(A) the feasibility, costs, and sufficiency of
alternative transportation by railroad, highway,
and other means;
(B) the economic benefits and costs of
such alternatives;
(C) the environmental impact of shifting to
such alternatives;
(D) the means for mitigating any environ-
mental harm that might be caused by the use
of such alternatives; and
(E) any development or expansion of such
alternatives that would be required to continue
moving the same amount of cargo that is cur-
rently transported by water.
(3) The effects of partial dam removal on irri-
gation, including the availability of or need for alter-
natives to replace irrigation water or to extend irri-
gation pumps.
(4) The effects of partial dam removal on en-
ergy production, including the regional effects of any
changes in energy production, identification of alter-
native energy sources that could replace any loss in
energy production, and the benefits and costs of
such alternatives.
(5) The effects, including economic effects, of
the extinction of salmon and steelhead populations
in the Snake River.
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General
shall submit to each of the Secretary of the Army, the
Secretary of Commerce, and the Administrator of the En-
vironmental Protection Agency a report on the results of
the study conducted under this section.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION AND PLANNING OF SALMON RE-
COVERY.
(a) PARTIAL DAM REMOVAL AUTHORIZATION.—The
Secretary of the Army, acting through the Corps of Engi-
neers, is authorized to partially remove the 4 lower Snake
River dams if—
(1) the Secretary of Commerce finds that such
action is necessary to restore Snake River salmon
and steelhead populations to meet obligations under
the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (33 U.S.C.
1531 et seq.);
(2) the Secretary of the Interior finds that such
action is necessary to meet treaty obligations to In-
dian tribes or other sovereign nations; or
(3) the Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency finds that such action is nec-
essary to meet requirements of the Federal Water
Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.).
(b) PRELIMINARY PLANNING WORK.—The Secretary
of the Army shall undertake such preliminary engineering,
design, construction, and other activities as may be nec-
essary to remove the 4 lower Snake River dams pursuant
to subsection (a). This work shall be completed by Decem-
ber 31, 2003.
(c) FUNDING.—There is authorized to be appro-
priated to the Secretary of the Army $4,000,000 for fiscal
year beginning after September 30, 2001, to carry out this
section. Such sums shall remain available until expended.
SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act, the following definitions apply:
(1) LOWER SNAKE RIVER DAMS.—The term ‘‘4
lower Snake River dams’’ means the following dams
on the Snake River, Washington:
(A) The Ice Harbor dam.
(B) The Lower Monumental dam.
(C) The Little Goose dam.
(D) The Lower Granite dam.
(2) NMFS BIOLOGICAL
OPINION.—The term
‘‘NMFS biological opinion’’ means the biological
opinion of the National Marine Fisheries Service re-
garding the Operation of the Federal Columbia
River power system, issued on December 21, 2000,
and any subsequent modification of, or substitute
for, that biological opinion.
(3) POPULATIONS.—The term ‘‘populations’’
means the 12 evolutionarily significant units of
salmon and steelhead listed in the Columbia and
Snake River basin that are the subject of the NMFS
biological opinion.
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