Keeping the Columbia River Dams Operating Into 2022 (H.R. 3144)

What is H.R. 3144?

(Updated May 15, 2018)

This bill would require the operation of the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) in a manner consistent with the 2014 Endangered Species Act supplemental biological opinion protecting salmon, steelhead, and other fish species on the Columbia River until the later of: September 30, 2022; or the date upon which the final biological opinion is issued and in effect with no further judicial review.

The FCRPS is operated by the Bureau of Reclamation, the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to provide hydroelectric power to the Pacific Northwest in addition to flood control and irrigation (the dams have fish ladders to accommodate migrating salmon). In March 2017 a federal district court judge ordered that federal agencies increase increase spill (ie how much water is allowed to flow through the dam without generating power) over Columbia and Snake River dams starting in April 3, 2018 increasing power costs by an estimated $40 million.

Those agencies could amend portions of the supplemental opinion and operate the FCRPS accordingly with such amendments if all the entities determine: 1) the amendments are necessary for public safety or transmission and grid reliability; or 2) the actions, operations, or other requirements that the amendments would remove are no longer warranted.

No structural modification, action, study, or engineering plan that restricts electrical generation at any FCRPS hydroelectric dam or that limits navigation on the Snake River in Washington, Oregon, or Idaho could proceed unless such proposal is specifically and expressly authorized by an Act of Congress.

Argument in favor

This bipartisan bill ensures that the Pacific Northwest will continue to benefit from the Columbia and Snake River dams’ electricity generation, flood control, and irrigation while steps continue to be taken to protect endangered salmon and steelhead based on the Endangered Species Act supplemental opinion.

Argument opposed

The dams on the Columbia and Snake Rivers should either be breached and removed or allow increased flow now without a final Endangered Species Act opinion. Despite the supposed benefits dams provide they do too much damage to endangered fish populations.

Impact

Communities affected by the Columbia and Snake River dams through their flood control, irrigation, and electricity generation; endangered salmon and steelhead.

Cost of H.R. 3144

The CBO estimates that enacting this bill would reduce net direct spending by $16 million over the 2019-2028 period.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Sponsoring Rep. Cathy McMorris-Rodgers (R-WA) introduced this bill to protect the Columbia and Snake River dams and ensure dams and fish can coexist:

“Hydropower helped build the Northwest, and still today it offers us clean, renewable, reliable, and affordable energy to help power our homes, businesses, and communities. I’m proud to see this bipartisan legislation pass the House Natural Resource Committee today and look forward to it coming before the full House in the coming weeks. My goal is to ensure that dams and fish can co-exist, and this Biological Opinion provides a collaborative approach so we can continue to improve technology and fish recovery efforts, while supporting the clean energy produced on our dams. I’m proud to lead this effort along with the support of organizations and people all across Eastern Washington.”

House Democrats largely opposed this bill, writing in its committee report:

“H.R. 3144 would mandate the use of an illegal operation plan for the Federal Columbia River Power System. The operation plan in question violates our nation’s bedrock environmental laws, threatens the existence of several endangered salmon and steelhead populations, jeopardizes thousands of jobs in the commercial and recreational fishing industries and the outdoor recreation economy, contradicts judicial rulings, and harms tribal fishing interests through the Pacific Northwest.”

This legislation passed the House Natural Resource Committee on a 23-17 vote and has the support of eight bipartisan cosponsors, including seven Republicans and one Democrat.

Media:

• Sponsoring Rep. Cathy McMorris-Rodgers (R-WA) Press Release
  
• CBO Cost Estimate
  
• NBC Right Now Tri-Cities - Yakima
  
• Ripon Advance
  
• FCRPS Biological Opinion (Context)
  
• The Spokesman-Review (Op-Ed In Favor)