For Immediate Release
October 31, 2007 |
Contact: Steve Ellis
202-546-8500 x126 |
NEW SALMON PLAN PROMISES NOT SALMON RECOVERY BUT BILLIONS MORE IN FEDERAL SPENDING
Washington, D.C. - The following is a written statement by Ms. Ryan Alexander, President of Taxpayers for Common Sense on the release of the draft Columbia and Snake River Biological Opinion issued today by NOAA Fisheries.
We are very disappointed but not surprised to see that federal agencies have released yet another salmon plan that offers more of the same expensive salmon fixes that have been proven to be economic and scientific failures. It seems that NOAA, the Army Corps of Engineers and the other federal agencies involved cannot get it right. After spending more than $7 billion since the 1980’s to restore the fish it is time the federal government look at new options for recovery and not continue down the road to extinction.
Representatives McDermott (D-WA) and Petri (D-WI) have introduced legislation to study all options from habitat to harvest operations including partial removal of the Lower Snake River dams. These studies are imperative to determining what options for recovery make the most economic and scientific sense. We urge Members of Congress to help enact this important legislation into law so taxpayers can get out of this endless cycle of spending before it is too late for the salmon.
(pdf version) |
