Tribe, environmental groups sue DEQ over dam deal

LEWISTON, Idaho (AP) — A tribe and environmental groups have sued the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, looking to block the relicensing of three dams along the Idaho-Oregon border.

The Lewiston Tribune reported Friday that the Nez Perce Tribe and the groups Pacific Rivers and Idaho Rivers United filed separate lawsuits claiming Oregon’s water quality certification of the dams violates environmental regulations.

Regulators in the two states last month reached a water certification agreement, allowing Idaho Power to advance its effort to relicense the Hells Canyon Complex dams.

The agreement does not include fish passage but calls for the company to fund projects to improve aquatic habitat and reduce water temperatures on Snake River tributaries.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality declined to comment on the lawsuits.