Integrity of Science
Rahall to Continue Probe of Politicization of Endangered Species Act
Klamath River Basin to be on agenda
June 28, 2007
CONTACT: Allyson Ivins Groff, 202-226-9019
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Late Wednesday evening, U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall
(D-WV), Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, received a
letter from 36 House Democrats from California and Oregon calling for an
oversight hearing on the alarming role Vice President Dick Cheney may
have played in Klamath River Basin decisions. As reported by the
Washington Post on June 27, 2007, Cheney*s intervention in the
development of a 10-year water plan for the Klamath River resulted in a
2002 die-off of around 70,000 salmon near the California-Oregon border -
the largest adult salmon kill in the history of the West.
Today, Rep. Rahall released the following statement in response to the
request from House Democrats:
*This Committee has already begun examining the penchant for this
Administration to favor politics over science in the implementation of
the Endangered Species Act, which was highlighted during a May 9th
hearing and in the resignation of the Interior Department*s Deputy
Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks over the fiasco.
*In light of the revelations being made over the situation in the
Klamath River Basin, it is my intention to again convene the Committee
to delve into the issues raised by the Members of Congress from
California and Oregon. It certainly appears this Administration will
stop at nothing to achieve political gain from natural resources
disasters. Ultimately, it will be hardworking Americans and their
healthy environment that will lose if we fail to act.*
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