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<h1 class="ydpd6ec06e7entry-title"><a href="https://californiaglobe.com/articles/lawsuit-filed-to-halt-removal-of-northern-ca-klamath-river-hydroelectric-dams/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://californiaglobe.com/articles/lawsuit-filed-to-halt-removal-of-northern-ca-klamath-river-hydroelectric-dams/</a></h1><h1 class="ydpd6ec06e7entry-title">Lawsuit Filed to Halt Removal of Northern CA Klamath River Hydroelectric Dams</h1>
<p class="ydpd6ec06e7ar-subtitle">‘When politically expedient, the governors of
California and Oregon will turn a blind eye to dramatic and substantial
environmental damages’</p> <p>By <a class="ydpd6ec06e7authtor-in-post" href="https://californiaglobe.com/author/katy-grimes/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Katy Grimes</a>, December 14, 2022 12:14 pm</p>
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<div class="ydpd6ec06e7pf-content"><p>Last week California Governor Gavin
Newsom announced final approval of a plan to remove four dams on the
Klamath River in Northern California, along with Oregon Governor Kate
Brown, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, Congressman Jared
Huffman and leaders of the Yurok and Karuk tribes. Newsom refers to the
dam removal project as “transformative” and says “it will revitalize
nearly 400 miles of the Klamath River and tributaries.”</p>
<p>The location of the four dams <a href="https://www.eenews.net/stories/1063580733" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">straddle the Oregon-California border</a>.</p>
<p>This has been a long time coming and and has been fought over by many groups as well as by members of Congress. In 2020, <a href="https://californiaglobe.com/articles/ca-rep-la-malfa-jams-up-dems-hydro-dam-giveaway-scheme/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the Globe reported</a>,
“The plan calls for the demolition of the dams and management of the
watershed lands by the non-profit Klamath River Renewal Corporation
(KRRC).<span class="ydpd6ec06e7Apple-converted-space"> Rep. Doug </span>La Malfa
(R-CA) calls the KRRC a ‘shell corporation’ for the Karuk and Yurok
Indian tribes who have no experience or capacity to handle the immense
legal liabilities of such a project.”</p>
<p>In 2018, President Donald Trump <a href="https://californiaglobe.com/articles/baltimore-is-just-a-city-california-is-a-state-transforming-into-third-world-ugly/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">signed an executive order</a>
to help the federally-operated Central Valley Project and the
California State Water Project in California, the Klamath Irrigation
Project in Oregon and California and the Columbia River Basin system in
the Pacific Northwest. “We will resolve the issues blocking the
completion of the Central Valley project,” <a href="https://californiaglobe.com/articles/baltimore-is-just-a-city-california-is-a-state-transforming-into-third-world-ugly/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Trump said</a>. “I hope you enjoy the water that you’re going to have.”</p>
<p>“The President’s announcement is an immense relief for the farmers
and families of the San Joaquin Valley and communities across
California,” said Rep. Tom McClintock. “Due to the actions of
environmental extremists and overzealous bureaucrats, California has
been suffering from a years-long water crisis that has wreaked havoc in
Central Valley farming communities that feed tens of millions of
Americans. Productive land has gone fallow and farmworkers have lost
their jobs. Communities across California have also been devastated as
senseless government regulations have mandated that billions of gallons
of water be flushed out to the ocean and wasted.”</p>
<p>But once Trump left office, Klamath Dam removal began again in
earnest. And Thursday, Newsom made his announcement about the dam
removal.</p>
<p>The Siskiyou County Water Users Association (SCWUA) announced the
filing of a Summons and Complaint in the Superior Court of California
for Taxpayer Complaint for Injunctive and Declaratory Relief by Anthony
Intiso (below).<span class="ydpd6ec06e7Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">“This action was filed against Defendant
Wade Crowfoot Secretary of Natural Resources Agency and as an Individual
person in connection with the funding operations for the proposed
removal of the Klamath River Dam complex in Northern California,” the
SCWUA statement said.<span class="ydpd6ec06e7Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>
<p><a href="https://californiaglobe.com/fr/gov-newsoms-key-staff-picks-wade-crowfoot/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wade Crowfoot is Gov. Newsom’s appointed </a>California
