New Filing Takes Issue With Requests For District Court To Reject Proposed 5-Year Delay Of Columbia River Basin Salmon Litigation
January 19th, 2024
Federal agencies, states and tribes say a five-year or more pause in U.S. District Court litigation over Columbia River basin salmon recovery will harm none of the parties that objected to the “stay” in December. Instead, they say in a Jan. 12 filing, a stay will allow the region to focus on “important partnership efforts … to benefit the fish, wildlife, diverse habitat, and Native American communities in the Northwest.”
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If Columbia River Basin Salmon MOU Approved By Court, What Will Be The Role Of Northwest Power/Conservation Council? Hard To Say
January 18th, 2024
Commitments to restore Columbia River basin salmon and steelhead populations made by the federal government and “six sovereigns” will intersect or overlap with the Northwest Power and Conservation Council’s responsibilities under the Northwest Power Act, according to a presentation at last week’s Council meeting.
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Group Petitions NOAA Fisheries To List Alaska Chinook Salmon Under ESA; State Says ‘Targeted Attack’ On Alaska
January 18th, 2024
The Wild Fish Conservancy has petitioned NOAA Fisheries to list Alaska king salmon under the Endangered Species Act, saying the fish are in “severe decline and poor condition.”
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Idaho, Montana, Utilities, Ports File Opposition To Proposed Salmon Recovery MOU, Stay Mediated By Biden Administration
January 5th, 2024
Idaho and Montana – along with the region’s public power utilities and inland ports in Idaho, among others, are opposed to the Biden Administration’s Memorandum of Understanding on Columbia Basin salmon recovery and have filed their displeasure in federal court, saying they were entirely left out of making the deal.
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Biden Administration, Two States, Treaty Tribes Reach MOU On Columbia River Basin Salmon Recovery, Litigation Paused For At Least Five Years
December 15th, 2023
The Biden Administration, Columbia River treaty tribes and the states of Oregon and Washington agreed Thursday to work to restore wild salmon populations in the Columbia and Snake river basins and to delay ongoing litigation for five years, with an option for the delay to go as long as 10 years.
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Leaked Court Mediation Document Listing ‘Actions And Commitments’ For Basin Salmon Recovery Draws Objections, Questions
November 30th, 2023
A draft agreement mediated by the Biden Administration outlining investments in Columbia River basin salmon and steelhead recovery that was to remain confidential until mid-December was leaked early this week by Washington and Oregon members of Congress.
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DOJ Proposes $33.2 Million Settlement To Compensate For Damages From Pollutants, Oil Discharges Into Willamette River, Portland Harbor
November 16th, 2023
The U.S. Department of Justice this month announced a proposed settlement valued at approximately $33.2 million to compensate for natural resource injuries that resulted from hazardous substance releases and oil discharges into the Willamette River and Portland Harbor in Oregon.
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Republican U.S. House Members Request All CEQ Documents Related To Mediation, Settlement Discussions On Lower Snake Dams
November 16th, 2023
U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-OR, who represents eastern, central and southern Oregon is requesting the White House Council on Environmental Quality release documents related to CEQ's role in mediation and settlement discussions regarding the Lower Snake River Dams.
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Columbia/Snake Salmon Recovery Lawsuit On Hold Again As Parties Seek Buy-In On ‘Actions And Commitments’ Not Yet Made Public
November 3rd, 2023
Parties to the lawsuit challenging the federal government’s 2020 environmental impact statement and biological opinion for imperiled salmon and steelhead traversing Columbia/Snake River federal dams have developed a package of “actions and commitments” that they will present to regional partners to get buy-in over the next 45 days.