Salmon Solutions and Planning Act

Bill: 111-hr-3503
Sponsor: Rep. McDermott, Jim [D-WA-7]
Introduced: 2009-07-31 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resources
Dams and canals
Electric power generation and transmission
Energy efficiency and conservation
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Fishes
Government studies and investigations
Idaho
Lakes and rivers
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine and inland water transportation
Montana
Oregon
Railroads
Roads and highways
Washington State
Water use and supply
Watersheds
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2009-07-31
text: 
Salmon Solutions and Planning Act - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences for scientific analysis of federal salmon recovery efforts, including a review of Snake River dam removal (Washington state) and other actions necessary to achieve recovery of endangered or threatened salmon and steelhead populations of the Columbia and Snake River Basin.
 
Directs: (1) the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) to conduct a peer-reviewed analysis of which rail, highway, and Columbia River barge infrastructure improvements would be necessary to ensure a cost-effective and efficient transportation system for shippers who currently use barge transportation between Lewiston, Idaho, and the confluence of the Snake and Columbia Rivers and who would be unable to do so if the four lower Snake River dams were removed; (2) the Secretary of Energy (DOE) to conduct a peer-reviewed analysis of options to replace the power currently generated by such dams if they were removed; (3) the Army Corps of Engineers to analyze riverfront revitalization and restoration opportunities and costs in the event of such removal; and (4) the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Reclamation, to conduct a peer-reviewed analysis of the options and costs regarding any needed modifications to affected irrigation systems, cooling systems, and private wells if the dams were removed.
 
 Sets forth the congressional determination that the Secretary of the Army may remove the four lower Snake River dams. 
 
Directs the Secretary to reevaluate and update the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Final Lower Snake River Juvenile Salmon Migration Feasibility Report/Environmental Impact Statement (February 2002) pursuant to new information.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-09-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection.
action_date: 2009-09-08
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment.
action_date: 2009-08-12
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife.
action_date: 2009-08-03
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
action_date: 2009-07-31
text: Referred to House Energy and Commerce
action_date: 2009-07-31
text: Referred to House Natural Resources
action_date: 2009-07-31
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2009-07-31
text: Referred to House Transportation and Infrastructure
action_date: 2009-07-31
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-07-31
text: Introduced in House