Scottish Parliament to Consider Resolution to Support Klamath Rvr Tribe's Campaign to Remove Dams

P R E S S R E L E A S E

For Immediate Release: July 20, 2005

For more information:
Leaf Hillman , vice- chairman, Karuk Tribe
Mike Belchik, spokesman, Yurok Tribe

To arrange interviews from the Scotland delegation, contact campaign coordinator
Craig Tucker at ctucker at karuk.us

Scottish Parliament to Consider Resolution to Support Klamath River Tribe's
Campaign to Remove Dams

Glasgow, Scotland - Member of Scottish Parliament (MSP) Robin Harper announced
today that he will be introducing a resolution to support the Hoopa, Karuk, Klamath,
and Yurok Tribe's efforts to have Klamath River Dams removed, and the fishery
restored. These are the three largest tribes in California and the largest in Oregon.

The Tribes are campaigning in Scotland to pressure multinational energy giant
Scottish Power (NYSE - SPI) to remove dams which block over 350 miles of
spawning habitat for salmon and degrade water quality. Since the building of the
dams, Klamath salmon numbers have plummeted to less that 8% of their historic
levels, devastating tribal cultures and local economies.

The dams are operateded by Scottish Power's American subsidiary, PacifiCorp,
based in Portland, Oregon.

For Tribes, salmon represent more than economic opportunity, they are the
centerpiece of their culture. In addition, Tribal members, many of whom live in
poverty, rely on subsistence fishing to feed their families. For these people, the dams
deny access to healthy traditional food sources. Traditional Karuk Fishermen Ron Reed
puts it bluntly, "These dams literally take food from the mouths of our
children."

Last year, the Tribes traveled to Scotland and met with Scottish Power CEO Ian
Russell. Russell committed to "find the right solution" to the problem. However,
after a year of talks, the company's official license application to the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission makes no mention of fish passage of any kind. In
addition, Scottish Power has announced plans to sale PacifiCorp to Warren Buffet
owned Mid American Energy, based in Des Moines, IA. Financial analysts say that the
$10 billion deal will take 12-18 months to complete.

The current dam license expires March of 2006. Federal dam licenses typically last
30-50 years.

According the MSP Harper, "When Scottish Power bought PacifiCorp they bought the
responsibilities- and liabilities- that went with that ownership. The salmon is under
threat in both the Pacific and Atlantic from pollution, poor river management, fish
farming, over-fishing and climate change. Scottish Power should do everything it can
to achieve the best environmental standards and live up to their responsibilities. The
name "Scottish Power" cannot be taken to imply that the company's actions
have the approval of the people of Scotland."

According to Merv George, Jr., who attended last year's meeting with Ian Russell,
"Mr. Russell told us last year that we could trust him to resolve this issue. We
want to know that he is committed to solving the Klamath problem, not selling it to
someone else."

Merv George is the Director of the Klamath River Inter-Tribal Fish and Water
Commission. The Commission is comprised of the Karuk, Klamath, Hoopa, and Yurok
Tribes.

The Tribes hope to resolve the fate of the Klamath dams before they are forced to deal
with another energy corporation. If necessary, they are willing to intervene in the
regulatory proceedings governing the sale.

However, with their livelihoods, culture, and the health of their children at stake,
Tribal leaders are intent on restoring their fishery no matter who owns the dams.

# # #

Editor's Notes
More information can be found at http://www.karuk.us

Draft of motion lodged with the Scottish Parliament by Robin Harper, MSP:

That the Parliament welcomes to Scotland a delegation of representatives from North
American Indian tribal nations and US fishermen and environmental organisations;
recognises their quest to obtain justice from the Scottish-based multi-national,
ScottishPower; backs their campaign to oblige ScottishPower to establish the
highest environmental standards in its operation in North America; regards the
damage done by dams presently owned by ScottishPower on the River Klamath in
California and Oregon, which have blocked 350 miles of historic salmon spawning
grounds, as unacceptable; recognises that this damage has had a serious and
detrimental impact on the native peoples' social, cultural and economic situations;
notes the "personal commitment to find the right solution" from Scottish Power Chief
Executive Ian Russell last year; urges Scottish Power to fulfil that pledge speedily
ahead of the anticipated sale of its US subsidiary PacifiCorp and to secure a
commitment from the buyer that the necessary improvements will be completed.


S. Craig Tucker, Ph.D.
Klamath River Campaign Coordinator
Karuk Tribe



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