Natural Resources Agency Secretary. He also worked in Gov. Jerry
Brown’s administration and was involved in Brown’s climate compact with
the Governors of Oregon and Washington and the British Columbia Premier,
when they <a href="http://gov.ca.gov/news.php?id=18284" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">signed</a> the <a href="http://www.pacificcoastcollaborative.org/Pages/Welcome.aspx" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pacific Coast Action Plan on Climate and Energy</a>, “to align climate change policies and promote clean energy.”</p>
<p>The Pacific Coast Collaborative was an illegal compact which linked with the<a href="http://westcoastx.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> West Coast Infrastructure Exchange</a> (WCX),
formed to promote “the type of new thinking necessary to solve the West
Coast’s infrastructure crisis.” And the WCX was linked to the Clinton
Foundation’s <a href="https://www.clintonfoundation.org/clinton-global-initiative/commitments/west-coast-water-infrastructure-innovation-initiative" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Clinton Global Initiative</a>.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">“The case was filed Pro Se by Mr. Anthony
Intiso, a member of the Board of Directors of SCWUA, to enjoin
Defendant Wade Crowfoot, Secretary of Natural Resources from expending
taxpayer funds in the amount of $250,000,000 (TWO HUNDRED FIFTY MILLION
DOLLARS) for the removal of the Klamath River project hydroelectric
facilities.<span class="ydpd6ec06e7Apple-converted-space"> </span>Mr. Intiso
alleges that the continued disbursement of funds to Klamath River
Restoration Corporation should be halted as it was specifically outlawed
by the Bond language contained in the Bond Act of 2014 labeled the
‘Water Quality Supply and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014.'”<span class="ydpd6ec06e7Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>
<p>The Siskiyou County Water Users Association continues:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">“The Klamath River is part of the Federal
Wild and Scenic River system identified and approved by Congress and is
further so identified in the State of California parallel act.<span class="ydpd6ec06e7Apple-converted-space"> </span>The
Bond Act of 2014 specifically states in Chapter 4, Section 79711 e that
the funds from the Act cannot be and will not be used for any project
that could have an adverse effect on a Wild and Scenic River.<span class="ydpd6ec06e7Apple-converted-space"> </span>The
recent FERC approved EIR references numerous times that the removal of
the hydroelectric facilities will create and have adverse effect on the
Klamath River including but not limited to sediment and proposed in
channel modifications to “create” a free flowing and volitional fish
passageway.<span class="ydpd6ec06e7Apple-converted-space"> </span>Mr. Intiso
argues that this is in direct opposition to the language of the Act
which was clear that funds not be used in projects that would impact a
Wild and Scenic River.”</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">“Mr. Intiso asks the Court to find that
Defendant Wade Crowfoot is violating the provisions of the Act and that
such expenditures are illegal and therefore Mr. Crowfoot is acting
outside his official authorization and instead acting as an individual.<span class="ydpd6ec06e7Apple-converted-space"> </span>He requests that if the Court finds this to be so then Mr. Crowfoot should personally repay the illegally expended funds.”</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">Mr. Intiso also requested the Court to
issue an immediate injunction restraining and preventing further
expenditure of funds until the Court has rendered its opinion.</p>
<p>Notably, in 2019, following the <a href="https://www.eenews.net/stories/1063580733" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="ydpd6ec06e7s5">Federal Energy Regulatory Commission</span></a>
(which oversees hydropower dams) ruling, said that the KRRC had
insufficient finances and experience to be able to solely undertake such
a risky project. Rep. La Malfa issued the following <a href="https://foreignaffairs.co.nz/2020/07/17/mil-osi-usa-ferc-agrees-with-lamalfa-krrc-cant-handle-klamath-dams-license/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="ydpd6ec06e7s5">statement</span></a> on that FERC ruling:</p>
<p class="ydpd6ec06e7p11" style="padding-left: 40px;"><span class="ydpd6ec06e7s1"><i>“The
Commission’s Order today reinforces what I have been saying since KRRC’s
inception: KRRC is incapable of handling any hydropower project.
