PR 56 05 FEDERAL AGENCIES FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FRIDAY, June 10, 2005 Contact: See Below     STATEMENT OF FEDERAL EXECUTIVES FEDERAL AGENCIES DISAPPOINTED WITH JUDGE'S RULING Express support for collaboration on solutions with states and tribes PORTLAND, Ore. - CONTACT: Brian Gorman, NOAA Fisheries (206) 526-6613 Mike Hansen, BPA (503) 230-5131 Diana Cross, USBR (208) 378-5020 Adele Merchant, Corps (509) 527-7019 Following a federal judge's decision today to order additional spill at federal dams, the executives in charge of the Federal Columbia River Power System expressed deep concern over the outcome. Bob Lohn, Northwest regional administrator of NOAA Fisheries; Steve Wright, BPA administrator; Bill McDonald, Pacific Northwest regional director for the Bureau of Reclamation; and Brig. Gen. William T. Grisoli, commander of the Corps' Northwestern Division, issued the following statement: The four federal agencies have been working collaboratively with the governors of Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana for several months, even before the Court issued its decision. These unprecedented discussions have focused on both short-term and long-term solutions and have involved a tremendous commitment to make things work for salmon and the region as a whole. These discussions have reached a proposal for 2005 operations that all the participants -- the states and the federal agencies -- believe would be beneficial for the short-term while continuing to work toward a long-term solution. We believe there is strong commitment and very substantial progress toward a long-term agreement. We are also seeking the participation of the Columbia Basin tribes in these government-to-government discussions. We do not believe injunctive relief is warranted. An appeal is under consideration. We are extremely concerned that the outcome provides no guarantee for the improvement of salmon stocks, and it could make things worse, at an enormous cost to the region. BPA has estimated that the additional spill this summer will cost the region's ratepayers about $67 million. We are pursuing a collaborative approach to a comprehensive long-term plan to fish recovery in the Columbia Basin. Regardless of how this plays out in court, the federal agencies are committed to salmon and steelhead recovery and working with the region. Submitted for distribution on 06-10-2005 at 2:37 PM

Bonneville Power Administration, 905 N.E. 11th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97232 Mailing Address: Media Relations - DM7, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, OR 97208-3621 Phone: (503)230-5131 FAX: (503) 230-5884 Web Site: http://www.bpa.gov