Rep. LaMalfa Comments on Klamath Dam Removal Announcement

Richvale, CA – Richvale, CA – Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) today commented on the agreement that Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, California Governor Jerry Brown, and Oregon Governor Kate Brown signed. It will cost at least $250 million in taxpayer funds to remove four dams owned by billionaire Warren Buffett’s PacifiCorp, creating a so-called “non-federal entity” to oversee the project. LaMalfa released the following statement:

The overwhelming majority of residents of the Klamath Basin, those who are actually impacted, have been cut out of this process in favor of environmental extremists, bureaucrats in Sacramento and Washington, and a taxpayer bailout for billionaire Warren Buffett.

We’ve seen government agency employees openly admit to designing this process specifically to avoid Congressional oversight, create a front company in order to avoid open government laws, and force stakeholders to sign nondisclosure agreements just to learn how they’ll be impacted.

Those lauding today’s announcement should consider whether they’d support an administration of another party using such tactics to end-run around their elected representatives and impose policies with negative impacts on their communities.

I remain committed to working toward a comprehensive solution to the region’s water supply challenges that protects agriculture and electric ratepayers. However, dam removal does nothing to address these issues.

When LaMalfa questioned Assistant Secretary of the Interior Mike Connor during a recent House committee hearing about the secretive planning process leading up to the agreement, Connor refused to answer whether the proposal complied with open government laws.

Part one of LaMalfa’s exchange with Connor may be found here: https://www.youtube.com/embed/1zkEqkh3Shk

Part two may be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/embed/1zkEqkh3Shk

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