Spokane, WA – Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, released the following statement today after Judge James Redden ruled that the federal government’s current program to strike a balance between the Northwest’s hydroelectric dams and the protection of local salmon – known as the “Biological Opinion” – violates the Endangered Species Act:

“I am extremely disappointed with Judge Redden’s ruling which threatens to preempt years of hard work by our stakeholders in order to serve a narrow special interest.  The BiOp represents a longstanding consensus by experts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, public utilities, municipalities, and tribes.  Contrary to the Judge’s opinion, we’ve seen record fish runs in many parts of the Snake River as a result of the measures put in place at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars.  The fact of the matter is, dam removal should not be an option.

“I will continue to review Judge Redden’s order in detail and work with the appropriate federal agencies as they begin trying to implement this misguided order.”

Rep. McMorris Rodgers is a strong champion of hydropower and warned about the rising costs of the Endangered Species Act in her recent op-ed, Dams Needed for Flood Control, Affordable Energy.  To read that op-ed, click here.