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Severson Opposes Wodder Nomination by Luke Hegdal Hermiston Herald, June 21, 2011

Mayor: Interior nominee favors 'bumper-sticker science'

Hermiston Mayor Bob Severson wrote a letter formally announcing his opposition to the nomination of Rebecca Wodder to the position of Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife and Parks at the Department of Interior. The letter was addressed to Washington State Senator Maria Cantwell.

The letter cited Wodder's involvement with American Rivers, an environmental advocacy group that has actively supported dam removal on the Columbia and Snake Rivers. The letter listed an additional nine points against Wodder's nomination, including that Wodder "is only interested in bumper sticker science," and "she believes dam removal is the only way to recover listed stocks when a great amount of science contradicts that conclusion."

The letter concluded, "As assistant secretary, Ms. Wodder will have great influence over positions taken by the Fish and Wildlife Service as it participates in the federal effort to recover these stocks - and in setting policy for the agency as a whole...Frankly, with her history of advocating removal of dams and specifically the lower Snake River dams regardless of progress, we do not believe Ms. Wodder can set aside her strongly-held beliefs and render impartial judgements."

Related Sites:
Idaho Water Users Association Opposition to Nomination of Wodder