REDDING, Calif. (AP) — A scientist who advised a federal agency on ethical issues that included removing Klamath River dams has filed a whistleblower complaint over his firing.
Paul Houser, an associate professor of hydrology at George Mason University, told the Record Searchlight newspaper (http://bit.ly/wP3kXP ) he was fired by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation after questioning the positive spin U.S. Department of Interior officials were putting on scientific studies that supported dam removal.
Department of the Interior spokeswoman Kate Kelly says Houser’s complaint is being reviewed.
PacifiCorp wants to remove its four aging hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River rather than pay to upgrade them to meet modern salmon protections.
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced this week he can’t make the decision on dam removal until Congress gives him the authority.
