Hi,
I'm passing on what I just got in an email from American Whitewater, we only have 2 days to contact our Representatives and Senators, they are asking us to jump on it. From AW:
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There's a draft bill making its way through Congress that threatens to gut the Federal Power Act - targeting the very tools that we've used over the last 25+ years to put water back into rivers impacted by hydropower.
If passed, this bill would mean a lot more new dams and a lot less water in rivers at existing hydropower dams. Chances are very high that it could spell the end of whitewater flows at private and municipal hydropower dams, along with no access, no fish passage and no consideration for all of the things that make a river a river.
We need all hands on deck as this bill moves through Congress. Here's how you can help now.
This Wednesday, May 13th, the House Energy & Commerce Committee will hold a hearing about the draft bill relating to "Hydropower Regulatory Modernization."
It's important for everyone to reach out to their Representative before the hearing and ask that they oppose the Hydropower Regulatory Modernization Act.
Share your personal experience enjoying rivers where hydropower projects provide recreational flows, and ask that they oppose any bill that would undermine the public's ability to balance hydropower interests with non-power values like recreation, fish and wildlife.
The bill is bad news because it:
strips state and federal agencies of their ability to protect clean water, recreation and fish and wildlife,
reduces local and regional oversight over resource protections and priorities,
places the authority in the hands of an unaccountable, unelected Commission in Washington D.C.
restricts data collection and the use of current, sound science in the decision making process
Please contact your Representative before the hearing on Wednesday, May 13th!
Note that there's Senate version as well (S. 1236,"Hydropower Improvement Act," introduced by Senator Murkowski). While you're at it,
it would be a good idea to contact your Senator too.
Find your Representative link:
http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/
Find your Senator link:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Thanks, I know this stuff takes time but it's a constant battle, AW is working hard to keep our rivers wild and accessible (and flowing).
Edited by irenen - 11 May 2015 at 12:48pm