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Salmon

KEC Ambassadors,

We need you to contact Obama Administration officials about the 2008 Biological Opinion. The “BiOp,” or salmon plan, is the blueprint for how the federal hydroelectric dams will be operated to aid salmon and steelhead recovery over the next 10 years. It also includes numerous measures to improve habitat and hatcheries to help fish.

Most utilities in the Northwest purchase some or all of their power from the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), who is involved with these federal hydro projects. As you know, KEC purchases all of its power from the BPA. For years, the BiOp has been bogged down in expensive court battles as extremist environmental groups have used the process to try to remove the four lower Snake River Dams and require other expensive measures that could hit ratepayers hard if the BiOp is rejected.

The 2008 BiOp is an example of regional cooperation from all parties except the most extreme. KEC and regional utilities are committed to helping salmon and steelhead even though it means an unprecedented investment – literally billions of dollars for the region’s electricity consumers – over the next ten years. Now the Obama Administration will review the document and determine its fate. The BiOp also is before a federal judge who is waiting to see what the Administration’s review might conclude – before ruling on it.

We need our Ambassadors to fax a brief statement of support by June 26th to:

• Nancy Sutley, Chair, Council on Environmental Quality - Fax (202) 456-6546
• Dr. Jane Lubchenco, Undersecretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, Department of Commerce - Fax (202) 408-9674

If you do not have access to a fax machine, please e-mail your letter to KEC at mblyton@kec.com and we will fax it for you.

Letters in your own words are best. Please address the salutation line to Madame Chair for CEQ and Dr. Lubchenco for NOAA Undersecretary. Also remember to include your name and contact information. Here are some suggested talking points to help you get started:

• I am a member of Kootenai Electric Cooperative, and am writing to ask that the Obama Administration support the 2008 Biological Opinion.
• This plan, based on sound science, represents extensive collaboration and cooperation by utilities, states, tribes, federal agencies and river interests.
• The few groups not supporting the 2008 BiOp are focused on promoting dam removal, which shows no real benefit to fish and would diminish the region’s clean hydro energy supply.
• The hydro system provides the region not only with clean, renewable energy but jobs, economic stability and cleaner skies.
• We need to say “enough” to those whose only focus is staying in the court room and fundraising, and forge ahead with implementation of constructive actions that will actually benefit fish.
• Again, I am asking that the Obama Administration officials currently reviewing the plan stand behind it, put and end to regional divisiveness; and move ahead with important salmon recovery projects.

For additional information, please visit www.nwriverpartners.org.

Thank you!

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