,i #aacth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #djig ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,february #bf1 #bjad ,mr4 ,mc,dermott introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure1 and in addition to the ,committees on ,natural ,resources and ,energy and ,commerce1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to ensure that proper information gathering and planning are undertaken to secure the preservation and recovery of the salmon and steelhead of the ,columbia ,river ,basin in a manner that protects and enhances local communities1 ensures effective expenditure of ,federal resources1 and maintains reasonably priced1 reliable power1 to direct the ,secretary of ,commerce to seek scientific analysis of ,federal efforts to restore salmon and steelhead listed under the ,endangered ,species ,act of #aigc1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,salmon ,solutions and ,planning ,act4 #b4 ,findings and purposes 7a7 ,findings ,congress finds and declares the following3 7#a7 ,thirteen salmon and steelhead species in the ,columbia and ,snake ,river ,basin are listed for protection under the ,endangered ,species ,act of #aigc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #aeca et seq47 as a consequence of various factors1 including the construction and operation of hydroelectric projects1 harvest management practices1 habitat degradation1 altered in-stream flow regimes1 and unsound hatchery practices4 7#b7 ,the original range of ,snake ,river salmon included not only their existing habitat1 but also habitat in the upper ,columbia ,river and the upper ,snake ,river ,basins1 including southern ,idaho1 southeast ,oregon1 and northern ,nevada4 7#c7 ,since the construction of #d ,federal dams on the lower ,snake ,river in ,washington1 all salmon and steelhead populations in the ,snake ,river are either already extinct or listed as an endangered or threatened species under the ,endangered ,species ,act of #aigc4 7#d7 ,without action1 climate change and rising water temperatures will continue to have detrimental effects on many ,north ,american coldwater fish species1 including salmon and steelhead populations4 ,due to their high-elevation spawning grounds1 ,snake ,river salmon are key to maintaining and rebuilding those salmon populations threatened by rising water temperatures throughout the ,columbia ,river ,basin4 7#e7 ,salmon and steelhead populations have major economic1 ecological1 educational1 recreational1 scientific1 cultural1 and spiritual significance to the ,nation and its people4 ,even at their current depressed population levels1 these salmon and steelhead populations generate hundreds of millions of dollars in direct and indirect benefits for communities in ,alaska1 ,washington1 ,oregon1 ,idaho1 and ,california2 restoring these populations is estimated to generate billions of dollars in additional revenue for these ,states4 7#f7 ,the ,united ,states has signed treaties with ,indian tribes in ,washington1 ,oregon1 ,montana1 and ,idaho and with the ,government of ,canada1 creating legally enforceable treaty obligations to restore salmon populations to sustainable and harvestable levels4 7#g7 ,the ,federal ,government1 the ,bonneville ,power ,administration1 and ,united ,states ratepayers in the ,pacific ,northwest have spent more than #aa1jjj1jjj1jjj on salmon recovery efforts in the ,columbia and ,snake ,river ,basin to date4 7#h7 ,a federally funded group of ,state1 tribal1 ,federal1 and independent scientists found that removing the #d lower ,snake ,river dams in ,washington is the surest way to protect and recover these salmon and steelhead populations4 ,similar conclusions have been reached by the ,army ,corps of ,engineers and the ,department of ,commerce4 7#i7 ,significant sediment buildup behind the ,lower ,granite ,dam poses a flood risk to the city of ,lewiston1 ,idaho4 ,a study by the ,army ,corps of ,engineers found that nearly #b1jjj1jjj1jjj worth of buildings and infrastructure face a growing threat of major damage from levee breaching4 ,the same ,corps study estimates that the costs of river-dredging and levee-raising needed to protect this area could cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars4 7#aj7 ,a ,federal court has found that all #d lower ,snake ,river dams violate water quality standards under the ,federal ,water ,pollution ,control ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #abea et seq474 7#aa7 ,the removal of the #d lower ,snake ,river dams would open up more than #ajj miles of free-flowing river ways to inland ,northwest communities and provide needed resources for more effective and efficient freight transportation systems4 7#ab7 ,in the event the #d lower ,snake ,river dams are removed1 their electricity generation1 freight shipping1 and water supply benefits must be replaced through other means in order to protect affected communities1 farms1 and the regional energy supply system2 the dams' energy benefits should be replaced with cost-effective1 clean renewable sources that focus on energy efficiency and conservation4 7#ac7 ,studies have found that the ,northwest has ample additional existing and potential clean renewable energy sources to replace the renewable electricity produced by the #d lower ,snake ,river dams in an environmentally sound and cost effective manner4 7#ad7 ,by completing the planning and evaluation required under this ,act1 the ,northwest and the ,nation will be better prepared to efficiently manage salmon recovery and ensure prompt implementation of ,federal salmon recovery actions needed to protect and restore wild ,columbia and ,snake ,river