Rules Committee Silences Members, Public on Hydropower

Rules Committee Silences Members, Public on Hydropower

Apr 20 - U.S. Newswire

Conservationists, anglers, and tribes blasted the House leadership this morning for stifling debate on a provision of the energy bill that will affect the future of some 130 rivers in 40 states in the coming decade. The House Rules Committee denied Reps. John Dingell (D- MI), Sherrod Boehlert (R-NY), and Tom Udall (D-NM) an opportunity to debate their amendment to guarantee equal rights for the American people with electric utilities during negotiations over the operations of hydropower dams.

"The Rules Committee is treating elected representatives like second-class citizens," said Andrew Fahlund, vice president for protection and restoration at American Rivers. "If the energy bill becomes law, electric utilities will treat the American people like second-class citizens, too."

By law, rivers are public resources. Utilities that operate hydroelectric dams must secure licenses every 30 to 50 years. Currently, any citizen with an interest in protection of fish and wildlife, access to recreation, or protecting cultural resources of tribes has the same rights as anyone else in the negotiations, including the dam owner. Industry lobbyists and their Congressional allies have inserted a provision into the energy bill that would grant electric utilities special privileges in these negotiations.

"Rivers belong to everybody, so why should an electric utility like Enron have more rights to them than anybody else?" said Robbin Marks, director of hydropower reform at American Rivers.

The House energy bill also contains a provision that would exempt all hydropower dams from complying with the fundamental requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act. It would prohibit federal agencies from evaluating any alternatives to certain energy projects other than the one proposed by the utility and prohibits those same agencies from considering comments by the public on anything but the utility's proposal.

"The hydropower industry and their allies in Congress want to deny the public complete information and an equal voice," said Fahlund. "Electric utilities already plug rivers with dams, the energy bill would let them plug your mouth, too."

American Rivers called on members of the House to vote against the energy bill when it reaches the floor and urged Senators to show greater respect for basic democratic principles of equal rights and fairness when they take up their version of the bill.

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