Rather, KRRC is nothing more than a shell corporation created for
California, Oregon, and other supporters of dam removal to avoid
liability and leave local communities to clean up the mess they would
create. I am happy to see that FERC agreed with the many issues I, and
other stakeholders, brought to their attention. It would have set a
dangerous precedent to give a shell cooperation sole liability for the
immense damage to the environment and local economy that this project
would create. Smaller dam removal projects have faced significantly
higher costs than originally estimated and this project has made the
same failed assumptions. This Order clears the way to stop this terrible
project without wasting more of California taxpayer funds or Oregon
ratepayer dollars. PacifiCorp should instead pursue relicensing of all
four Klamath dams, ensuring the Basin continues to receive ample carbon
free, clean power for years to come.”</i></span></p>
<p><a href="https://ktvz.com/news/government-politics/2022/11/18/bentz-attacks-fercs-disappointing-and-outrageous-decision-to-remove-4-klamath-river-dams/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">KTVZ recently reported</a>
Reps. Cliff Bentz (OR-02) Doug LaMalfa (CA-01) released a statement
sharply critical of the most recent Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission’s <a href="https://ktvz.com/news/ap-oregon-northwest/2022/11/16/us-regulators-to-vote-on-largest-dam-demolition-in-history/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">decision paving the way</a> for removal of four Klamath River dams.</p>
<p>Here’s their statement:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">“We are outraged by FERC’s decision to
allow surrender of the PacifiCorp Klamath hydroelectric license to a
shell corporation, thus allowing PacifiCorp to avoid responsibility for
the consequences of removing its Klamath River dams. Such consequences
include reducing power generation, eliminating recreational assets,
decimating the local community’s economy, destroying firefighting
resources, and damaging the Klamath River’s ecosystems.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">“The politicization of this process is
apparent in Oregon and California’s stampede to issue the Clean Water
Act Section 401 certifications required to remove the dams. The release
of massive amounts of accumulated silt from behind the dams will be
devastating to water quality, will cover spawning beds, and will choke
fish. Obviously, when politically expedient, the governors of California
and Oregon will turn a blind eye to dramatic and substantial
environmental damages.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;">“We are exploring legislative options to
properly address this politicized and environmentally destructive
decision. Additionally, in the upcoming 118th Congress, we Republicans
will use our majority to aggressively conduct oversight of this flawed
decision making process,” Reps. Bentz and LaMalfa said.</p>
<p>Read the entire <a href="https://ktvz.com/news/government-politics/2022/11/18/bentz-attacks-fercs-disappointing-and-outrageous-decision-to-remove-4-klamath-river-dams/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">article and statement here</a>.</p>
<p> </p>
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line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(151, 158, 168);">Last week California Governor Gavin Newsom announced final approval of a plan to remove four dams on the Klamath...</p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div></ul><div class="ydpd6ec06e7abh_image"><a href="https://californiaglobe.com/author/katy-grimes/" class="ydpd6ec06e7url" title="Katy Grimes" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> <img src="https://californiaglobe.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/241978518_10226800097418210_3189557407718460110_n-2-300x300.jpg" class="ydpd6ec06e7avatar ydpd6ec06e7avatar-250 ydpd6ec06e7photo" alt="" data-inlineimagemanipulating="true" style="width: 250px; max-width: 300px;"></a> </div><div class="ydpd6ec06e7abh_social"> <a itemprop="sameAs" href="https://www.facebook.com/katygrimes?ref=tn_tnmn" title="Facebook" class="ydpd6ec06e7abh_facebook" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a><a itemprop="sameAs" href="http://twitter.com/KATYSaccitizen" title="Twitter" class="ydpd6ec06e7abh_twitter" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a></div><div class="ydpd6ec06e7abh_text"><div class="ydpd6ec06e7abh_name ydpd6ec06e7fn ydpd6ec06e7name"><a href="https://californiaglobe.com/author/katy-grimes/" class="ydpd6ec06e7url" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Katy Grimes</a></div><div class="ydpd6ec06e7abh_job"></div><div class="ydpd6ec06e7description ydpd6ec06e7note ydpd6ec06e7abh_description">Katy
Grimes, the Editor of the California Globe, is a long-time
Investigative Journalist covering the California State Capitol, and the
co-author of <a href="https://amzn.to/2XkkNB5" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">California's War Against Donald Trump: Who Wins? Who Loses?</a></div></div> </div><div><br></div></div></div></body></html>