Making Ecosystem a Core Element of Treaty On Columbia River Sparks Debate at Hearing

摘要

The role and importance of ecological provisions in a new Columbia River Treaty were brought into the spotlight at a House Natural Resources Committee field hearing in Pasco, Wash., Dec. 9, with some parties urging greater emphasis on environmental issues and others stressing the competing considerations of flood control and power generation. "While modest improvements have been witnessed in the U.S. Entity's draft recommendations, I remain concerned that ecosystem issues continue to be emphasized over the core Treaty functions that plainly will need to be addressed in bilateral discussions with Canada," Rep. Doc Hastings (R-Wash.), the committee chairman, said. "It is my hope and expectation that the final recommendation from the U.S. Entity will make clear to the State Department that the priorities we need to address are the entitlement and flood control."