts all the risk on the fish,� said King. �Farmers in the upper basin are the only ones who receive a guarantee of water in the deal. The fish get what�s left over.�

That month the NEC recommended several changes to Draft 11 of the Restoration Agreement that would allow the organization to �sign on� and support the deal through legislation and implementation. However, the Settlement Group drafting committee has yet to produce a twelfth draft of the Agreement owing to the absence of measures to remove the four dams.

The NEC�s recommended changes, the reasons for them, and the Restoration Agreement as a whole will be the focus of the Oct. 8 presentation. After the presentation the public will be invited to comment and ask questions.

�

�

#��������� #��������� #

�



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------












--
Greg King
Executive Director
Northcoast Environmental Center
1465 G Street
Arcata, CA 95521
(707) 822-6918
greg at yournec.org
http://www.yournec.org








--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[attachment same as below; apologies for cross-postings]

News Release
NEC Hosts Klamath Settlement
Presentation at Wharfinger Oct. 8
For Immediate Release
Contact:         Greg King, Executive Director
                          707-822-6918

ARCATA — The Northcoast Environmental Center will host a public  
presentation of the complex and controversial Klamath Basin  
Restoration Agreement (KBRA) on Wednesday, Oct. 8, from 7 p.m. to 9  
p.m. at the Wharfinger Building in Eureka.

The KBRA is a 256-page document created by 28 parties over a two-year  
period. It has been more than six months since the Klamath Settlement  
Group has met to finalize the Agreement, owing to the absence of an  
agreement with PacifiCorp to decommission four hydroelectric dams on  
the Klamath River mainstem.

The NEC had preferred to wait for release of a dam agreement before  
offering a public presentation on the Restoration Agreement. However,  
with the “hydro agreement” now nearly one year overdue, the NEC  
has chosen to move forward without it.
“We really can’t wait any longer for the dam deal,” said Greg  
King, executive director of the NEC. “There’s a chance we will see  
such a deal by the end of this month, but negotiators have promised  
us a hydro agreement several times during the past year and each  
deadline has been announced and then passed with no result. So  
whereas the two agreements are linked — the Restoration Agreement  
dies on the vine unless negotiators strike a deal to remove the four  
dams — it’s time for the public to hear our thoughts on the water  
deal.”

Last March the NEC rejected the KBRA as written because “it puts all  
the risk on the fish,” said King. “Farmers in the upper basin are  
the only ones who receive a guarantee of water in the deal. The fish  
get what’s left over.”

That month the NEC recommended several changes to Draft 11 of the  
Restoration Agreement that would allow the organization to “sign  
on” and support the deal through legislation and implementation.  
However, the Settlement Group drafting committee has yet to produce a  
twelfth draft of the Agreement owing to the absence of measures to  
remove the four dams.

The NEC’s recommended changes, the reasons for them, and the  
Restoration Agreement as a whole will be the focus of the Oct. 8  
presentation. After the presentation the public will be invited to  
comment and ask questions.





#          #          #

  
--
Greg King
Executive Director
Northcoast Environmental Center
1465 G Street
Arcata, CA 95521
(707) 822-6918
greg at yournec.org
http://www.yournec.org



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