FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 25, 2022
CONTACT:
Mark Bransom, KRRC
(415) 820-4441
info@klamathrenewal.org
FERC Releases Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Klamath Dam Removal Project
KLAMATH REGION – Today, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) released its draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review of the Klamath River Renewal project. The Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC) and its partners are reviewing the draft EIS, which describes the impacts and benefits of the project. KRRC is deeply grateful that FERC staff recommends approval of KRRC’s License Surrender application, concluding that the, “environmental and public benefits of the proposed action, with additional staff recommendations, would exceed those of the no-action alternative (status quo).”
KRRC appreciates FERC’s thorough and timely review of the project impacts, and continues to focus efforts on obtaining all the necessary regulatory approvals, including a final EIS and a License Surrender Order, to commence the largest dam removal and river restoration effort in U.S. history.
The draft EIS can be viewed on KRRC’s website here. FERC will now accept public comments on the draft EIS until April 18, 2022. A final EIS is expected by September 2022.
The Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC) is an independent nonprofit organization founded in 2016 as part of the amended Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement (KHSA). KRRC is part of a cooperative effort to re-establish the natural vitality of the Klamath River so that it can support all communities in the basin. Signatories of the amended KHSA incude the states of California and Oregon, local governments, tribal nations, dam owner PacifiCorp, irrigators, and several conservation and fishing groups. KRRC was formed for the sole purpose of taking ownership of four PacifiCorps dams—J.C. Boyle, Copco No. 1 & 2, and Iron Gate—and then removing these dams, restoring formerly inundated lands, and implementing required mitigation measures in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations. KRRC’s work is funded by PacifiCorp customer surcharges and California Proposition 1 water bond funds.
KRRC values transparency and cooperation with all stakeholders and is committed to working with residents and governments to minimize any nuisance or negative impacts while enhancing the project’s local benefits.