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Columbia-Snake River Irrigators Association Policy Memorandum
November 21 , 2016 TO : FROM :
Transition Team Leadership , President-Elect Donald J . Trump
Ron Reimann , President , CSRIA Darryll Olsen , Ph . D ., Board Representative , CSRIA
cc : Mr . David Ponganis , SES , Director Programs ,
Federal Columbia River Operations EIS ( info @ crso . info ) Br . Gen . Scott Spellmon , Division Commander , USACE Mr . Elliot Mainzer , BPA Administrator Ms . Lorri Lee , Regional Director , USBR U . S . Sen . Maria Cantwell , WA U . S . Rep . Dan Newhouse
SUBJECT :
CSRIA Response to the Federal Agencies ’ Columbia River System Operations ( CRSO ), Environmental Impact Statement ( EIS )
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The very justification for the current Federal Agencies ’ Columbia River Operations EIS is flawed natural resources policy , and it should be corrected by invoking an Action Agencies ’ ( Biological Opinion ) “ re-consultation ,” with the new Administration ’ s Secretary of Interior convening the Endangered Species Act Committee (“ God Squad ” Committee ).
This renewed EIS process emanates from Oregon Federal Judge Michael Simon ’ s incomprehensible decision ignoring two decades of federal agency work to improve Columbia-Snake River fish runs , about $ 15 billion of rate payer funding , actual fish run survival through the hydro system , and factors outside the Columbia-Snake River System that overshadow fish production . Further disregarded are extensive technical analyses , and the tens-of-millions of dollars rate payers ’ spent on them , that have already evaluated the destructive measures outlined in Judge Simon ’ s BiOp Remand Order .
The Endangered Species Act ( ESA ) was not framed as an instrument for endless public funding for a self-serving “ salmon recovery industry ” nor as a platform for brandishing judicial bias . Actions under the ESA have limits — the ESA Committee can and should set the responsible boundaries for hydro system operations . Those boundaries should reflect competent resources management , not empty gesture environmentalism .
3030 W . Clearwater , Suite 205-A , Kennewick , WA 99336 509-783-1623 , DOlsenEcon @ AOL . com