Number: 1987-03
WHEREAS, construction of the Columbia Dam Project by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has been halted for about six years by various economic and environmental problems, including threats to endangered mussels; and
WHEREAS, the TVA recently has released a report on the economics of the project, which showed that each additional dollar spent to complete the project would return only 40 cents to the United States economy in benefits, assuming a discount rate of 8 5/8%; and
WHEREAS, a careful technical examination of the report reveals that it is fairly well balanced between optimistic and conservative assumptions, and that it follows both the current U.S. Principles and Guidelines for Benefit/Cost (B/C) Analysis and accepted economic practices; and
WHEREAS, the federal budget deficit is still almost $200 billion per year, threatening the economic strength of the country and leading to legislation forcing mandatory cuts in many worthwhile and necessary federal programs; and
WHEREAS, we do not believe it is in the best interest of the country to spend $159 million to complete a project with a B/C ratio of 0.4 and in which 72% of the benefits are attributed to recreation, while recreation and other programs of greater benefit to far more people are cut or eliminated because of lack of funds; and
WHEREAS, sportsmen and other outdoor recreationists are having increasing difficulty obtaining access to private lands, and many private lands once open to public recreation are being developed; and
WHEREAS, the rising prices of undeveloped land and the increasing reluctance of governments to spend scarce public dollars for land acquisition makes it important that all existing public lands amenable to recreational use be retained and made available for outdoor recreation;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the National Wildlife Federation in annual meeting assembled March 19-22, 1987, in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada that the TVA be commended on its thorough and balanced report on the Columbia Dam Project; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Congress and the TVA Board be requested to proceed with the orderly phase-out of activities and the return of the land acquired for the project to productive and conservation use, through a national demonstration project showing how to salvage the resources already invested in a project before it was halted; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the TVA be urged to consider strongly the use of the land and water resources already acquired for the project for scenic river designation (with easements donated to the State of Tennessee), outdoor recreation, fish and wildlife enhancement, hunting, fishing, trapping, hiking, camping, canoeing, and other activities.