Salmon Solutions and Planning Act - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences for scientific analysis of federal salmon recovery actions, including the impact that removal of the four lower Snake River dams would have on recovery of salmon and steelhead populations and any additional actions that may be necessary to achieve recovery of salmon and steelhead populations.
Directs: (1) the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) to conduct a peer-reviewed study of the rail, highway, and Columbia River barge infrastructure improvements that would be necessary to ensure a cost-effective and efficient transportation system for shippers who currently use barge transportation between Lewiston, Idaho, and the confluence of the Snake and Columbia Rivers and who would be unable to do so if the four lower Snake River dams were removed; (2) the Secretary of Energy (DOE) to conduct a peer-reviewed study of the options to replace the power currently generated by such dams if they were removed; (3) the Army Corps of Engineers to analyze riverfront revitalization and restoration opportunities and costs in the event of such removal; and (4) the Bureau of Reclamation to conduct a peer-reviewed analysis of the options and costs regarding any needed modifications to affected irrigation systems, cooling systems, and private wells if the dams were removed.
Sets forth the congressional determination that the Secretary of the Army may remove the four lower Snake River dams.
Directs the Secretary to reevaluate and update the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Final Lower Snake River Juvenile Salmon Migration Feasibility Report/Environmental Impact Statement (February 2002) pursuant to new information.
[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2111 Introduced in House (IH)]
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2111
To ensure that proper information gathering and planning are undertaken
to secure the preservation and recovery of the salmon and steelhead of
the Columbia River Basin in a manner that protects and enhances local
communities, ensures effective expenditure of Federal resources, and
maintains reasonably priced, reliable power, to direct the Secretary of
Commerce to seek scientific analysis of Federal efforts to restore
salmon and steelhead listed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 3, 2011
Mr. McDermott (for himself, Mr. Petri, Mr. Andrews, Ms. Hirono, Mr.
Moran, Mr. Levin, Mr. Blumenauer, Ms. Woolsey, Mr. Stark, Mr. Jackson
of Illinois, Mr. Honda, and Mrs. Capps) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources
and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To ensure that proper information gathering and planning are undertaken
to secure the preservation and recovery of the salmon and steelhead of
the Columbia River Basin in a manner that protects and enhances local
communities, ensures effective expenditure of Federal resources, and
maintains reasonably priced, reliable power, to direct the Secretary of
Commerce to seek scientific analysis of Federal efforts to restore
salmon and steelhead listed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Salmon Solutions and Planning Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds and declares the following:
(1) Thirteen salmon and steelhead species in the Columbia
and Snake River Basin are listed for protection under the
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) as a
consequence of various factors, including the construction and
operation of hydroelectric projects, harvest management
practices, habitat degradation, altered in-stream flow regimes,
and unsound hatchery practices.
(2) The original range of Snake River salmon included not
only their existing habitat, but also habitat in the upper
Columbia River and the upper Snake River Basins, including
southern Idaho, southeast Oregon, and northern Nevada.
(3) Since the construction of 4 Federal dams on the lower
Snake River in Washington, all salmon and steelhead populations
in the Snake River are either already extinct or listed as an
endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species
Act of 1973.
(4) Without action, climate change and rising water
temperatures will continue to have detrimental effects on many
North American coldwater fish species, including salmon and
steelhead populations. Due to their high-elevation spawning
grounds, Snake River salmon are key to maintaining and
rebuilding those salmon populations threatened by rising water
temperatures throughout the Columbia River Basin.
(5) Salmon and steelhead populations have major economic,
ecological, educational, recreational, scientific, cultural,
and spiritual significance to the Nation and its people. Even
at their current depressed population levels, these salmon and
steelhead populations generate hundreds of millions of dollars
in direct and indirect benefits for communities in Alaska,
Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and California; restoring these
populations is estimated to generate billions of dollars in
additional revenue for these States.
(6) The United States has signed treaties with Indian
tribes in Washington, Oregon, Montana, and Idaho and with the
Government of Canada, creating legally enforceable treaty
obligations to restore salmon populations to sustainable and
harvestable levels.
(7) Recent studies indicate that the window of time to
protect and restore the salmon and steelhead populations is
short, with scientists estimating that several of the remaining
Snake River salmon populations could be extinct in less than 20
years if action is not taken.
(8) The Federal Government, the Bonneville Power
Administration, and United States ratepayers in the Pacific
Northwest have spent more than $10,000,000,000 on salmon
recovery efforts in the Columbia and Snake River Basin to date.
(9) A federally funded group of State, tribal, Federal, and
independent scientists found that removing the 4 lower Snake
River dams in Washington is the surest way to protect and
recover these salmon and steelhead populations. Similar
conclusions have been reached by the Army Corps of Engineers
and the Department of Commerce.
(10) Significant sediment buildup behind the Lower Granite
Dam poses a flood risk to the city of Lewiston, Idaho. A study
by the Army Corps of Engineers found that nearly $2,000,000,000
worth of buildings and infrastructure face a growing threat of
major damage from levee breaching. The same Corps study
estimates that the costs of river-dredging and levee-raising
needed to protect this area could cost taxpayers hundreds of
millions of dollars.
