Karuk Tribe of California

P R E S S   R E L E A S E

For Immediate Release: May 25, 2005

For more information:
Leaf Hillman ,  vice- chairman, Karuk Tribe:            530-493-5305 x2040
Craig Tucker, Klamath Campaign Coordinator, Karuk Tribe 916-207-8294

Scottish Power Sells Tribes Down the River
Tribal Leaders unsure how sale will affect Dam Removal talks

Happy Camp, CA - Klamath Basin Indian Tribes reacted with surprise and
disappointment yesterday at Scottish Power's sale of PacifiCorp to
billionaire investor Warren Buffet. The Tribes, along with allies in the
fishing and environmental community, have been working with the energy
giant's subsidiary, PacifiCorp, to find a way to remove Klamath river dams
in order to restore dwindling salmon runs.

The Klamath River was once the third most productive salmon river in
America, returning as many as 1.2 million adult salmon annually. After
nearly a century of dam building, diversions, and logging in the watershed,
only 1/10 that number return today.

The PacifiCorp owned Klamath hydropower complex is currently undergoing
relicensing by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which will decide
on the terms of a new operational license next year. According to Troy
Fletcher of the Yurok Tribe, "the relicensing creates a rare opportunity to
fix the problems created by the dams. We won't get another chance like this
for 50 years. By then, there may not be any salmon left to fight over."

Last year, representatives from the four Klamath Basin tribes traveled to
Scotland to protest at Scottish Power's annual shareholder meeting. There
they met with CEO Ian Russell. "Mr. Russell told us last year that we could
trust him to resolve the issue fairly. Is this his idea of fair? He is now
attempting to evade the issue and put it off on someone else. Mr. Russell
has let us down." Hillman went on to note, "it's not the first time the
Tribes have been treated this way."

The Tribes do not plan to give up their struggle. As Karuk Tribal fishermen
Ron Reed noted, "we will continue to fight for the salmon as long they are
threatened, it won't matter who owns the dams."

At this point the Tribes and their allies are looking to make contact with
representatives from Buffet's Berkshire Inc. Leaf Hillman said, "Right now,
we don't know if Mr. Buffet cares about salmon or Native Tribes, but we plan
to find out soon. We are also asking Scottish Power shareholders to do
everything they can to block the sale of the company until the Klamath issue
is resolved. At the same time, we need to let investors in Berkshire know
what they're getting into."

# # #
 
 
 

S. Craig Tucker, Ph.D.
Klamath River Campaign Coordinator
Karuk Tribe
916-451-8757
ctucker [at] karuk.us