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Agency must Consider Fish Studies in Dam Relicensing by Associated Press KTVB, August 11, 2004

LEWISTON -- Federal agencies will be working together to see whether the operation of the Hells Canyon Dam complex is hurting endangered fish.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will begin consulting with officials at the Fisheries Division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Environmental groups asked the agency to study the dams' effects on protected fish in 1997.

The request was ignored, so the groups sued last year.

In June, a three-judge appeals panel ruled the energy commission must respond to the request.

On Friday, the commission said it would begin those talks with the fishery agencies as Idaho Power Company seeks to renew its dam license.

The commission will meet September Ninth with Idaho Power, federal agencies, environmental groups and Indian tribes.