As the New Year begins, the river and paddling community is bracing itself for one of its first battles in the effort to prevent rollbacks of important environmental regulations in the 107th Congress.
From January 8 to January 18, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) – the federal agency responsible for regulating private hydropower dams – will hold a series of public meetings as it prepares a report to Congress outlining ways to “reduce the cost and time of obtaining a [hydropower dam] license.” The intentions of this report are very clear – find ways to make it cheaper and faster for hydropower dam operators to exploit the public’s rivers.
We need to make it exceedingly clear to both FERC and Congress that rivers belong to the public. What matters is not regulatory process, but impacts to natural resources and local communities! More efficient government is fine, but only if private hydropower dam operators are held accountable for the harm they inflict on public rivers. We must deliver this message loud and clear to both FERC and Congress.
What you can do:
ATTEND YOUR REGIONAL MEETING.Reserve the date in your area today! The following is the national schedule for these meetings, and as always, American Whitewater is asking paddlers to make their voices heard at these regional meetings.
9:00am Mon., January 8
Commission Meeting Room,
2-C
888 First Street, NE
Washington, DC
T: 202-219-2722
9:00am Tue., January 9
Richard B. Russell Building
Storm Auditorium
75 Spring Street
Atlanta, GA
T: 404-562-9404
9:00am Wed., January 10
Ramada Inn
300 Broadway
Albany, NY
T: 518-434-4111
9:00am Thurs., January 11
Lansing Center
333 E. Michigan Avenue
Lansing, MI
T: 517-483-7400
9:00am Wed., January 17
Holiday Inn Airport
8439 N.E. Columbia
Portland, OR
T: 503-256-5000
9:00am Thurs., January 18
Vagabond Executive Inn
2030 Arden Way
Sacramento, CA
T: 916-929-5600
American Whitewater and our partners with the Hydropower Reform Coalition are preparing talking points and core messages to assist individuals from the paddling community volunteering to attend regional meetings. We will be circulating these the week prior to your meeting. Of course, the most powerful message will come from local individuals, organizations, and local paddling clubs, who can speak to the impacts of hydropower dams on you and your local river(s).
FERC will also be accepting written comments until February 1, 2001. Please keep an eye out for future updates about how best to voice your concerns through written comments.
If you can attend your regional meeting, please help us better organize by sending an RSVP to:
Carla Miner, American Whitewater Conservation Office at