Newhouse Joins Call for Answers on Puget Sound Salmon Recovery
August 12, 2021
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Reps. Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), and Cliff Bentz (R-OR) sent a letter to Comptroller General of the United States Gene Dodaro requesting a federal review of efforts to recover salmon populations in the Puget Sound.
The Pacific Northwest lawmakers specifically requested the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) examine the actions taken by the federal government and the federal funding provided to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) related to salmon recovery.
"These and other federal agencies have numerous programs and have spent millions of dollars in an effort to restore Puget Sound salmon, yet salmon numbers continue to decline," wrote the lawmakers. "Of particular concern is that municipal wastewater treatment facilities in Puget Sound continue to exceed standards for water quality discharges."
Several of the region's salmon species are listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act. NMFS is responsible for the protection, conservation, and recovery of species, and because pollution has negatively affected water quality, the EPA also plays a role in salmon recovery.
Full text of the letter can be found here and below.
Dear Mr. Dodaro:
We are writing to request GAO to review federal efforts to recover salmon populations in Puget Sound. Salmon populations throughout the Pacific Northwest, including Puget Sound, continue to decline, with several populations being listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
Numerous federal agencies are involved in the effort to restore Puget Sound salmon. Under the Endangered Species Act, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is responsible for the protection, conservation, and recovery of species. In addition, because pollution has negatively affected water quality, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also plays a major role in salmon recovery.
These and other federal agencies have numerous programs and have spent millions of dollars in an effort to restore Puget Sound salmon, yet salmon numbers continue to decline. Of particular concern is that municipal wastewater treatment facilities in Puget Sound continue to exceed standards for water quality discharges.
We are requesting GAO examine actions taken and related funding provided by NMFS and EPA related to Puget Sound salmon recovery. In particular:
- What are the key factors identified by NMFS as contributing to the decline of or hindering the recovery of Puget Sound salmon?
- What are the key programs and other efforts, and related funding, by NMFS and EPA directed at restoring Puget Sound salmon?
- What is the frequency and magnitude of Clean Water Act violations in Puget Sound, and what actions have EPA and Washington state taken to address those violations?
- What actions have EPA and Washington state taken related to Puget Sound water quality and how have EPA and the state coordinated their actions to support salmon recovery in Puget Sound?
###
Issues:
Hydropower and Water Rights