(11) A Federal court has found that all 4 lower Snake River
dams violate water quality standards under the Federal Water
Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.).
(12) The removal of the 4 lower Snake River dams would open
up more than 100 miles of free-flowing river ways to inland
Northwest communities and provide needed resources for more
effective and efficient freight transportation systems.
(13) In the event the 4 lower Snake River dams are removed,
their electricity generation, freight shipping, and water
supply benefits must be replaced through other means in order
to protect affected communities, farms, and the regional energy
supply system; the dams' energy benefits should be replaced
with cost-effective, clean renewable sources that focus on
energy efficiency and conservation.
(14) Studies have found that the Northwest has ample
additional existing and potential clean renewable energy
sources to replace the renewable electricity produced by the 4
lower Snake River dams in an environmentally sound and cost
effective manner.
(15) By completing the planning and evaluation required
under this Act, the Northwest and the Nation will be better
prepared to efficiently manage salmon recovery and ensure
prompt implementation of Federal salmon recovery actions needed
to protect and restore wild Columbia and Snake River salmon and
steelhead.
(b) Purposes.--The purpose of this Act are--
(1) to ensure the protection and recovery of wild Columbia
and Snake River salmon and steelhead to self-sustaining,
harvestable levels, while providing for reliable, reasonably
priced, clean renewable energy in the Northwest, a reliable and
affordable freight transportation system, an economically
sustainable salmon recovery program; and
(2) to maximize the economic benefits of removal of the 4
lower Snake River dams while mitigating for its impacts.
SEC. 3. SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS OF FEDERAL SALMON RECOVERY ACTIONS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall enter into an agreement
with the National Academy of Sciences providing for a scientific
analysis of Federal salmon recovery actions.
(b) Review of Snake River Dam Removal and Other Actions.--Pursuant
to the agreement under subsection (a), the National Academy of Sciences
shall review, at minimum--
(1) the impact, if any, that removal of the 4 lower Snake
River dams would have on recovery of salmon and steelhead
populations; and
(2) any additional actions that may be necessary to achieve
recovery of salmon and steelhead populations.
(c) Report.--Pursuant to the agreement under subsection (a), the
National Academy of Sciences shall submit, not later than 10 months
after the date of enactment of this Act, a report on the results of the
scientific analysis conducted under the agreement--
(1) to the Secretary of the Army for consideration in
developing the updated feasibility study under section 8;
(2) to the Secretaries of Commerce, Transportation, Energy,
and the Interior and the Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency; and
(3) to Congress.
SEC. 4. STUDY OF RAIL, HIGHWAY, AND BARGE IMPROVEMENTS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Transportation shall conduct a
peer-reviewed study of the rail, highway, and Columbia River barge
infrastructure improvements that would be necessary to ensure a cost-
effective and efficient transportation system for agricultural and
other shippers who--
(1) currently use barge transportation between Lewiston,
Idaho, and the confluence of the Snake and Columbia Rivers; and
(2) would be unable to do so if the 4 lower Snake River
dams were removed.
(b) Review of Potential Cost Increases.--In carrying out subsection
(a), the Secretary of Transportation shall review, at a minimum--
(1) increases, if any, in shipping costs that would result
if the 4 lower Snake River dams were removed; and
(2) options for addressing any such increases so as to
minimize the potential impact on shippers.
(c) Input of Interested Parties.--In carrying out subsection (a),
the Secretary of Transportation shall incorporate--
(1) input and feedback from--
(A) farmers and other shippers;
(B) the Washington, Idaho, and Oregon State
departments of transportation; and
(C) other relevant stakeholders in the
agricultural, business, and public interest
communities; and
(2) any suggestions or decisions arrived at through
consensus deliberations of the same or similar participants.
(d) Report.--Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall transmit a report on
the results of the study--
(1) to the Secretary of the Army for consideration in
developing the updated feasibility study under section 8; and
(2) to Congress.
SEC. 5. STUDY OF ENERGY REPLACEMENT.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Energy, in consultation with the
Council on Environmental Quality, shall conduct a peer-reviewed study
of the energy replacement options that exist to replace the power
currently generated by the 4 lower Snake River dams in the event the
dams are removed.
(b) Review of Potential Clean Renewable Energy Resources and
Certain Projects.--In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary of
Energy shall review--
(1) existing, planned, and potential clean renewable energy
resources; and
(2) energy efficiency, energy conservation, and combined
heat and power projects.
(c) Report.--Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of Energy shall transmit a report on the
results of the study--
(1) to the Secretary of the Army for consideration in
developing the updated feasibility study under section 8; and
(2) to Congress.
SEC. 6. STUDY OF LOWER SNAKE RIVER RIVERFRONT REVITALIZATION.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of the Army, in consultation with
relevant State and local governments and interested parties, shall
conduct a study of--
(1) the riverfront revitalization and restoration
opportunities that would exist in the event of the removal of
the 4 lower Snake River dams; and
(2) the costs that would be incurred to implement such
revitalization and restoration measures.
