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Radanovich Urges U.S. FWS, DOJ to issue Correction
of Information of Delta Smelt BO
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California Agriculture in Jeopardy; Calls
on California Colleagues to Join Effort
From the Press Office of Congressman George
Radanovich
Contact: Spencer Pederson
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Phone: 202-225-4540
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(Washington, D.C. January 7, 2009). Congressman
George Radanovich (R-Mariposa) today called on the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the
Department of Justice (DOJ) to issue a Correction
of Information of the Effects Analysis (EA) of the
Delta Smelt Biological Opinion as requested by
Family Farm Alliance in accordance with the
Information Quality Act (IQA). Radanovich is
asking his California colleagues to join him is
sending a letter to FWS and DOJ requesting
immediate action.
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"The future of
California's agriculture industry hinges on the
availability of water from the San
Joaquin-Sacramento Delta," Radanovich said.
"Therefore, the federal agencies must utilize the
best information available and that information
must be held to the highest standard to determine
the capacity to export water from the Delta to
deliver to millions of Californians the pumping
capacity of the Delta. The stakes are too high
and consequences too great for accurate scientific
data to be replaced by subjective assumptions."
The Alliance's December 14th request highlights
failures by the agencies to appropriately consider
the full spectrum of pertinent scientific data and
argues that a basic level of quality, as mandated
by the IQA, was not met in the Effects Analysis.
The IQA requires the Office of Management and
Budget to issue guidance to federal agencies
designed to ensure the "quality, objectivity,
utility, and integrity" of information
disseminated to the public.
"The biased, inaccurate, and misleading Effects
Analysis is precisely the reason why the IQA
exists and I urge a prompt and thorough response
from the U.S. FWS and DOJ," Radanovich said.
"No wonder California's current economic situation
is bleak-the recently released Delta Smelt
Biological Opinion is yet another a frightening
use of misinformation by the environmental
movement to advance a reckless agenda. By
oppressing the family farmer-the backbone of the
California economy, our state is even less
equipped to cope with the looming financial
crisis," Radanovich said.
Specifically, the Family Farm Alliance request
charges that FWS failed to comply with federal
guidelines intended to exclude biased and
inaccurate information and to ensure the integrity
of expert peer reviews. Additionally, the FWS
conflictingly blames the decline of the smelt on
entrainment at the pumps, while simultaneously
acknowledging that the data shows entrainment is
not driving a population decline. The Alliance
also argues that FWS inaccurately places
responsibility on the delta pumps for the effects
of toxic wastes dumped in the delta and the
reproductive habits of invasive species.
"I commend the diligence and determination of the
Family Farm Alliance for their efforts in
requesting an IQA Correction of Information and
ask my colleagues to join me in encouraging a
comprehensive and expeditious response from FWS
and DOJ," Radanovich said.
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