Rep. Schrier Sends Letter President Biden About CEQ Lower Snake River Dams Reports

July 18, 2022

WASHINGTON, DC -- Today Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) sent a letter to President Joe Biden regarding the Council on Environmental Quality's recent actions related to the Lower Snake River Dams. In the letter Rep. Schrier requests more information about the timing of the release of the draft reports and which stakeholders were involved.

In the letter Rep. Schrier said, "The issue of the Lower Snake River Dams is a very nuanced one, which has been looked at and debated for decades. There isn’t a right or a wrong side and it isn’t black and white. Like most Washingtonians, I recognize the incredible value of salmon to the Northwest’s economy and cultural identity, and I am committed to honoring our government’s treaty obligations. I am heartbroken by declining Orca populations. And as someone who represents a state and district that produces an abundance of clean, renewable hydropower, I know the important role these resources play in our fight against climate change, maintaining grid reliability, and avoiding blackouts in the region.

I continue to support policies that are grounded in the best available science, honor tribal treaty rights, and reflect the cultural and economic values of our region. Washingtonians know that the question of the four Lower Snake River Dams is a complex one and that it’s a decision that should be made in consultation with all affected stakeholders, not by an agency in Washington, DC, 3,000 miles away."

The full letter sent to President Biden can be found here or below.

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Dear President Biden,

I write to you today to express my disappointment with the Council on Environmental Quality’s (CEQ) recent actions related to the Lower Snake River Dams. The manner in which the draft reports were released has further politicized an already complicated issue.

The issue of the Lower Snake River Dams is a very nuanced one, which has been looked at and debated for decades. There isn’t a right or a wrong side and it isn’t black and white. Like most Washingtonians, I recognize the incredible value of salmon to the Northwest’s economy and cultural identity, and I am committed to honoring our government’s treaty obligations. I am heartbroken by declining Orca populations. And as someone who represents a state and district that produces an abundance of clean, renewable hydropower, I know the important role these resources play in our fight against climate change, maintaining grid reliability, and avoiding blackouts in the region.

No recommendation can be made in a vacuum – and I am disappointed the draft reports last week were released in a politicized manner without input from all affected stakeholders and without full consideration of the agricultural, economic, and grid impacts. To that end, I request the Administration respond to the following questions:

My understanding is that the release of the BPA Lower Snake River Dams Power Replacement Study was delayed. Was there a delay in releasing those findings, and if so, what was the reason for the delay? Why was the decision made by CEQ to release the draft NOAA report in conjunction with the BPA study?
Stakeholders have expressed concern that the July 11, 2022 draft NOAA report was released by CEQ with input and data from plaintiffs in existing lawsuits calling for removal of the dams. What assurances can you provide that the reporting process was not influenced for political purposes?
What is the Administration’s plan to incorporate feedback from other stakeholders regarding the future of the dams, and what steps will be taken to address mistrust and to encourage good faith engagement?

I appreciate your timely response to these questions. I will continue to talk with and listen to all stakeholders in my district and I encourage CEQ and the Biden Administration to do the same.

Sincerely,

Kim Schrier, M.D.