Mark Hatfield: “the five PMA's carry out a distinctive mission, including both power and nonpower functions. For example, the Bonneville…”

“the five PMA's carry out a distinctive mission, including both power and nonpower functions. For example, the Bonneville Power Administration's primary function is to market power generated by the Corps of Engineers dams in the Columbia River Basin. They also have significant involvement in implementing regional conservation measures, regional fishery recovery and conservation measures, and regional renewable energy programs. It is unlikely that the private sector would be willing to fulfill these public duties in the absence of PMA's. This is of particular interest to the Northwest, where BPA is, under current plans, expected to shoulder the vast majority of the costs of salmon recovery. While many in the Northwest have argued that BPA should not be required to bear the entire burden of these recovery costs, to remove BPA from the picture leaves a void that would be difficult if not impossible to fill. A number of economists have questioned the true fiscal benefit of selling Federal assets such as the PMA's.”