For the week of May 21 - 27, 2003

Is Sen. Craig
out of touch?

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Conservationists who spend their waking hours fighting to preserve Idaho’s world-class reputation for rigorous environmental policing have ample grounds to oppose the backdoor amendment to federal energy legislation introduced by Idaho’s senior senator, Larry Craig.

Reasons?

First, Sen. Craig’s cavalier explanation that his amendment merely would streamline the complex relicensing process for hydroelectric dams is disingenuous and ignores the most odorous feature. It would water down powers of federal agencies to impose strict environmental conditions on hydroelectric operators, weaken the role of responsible conservation groups and give electricity producers, like Idaho Power, authority to appeal to a Cabinet secretary outside the hearing process.

Second, the amendment panders to the anti-environment cravings of the current administration in Washington, which wants to turn back the clock on sensible environmental safeguards that range from attempts to curb global warming, curtail snowmobiling in Yellowstone, and enforce air and water quality rules, to name a few.

Sen. Craig’s invitation to hydroelectric operators to take their bite out of the environment via industry-friendly political appointees is just another insult against responsible use of our natural resources.

But, even though the hydro-dams process has become overly tedious, it remains the last best chance for environmentalists to obtain wildlife mitigation for past mistakes produced by the dams. Relicensing applicants need to address these issues in good faith, and there should be no tampering with the integrity of federal safeguards now in place to review license renewal applications.

Although maintaining a profitable electricity generating industry is indispensable to any area’s economy, hydroelectric dams that rely on powerful river currents must be subservient to the fish and wildlife of the river corridors, as well as the scenic and recreational values of rivers. All are irreplaceable and indispensable bounties of nature that make Idaho and other Western states such phenomenal natural wonderlands.

It may be that Sen. Craig, as a beneficiary of generous election support from the hydroelectric industry, is out of touch with public attitudes.

Public hostility continues to grow over the destructive effects of dams on salmon and steelhead. And, only last week, a federal judge ruled that Columbia River Basin programs intended to protect salmon are insufficient, promptly giving heart and hope to those who believe the four dams on the lower Snake River should be breached to prevent the ultimate extinction of wild Snake River salmon stocks.

Sen. Craig's amendment catering to the hydroelectric industry is not only patently political, but surely badly timed and contrary to a nasty public mood about certain ill-conceived dams that in time could boomerang on Sen. Craig's benefactors in the industry.

 

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