salmon and steelhead4 7b7 ,purposes ,the purpose of this ,act are-- 7#a7 to ensure the protection and recovery of wild ,columbia and ,snake ,river salmon and steelhead to self-sustaining1 harvestable levels1 while providing for reliable1 reasonably priced1 clean renewable energy in the ,northwest1 a reliable and affordable freight transportation system1 an economically sustainable salmon recovery program2 and 7#b7 to maximize the economic benefits of removal of the #d lower ,snake ,river dams while mitigating for its impacts4 #c4 ,scientific analysis of ,federal salmon recovery actions 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #cj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,commerce shall enter into an agreement with the ,national ,academy of ,sciences providing for a scientific analysis of ,federal salmon recovery actions4 7b7 ,review of ,snake ,river dam removal and other actions ,pursuant to the agreement under subsection 7a71 the ,national ,academy of ,sciences shall review1 at minimum-- 7#a7 the impact1 if any1 that removal of the #d lower ,snake ,river dams would have on recovery of salmon and steelhead populations2 and 7#b7 any additional actions that may be necessary to achieve recovery of salmon and steelhead populations4 7c7 ,report ,pursuant to the agreement under subsection 7a71 the ,national ,academy of ,sciences shall submit1 not later than #aj months after the date of enactment of this ,act1 a report on the results of the scientific analysis conducted under the agreement-- 7#a7 to the ,secretary of the ,army for consideration in developing the updated feasibility study under section #h2 7#b7 to the ,secretaries of ,commerce1 ,transportation1 ,energy1 and the ,interior and the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency2 and 7#c7 to ,congress4 #d4 ,study of rail1 highway1 and barge improvements 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,transportation shall conduct a peer-reviewed study of the rail1 highway1 and ,columbia ,river barge infrastructure improvements that would be necessary to ensure a cost-effective and efficient transportation system for agricultural and other shippers who-- 7#a7 currently use barge transportation between ,lewiston1 ,idaho1 and the confluence of the ,snake and ,columbia ,rivers2 and 7#b7 would be unable to do so if the #d lower ,snake ,river dams were removed4 7b7 ,review of potential cost increases ,in carrying out subsection 7a71 the ,secretary of ,transportation shall review1 at a minimum-- 7#a7 increases1 if any1 in shipping costs that would result if the #d lower ,snake ,river dams were removed2 and 7#b7 options for addressing any such increases so as to minimize the potential impact on shippers4 7c7 ,input of interested parties ,in carrying out subsection 7a71 the ,secretary of ,transportation shall incorporate-- 7#a7 input and feedback from-- 7,a7 farmers and other shippers2 7,b7 the ,washington1 ,idaho1 and ,oregon ,state departments of transportation2 and 7,c7 other relevant stakeholders in the agricultural1 business1 and public interest communities2 and 7#b7 any suggestions or decisions arrived at through consensus deliberations of the same or similar participants4 7d7 ,report ,not later than #ab months after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,transportation shall transmit a report on the results of the study-- 7#a7 to the ,secretary of the ,army for consideration in developing the updated feasibility study under section #h2 and 7#b7 to ,congress4 #e4 ,study of energy replacement 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,energy1 in consultation with the ,council on ,environmental ,quality1 shall conduct a peer-reviewed study of the energy replacement options that exist to replace the power currently generated by the #d lower ,snake ,river dams in the event the dams are removed4 7b7 ,review of potential clean renewable energy resources and certain projects ,in carrying out subsection 7a71 the ,secretary of ,energy shall review-- 7#a7 existing1 planned1 and potential clean renewable energy resources2 and 7#b7 energy efficiency1 energy conservation1 and combined heat and power projects4 7c7 ,report ,not later than #ab months after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,energy shall transmit a report on the results of the study-- 7#a7 to the ,secretary of the ,army for consideration in developing the updated feasibility study under section #h2 and 7#b7 to ,congress4 #f4 ,study of lower ,snake ,river riverfront revitalization 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of the ,army1 in consultation with relevant ,state and local governments and interested parties1 shall conduct a study of-- 7#a7 the riverfront revitalization and restoration opportunities that would exist in the event of the removal of the #d lower ,snake ,river dams2 and 7#b7 the costs that would be incurred to implement such revitalization and restoration measures4 7b7 ,riverfront revitalization ,in carrying out subsection 7a71 the ,secretary of the ,army shall focus on riverfront revitalization for ,lewiston1 ,idaho1 and ,clarkston1 ,washington1 but may include a review of other impacted communities along the #adj miles of the lower ,snake ,river4 7c7 ,peer review ,the study shall be subject to peer review generally in accordance with section #bjcd of the ,water ,resources ,development ,act of #bjjg 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #bcdc7 to determine the accuracy of the preferred engineering options and costs determined by the ,secretary4 7d7 ,report ,not later than #ab months after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall transmit to ,congress a report on the results of the study1 including the ,secretary's determinations concerning engineering options and costs4 #g4 ,study of irrigation protections 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of the ,interior1 acting through the ,bureau of ,reclamation1 shall conduct a peer-reviewed study of the options and costs regarding any modifications to affected irrigation systems1 cooling systems1 and private wells that would be needed if the #d lower ,snake ,river dams were removed4 7b7 ,report ,not later than #ab months after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of the ,interior shall transmit a report on the study-- 7#a7 to the ,secretary of the ,army for consideration in developing the updated feasibility study under section #h2 and 7#b7 to ,congress4 #h4 ,authorization and study of salmon recovery 7a7 ,dam removal authorization ,congress hereby determines that the ,secretary of the ,army may remove the #d lower ,snake ,river dams4 7b7 ,review and ,update of ,feasibility ,study ,the ,secretary of the ,army1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,commerce1 the ,secretary of the ,interior1 and the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency1 shall re-evaluate and update the ,u4,s4 ,army ,corps of ,engineers' ,final ,lower ,snake ,river ,juvenile ,salmon ,migration ,feasibility ,report_/,environmental ,impact ,statement 7,february #bjjb7 pursuant to new information4 7c7 ,considerations ,the updated feasibility study shall-- 7#a7 take into consideration the results of the studies and analyses carried out under this ,act2 and 7#b7 incorporate and address1 at a minimum-- 7,a7 current and expected future climate change impacts on ,columbia and ,snake ,river salmon and steelhead populations and their habitat2 7,b7 replacement of the #d lower ,snake ,river dams' average energy output 7not nameplate capacity7 with clean renewable energy resources1 including energy efficiency and conservation2 7,c7 options for keeping currently irrigated acreage intact and under irrigation in a dam removal scenario2 7,d7 costs associated with ,lower ,granite ,dam reservoir sediment_/flood risk mitigation in a non-dam-removal scenario2 7,e7 ,passive ,use ,values associated with both dam removal and non-dam-removal scenarios2 and 7,f7 alternate methods for removing the #d lower ,snake ,river dams in addition to the method analyzed in the #bjjb environmental impact statement1 including full dam removal and removing or notching the dams' concrete portions4 7d7 ,completion2 report2 peer review ,the ,secretary of the ,army shall-- 7#a7 complete the re-evaluation and update and submit a report thereon to ,congress within #bd months after the date of enactment of this ,act2 7#b7 include in the report a determination of engineering options and costs2 and 7#c7 submit the results of the re-evaluation and update 7including such determination of engineering options and costs7 to peer review generally in accordance with section #bjcd of the ,water ,resources ,development ,act of #bjjg 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #bcdc7 to determine the accuracy of the preferred engineering options and costs4 #i4 ,definitions ,in this ,act1 the following definitions apply3 7#a7 ,clean renewable energy resources ,the term clean renewable energy resources means-- 7,a7 incremental electricity produced as the result of efficiency improvements to existing hydroelectric generation projects1 including in irrigation pipes and canals1 where the additional generation in either case does not result in new water diversions or impoundments2 7,b7 wind2 7,c7 solar energy2 7,d7 geothermal energy2 7,e7 landfill gas2 7,f7 wave1 ocean1 or tidal power2 7,g7 gas from sewage treatment facilities2 7,h7 biomass energy 7as defined in section #icb7;a7 of the ,energy ,policy ,act of #bjje 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #afbcb7;a7771 excluding energy derived from-- 7i7 pulping liquor from paper production2 or 7ii7 forest materials from old growth forests2 or 7,i7 any combination of the energy resources described in this paragraph4 7#b7 ,federal salmon recovery actions ,the term ,federal salmon recovery actions means ,federal actions required to protect1 recover1 and restore salmon and steelhead in the ,columbia and ,snake ,river basin that are listed under section #d7;c7 of the ,endangered ,species ,act of #aigc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #aecc7;c774 ,the term shall not be construed as just those actions needed to avoid jeopardy of these salmon and steelhead populations under the ,endangered ,species ,act of #aigc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #aeca et seq474 7#c7 #d ,lower ,snake ,river dams ,the term #d lower ,snake ,river dams means the following dams on the ,snake ,river1 ,washington3 7,a7 ,the ,ice ,harbor dam4 7,b7 ,the ,lower ,monumental dam4 7,c7 ,the ,little ,goose dam4 7,d7 ,the ,lower ,granite dam4 7#d7 ,peer-reviewed study ,the term peer-reviewed study means1 unless otherwise specified1 a study subject to peer review in accordance with the guidelines issued by the ,director of the ,office of ,management and ,budget under section #eae of the ,treasury and ,general ,government ,appropriations ,act1 #bjja 7as enacted into law by ,public ,law #ajf-eed2 #aad ,stat4 #bgfc;,a-#aec74 7#e7 ,salmon and steelhead populations ,the term salmon and steelhead populations means the evolutionarily significant units of salmon and steelhead in the ,columbia and ,snake ,river basin that are listed under section #d7;c7 of the ,endangered ,species ,act of #aigc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #aecc7;c774