(b) Riverfront Revitalization.--In carrying out subsection (a), the
Secretary of the Army shall focus on riverfront revitalization for
Lewiston, Idaho, and Clarkston, Washington, but may include a review of
other impacted communities along the 140 miles of the lower Snake
River.
(c) Peer Review.--The study shall be subject to peer review
generally in accordance with section 2034 of the Water Resources
Development Act of 2007 (33 U.S.C. 2343) to determine the accuracy of
the preferred engineering options and costs determined by the
Secretary.
(d) Report.--Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary shall transmit to Congress a report on the
results of the study, including the Secretary's determinations
concerning engineering options and costs.
SEC. 7. STUDY OF IRRIGATION PROTECTIONS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the
Bureau of Reclamation, shall conduct a peer-reviewed study of the
options and costs regarding any modifications to affected irrigation
systems, cooling systems, and private wells that would be needed if the
4 lower Snake River dams were removed.
(b) Report.--Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall transmit a report on
the study--
(1) to the Secretary of the Army for consideration in
developing the updated feasibility study under section 8; and
(2) to Congress.
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION AND STUDY OF SALMON RECOVERY.
(a) Dam Removal Authorization.--Congress hereby determines that the
Secretary of the Army may remove the 4 lower Snake River dams.
(b) Review and Update of Feasibility Study.--The Secretary of the
Army, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of
the Interior, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection
Agency, shall re-evaluate and update the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers'
Final Lower Snake River Juvenile Salmon Migration Feasibility Report/
Environmental Impact Statement (February 2002) pursuant to new
information.
(c) Considerations.--The updated feasibility study shall--
(1) take into consideration the results of the studies and
analyses carried out under this Act; and
(2) incorporate and address, at a minimum--
(A) current and expected future climate change
impacts on Columbia and Snake River salmon and
steelhead populations and their habitat;
(B) replacement of the 4 lower Snake River dams'
average energy output (not nameplate capacity) with
clean renewable energy resources, including energy
efficiency and conservation;
(C) options for keeping currently irrigated acreage
intact and under irrigation in a dam removal scenario;
(D) costs associated with Lower Granite Dam
reservoir sediment/flood risk mitigation in a non-dam-
removal scenario;
(E) Passive Use Values associated with both dam
removal and non-dam-removal scenarios; and
(F) alternate methods for removing the 4 lower
Snake River dams in addition to the method analyzed in
the 2002 environmental impact statement, including full
dam removal and removing or notching the dams' concrete
portions.
(d) Completion; Report; Peer Review.--The Secretary of the Army
shall--
(1) complete the re-evaluation and update and submit a
report thereon to Congress within 24 months after the date of
enactment of this Act;
(2) include in the report a determination of engineering
options and costs; and
(3) submit the results of the re-evaluation and update
(including such determination of engineering options and costs)
to peer review generally in accordance with section 2034 of the
Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (33 U.S.C. 2343) to
determine the accuracy of the preferred engineering options and
costs.
SEC. 9. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act, the following definitions apply:
(1) Clean renewable energy resources.--The term ``clean
renewable energy resources'' means--
(A) incremental electricity produced as the result
of efficiency improvements to existing hydroelectric
generation projects, including in irrigation pipes and
canals, where the additional generation in either case
does not result in new water diversions or
impoundments;
(B) wind;
(C) solar energy;
(D) geothermal energy;
(E) landfill gas;
(F) wave, ocean, or tidal power;
(G) gas from sewage treatment facilities;
(H) biomass energy (as defined in section 932(a) of
the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16232(a))),
excluding energy derived from--
(i) pulping liquor from paper production;
or
(ii) forest materials from old growth
forests; or
(I) any combination of the energy resources
described in this paragraph.
(2) Federal salmon recovery actions.--The term ``Federal
salmon recovery actions'' means Federal actions required to
protect, recover, and restore salmon and steelhead in the
Columbia and Snake River basin that are listed under section
4(c) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533(c)).
The term shall not be construed as just those actions needed to
avoid jeopardy of these salmon and steelhead populations under
the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
(3) 4 lower snake river dams.--The term ``4 lower Snake
River dams'' means the following dams on the Snake River,
Washington:
(A) The Ice Harbor dam.
(B) The Lower Monumental dam.
(C) The Little Goose dam.
(D) The Lower Granite dam.
(4) Peer-reviewed study.--The term ``peer-reviewed study''
means, unless otherwise specified, a study subject to peer
review in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Director
of the Office of Management and Budget under section 515 of the
Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 2001 (as
enacted into law by Public Law 106-554; 114 Stat. 2763A-153).
(5) Salmon and steelhead populations.--The term ``salmon
and steelhead populations'' means the evolutionarily
significant units of salmon and steelhead in the Columbia and
Snake River basin that are listed under section 4(c) of the
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533(c)).
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1051)
Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Power.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
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