The FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) approved a partial transfer of four PacifiCorp Klamath River dam licenses to the KRRC (Klamath River Renewal Corporation) for the purpose of removing those dams on Thursday. But there is a catch, FERC ordered that PacifiCorp must remain as a co-licensee of the dams until the demolition is completed. To comply with the FERC order the agreement between PacifiCorp and the Klamath River stake holders must be renegotiated and resubmitted to FERC with in six months. PacifiCorp is in a very tough spot. They must either agree to the new terms and be financially liable if the dam removal projects incurs unforeseen expenses. Or they will be required to build fish ladders in accordance with the 1992 Clean Water Act. The cost to build the fish ladders is probably double what PacifiCorp agreed to pay in the original Klamath River settlement agreement--$250 million dollars. It is anyone's guess what PacifiCorp will do. In the meantime the project maybe be delayed for yet another year.

Barry L. Alan