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Wishing everyone a prosperous and productive 2006
2005 was a very successful year for PNWA and its members. In the
next few weeks you will receive a summary of our major accomplishments
throughout 2005.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Northwest Congressional
delegation members and staff, federal agencies and staff, our members and all
who contributed to our success in 2005.
The new year will bring new challenges, and we look forward to joining with
all of our partners for a productive 2006.
Judge
Redden issues written order on river operations
Judge Redden ruled on interim operations December 29, 2005.
Spill and flow were the two main issues argued in court. He granted parts and
denied parts of the plaintiffs� motion. The Judge ordered the agencies to
follow their proposed spill plan in early spring, denying the plaintiff�s
request. He granted the plaintiffs� request to increase spill in late spring.
The agencies proposed eliminating spill in favor of barging salmon. He then
ruled against the plaintiffs and ordered the agencies� proposed summer spill
program be implemented through the end of August.
The Court denied wholesale the plaintiffs� flow proposal. Judge Redden stated
that the best available science raises questions bout the relationship
between flows and salmon survival. He quoted the Independent Science Advisory
Board�s finding, which states that the assertion that in-river smolt survival will be proportionally enhanced by adding
water is no longer supportable.
Navigation, power and agriculture interests were all concerned that the plaintiffs�
flow proposals would have significant economic impacts while providing little
or no benefit to the fish. The river operations ordered by Judge Redden will
not interfere with navigation this year.
Attention now turns to the development of a new Biological Opinion. Judge
Redden remanded the BiOp to NOAA Fisheries,
instructing them to produce a new BiOp by October
2006. During the remand period, Judge Redden ordered NOAA and the action
agencies, the Army Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation, to
collaborate with the four Northwest states and the four Tribes involved in
the case to develop the process and content for the new BiOp.
Non-sovereign parties to the lawsuit, including navigation, power and
agricultural interests will not be included in that collaboration. The
federal agencies are ordered to report to Judge Redden on their progress
quarterly, beginning in January 2006.
On January 3, the Department of Justice filed its first quarterly status
report on behalf of NOAA in the remand of the 2004 FCRPS biological opinion.
Federal agencies have been meeting with regional states and tribes to develop
a collaboration plan for the remand process. The current status of these
discussions is memorialized in three documents which are the collective product
of the participants in the collaborative process. Materials include: the 2004
FCRPS BiOp Remand Collaboration Process; Update on
the Nature and Scope of the FCRPS Proposed Action; and Conceptual Framework
for the Remand Process including the Jeopardy Analysis. The full status
report can be viewed at www.salmonrecovery.gov
On December 21, NOAA Fisheries, the Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of
Reclamation, the three named defendants in the BiOp
lawsuit, filed formal notice of their appeal of Judge Redden�s
October 29, 2005 decision striking down the 2004 BiOp
and remanding it to the agencies.
PNWA staff contact: Glenn Vanselow,
email Glenn, 503-234-8551
Northwester
Division Commander Gregg Martin promoted to Brigadier General
The frocking ceremony for Col. Gregg F. Martin on January 4th in
Portland was
a family affair. As U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Commanding General Carl A. Strock pinned a star on the right shoulder of
Northwestern Division Commander Martin�s uniform, Mrs. Martin pinned a star
on her husband�s left shoulder. The 1-star flag was then uncased and
presented to Brigadier General Martin by his son Patrick, a cadet at West Point.
PNWA was pleased to witness the ceremony and appreciated General Strock�s acknowledgment of PNWA�s
long history of support for the Corps in his opening remarks. We look forward
to continuing to build on that relationship with all levels within the Corps
of Engineers.
Member Highlight
The Port of Umatilla is the premier container port of Eastern
Oregon; intelligently serving the commercial, industrial, agricultural,
recreational,
transportation, distribution, domestic and international trade needs of the
regional economy.
The port districts encompasses 12 unicipalities within the 3200 square mile jurisdiction.
It features two Interstate highways, a major railroad switching yard, and
progressive, full service grain, petroleum, dry and refrigerated container
terminals on the Columbia River.
Offering hundreds of acres of industrial property for inland distribution,
the Port of Umatilla
is home to the largest regional distribution center in the State of Oregon.
"The Port
of Umatilla has
retained Starboard Alliance to assist the port with marketing efforts. In a
recent trip to China
General Manager Kim B. Puzey and Monica Isbell of Starboard Alliance met with
government and port officials in Hong Kong, Guangzhou,
Shenzhen, Shanghai, Chongqing, and Yichang.
They are hopeful that this will support the Port of Portland in securing
service through additional steamship lines, thus providing better
opportunities for customers of the Port of Umatilla."
�Oregon�s Inland Port�
Trade, Transportation, Distribution,The Port of
Umatilla
Visit Port
of Umatilla
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