Judge strikes down Northwest recovery plan PDF Print E-mail
Written by Seattle Times   
Tuesday, 19 May 2009
A judge has informed federal agencies that he cannot approve their plan to recover salmon in the Columbia River Basin unless they take stronger steps to comply with the Endangered Species Act. U.S. District Judge James Redden yesterday said in a letter yesterday that the plan does not set high enough standards for success. 

He also said the agencies should create a contingency plan to breach four federal hydropower dams on the lower Snake River -- a step environmental groups have long held is a prerequisite for restoration -- in case the current efforts fail. 

The letter will redirect negotiations between environmental groups and others that are suing the federal agencies for a new plan, but this round of negotiations will occur with Obama administration officials that are considered more environmentally inclined than their predecessors, including new National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries administrator Jane Lubchenco. 

Redden, who has already rejected two restoration plans in the Columbia basin, said the new plan needed to commit to keeping more water in the river for salmon and secure more funds to improving habitat in tributaries.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 20 May 2009 )
 

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