| Press Release |
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| April 14, 2004 |
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Governor, Senator Wyden Fight for Federal Funding to Clean up the Willamette River
(Cottage Grove, OR) - Standing at the abandoned Black Butte Mine near Cottage Grove, Governor Ted Kulongoski and U.S. Senator Ron Wyden announced today that they will work together with the rest of Oregon’s congressional delegation to fight for federal funding to clean up the Willamette River. They were joined by staff from Congressman DeFazio’s office.
“One of the key elements of a successful Willamette River clean-up plan is a successful partnership with the federal government,” said the Governor. “I will be working closely with Senator Wyden and Congressman DeFazio to bring federal funding to Oregon to repair the damage that has been done to the Willamette River.”
Senator Wyden and Governor Kulongoski announced that they are seeking millions more to clean up old mine tailings, upgrade dams on tributaries, and restore wetlands.
“The Willamette River is an important part of our state’s history, commerce and culture,” Wyden said. “I want Governor Kulongoski to know that I think he picked a very important battle, and that I will fight to make the Federal government a better partner in his effort.”
The Governor recently secured $12 million from the federal government to clean up toxic pollution from the McCormick and Baxter superfund site in Portland. The additional funding requested by the Governor includes:
- $8 million to help the state cleanup the abandoned Black Butte Mine, which is currently leaching mercury into the Willamette.
- $6.2 million in additional federal funding for temperature control structures for the Cougar Dam Reservoir on the McKenzie River, building upon past appropriations secured by Congressman DeFazio.
“The mighty Willamette is one of Oregon’s many natural wonders,” said Congressman DeFazio. “It’s up to us to protect and preserve it for future generations. I’m pleased the Governor identified the Willamette river restoration as a priority and I look forward to working with other members of the delegation to secure federal funding to help clean up the Willamette.”
Wyden vowed to continue to fight for increased funding through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for clean air and clean water programs to help sites like the Black Butte Mine. He also plans to introduce an amendment to increase funding for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ mine cleanup budget.
“My commitment to Gov. Kulongoski, and to the people of Oregon, is to do everything I can in Washington, D.C. to support state and local efforts to restore the Willamette River as an environmental and historical treasure,” Wyden said. “From its headwaters in the Cascades to its confluence with the mighty Columbia, we owe it to future generations to do all we can to restore this critical resource.”
The press conference was the first stop in the Governor’s two-day trip to launch his Plan for the Willamette Legacy. The Governor’s plan is centered around three themes: repair, restore and recreate.
“No one group can accomplish this critical goal alone - it’s going to take all of us working together to restore the health of the Willamette,” said the Governor. “Everyone who lives, recreates and does business in the Willamette Basin has a role to play in this effort, as do Oregon’s private sector and our federal partners. We must continue the work that Tom McCall started, cleaning up and restoring the river so that our children will be able to fish without worry and swim in the river without a second thought.”
In later stops in Corvallis and Salem, the Governor called for citizen and local government involvement in cleaning up the river, and announced his support for establishing a Willamette River Trail from Newberg to Corvallis. Tomorrow the Governor will hold a press conference in Portland to outline further steps in his Willamette Cleanup effort.
Contact:
Marian Hammond, 503-378-6169
Jodi Sherwood, 503-378-4656
Geoff Stuckart, Office of Senator Wyden, 503-326-7525
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