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USDA: Snake River Dam Deal Provides 'Near-term Stability' by Matthew Weaver Capital Press, December 18, 2023

"(Farmers) need to know that we are making sure, as we always do
... that the ag position and concerns are being expressed,"
-- U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack

The USDA says the deal struck by the federal government and plaintiffs in a lawsuit over Snake River dam operations will provide "near-term stability."

"This agreement will help provide near-term stability for communities that depend on the Columbia River System for agriculture and transportation," a USDA spokesperson told the Capital Press. "The alternative was the significant uncertainty brought about by protracted litigation that could've resulted in a ruling very adverse to agriculture and rural communities in the region."

Agricultural stakeholders in March asked Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to step in during federal mediation between the government agencies that operate the dams and the plaintiffs, expressing concern that the process was skewed in favor of dam breaching.

Vilsack in August said that ag was "well-represented" in the mediation.

"(Farmers) need to know that we are making sure, as we always do ... that the ag position and concerns are being expressed," Vilsack said.

Throughout the mediation, many intervenor-defendants in the lawsuit representing agriculture and electrical utilities said they had been shut out of the process.

After the announcement of the deal Dec. 14, many stakeholders said they weren't involved in how their input was used in the final content of the agreement.

Federal District Judge Michael Simon gave all parties until Dec. 29 to enter a response to the government's motion to stay the case for five years, as the deal specified. Simon gave the government and plaintiffs until Jan. 12 to respond to those filings.

USDA supported and encouraged senior White House officials as they engaged with stakeholders, including agricultural and transportation stakeholders, and "expects that the constructive dialogue among stakeholders will continue into the future," the spokesperson said.

"The Biden-Harris administration is committed to further studying how the transportation and irrigation services provided by the four Lower Snake River dams would be impacted by various future operating scenarios, recognizing that only Congress can make the final decision to breach the dam," the spokesperson said.

Related Pages:
Vilsack on Snake River Dams: Ag 'Well-Represented' in Mediation by Matthew Weaver, Capital Press, 8/1/23