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Rep. LaMalfa Demands Answers on Klamath Dam Removal “Shell Corporation"

March 1, 2016
Richvale, CA – Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) today questioned Deputy Secretary of the Interior Mike Connor about the administration’s role in the proposed removal of four dams on the Klamath River in Northern California and Oregon. Citing an agreement signed by Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, the State of California, the State of Oregon, and PacifiCorp to create a “non-federal entity” to remove the dams, LaMalfa demanded that Connor explain where Interior derived the authority to engage in removal of the Klamath Dams.

“We’re seeing an administration that claims to be the most transparent in history engaged in closed meetings, neck-deep in a shell corporation, and requiring stakeholders to sign nondisclosure agreements just to learn how they’ll be affected,” said LaMalfa. “This seems like a front company in a process designed to avoid public scrutiny and avoid open government laws. The administration is moving forward with its goal of dam removal while ignoring the water supply issues that impact thousands of residents.”

Deputy Secretary Connor refused to answer whether the non-federal entity would be required to comply with the Freedom of Information Act and other open government laws. While Connor claimed that Interior had no involvement with the non-federal entity, he later admitted that federal employees were working on the project.

LaMalfa also referred to recent meetings held between Interior, California, Oregon and PacifiCorp officials and a hand-picked group of stakeholders, at which all attendees were required to sign nondisclosure agreements in order to participate. Deputy Secretary Connor admitted that such agreements, which prohibit participants from speaking publicly about the meetings, had been required.

“It is entirely inappropriate for public employees to participate in secret meetings and force those who lives could be impacted to sign nondisclosure agreements,” LaMalfa added. “For the record, I want you to know that I’ll be submitting a Freedom of Information Act request to your office for documents related to these meetings.”

Video of LaMalfa’s exchange with Secretary Jewell and Deputy Secretary Connor may be found at the following link:

Part 1: https://youtu.be/1zkEqkh3Shkadded

Part 2:https://youtu.be/_cqHphIhJ-E

Congressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou and Tehama Counties.

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