US Resolution calls for protection of the Mekong River Basin

Calling for the protection of the Mekong River Basin and increased  
United States support for delaying the construction of mainstream dams along the Mekong River.

Pending Senate Foreign Relations Committee
November 15 2011 - Committee on Foreign Relations. Date of scheduled consideration. S-116. 2:15 p.m.

Summary

History

2011-11-15 - Committee on Foreign Relations. Date of scheduled consideration. S-116. 2:15 p.m.
2011-07-07 - Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4454)

112th CONGRESS UNITED STATES
  1st Session
S. RES. 227

  Calling for the protection of the Mekong River Basin and increased 
United States support for delaying the construction of mainstream dams 
                        along the Mekong River.
  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              July 7, 2011

    Mr. Webb (for himself, Mr. Inhofe, and Mr. Lugar) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
                               Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Calling for the protection of the Mekong River Basin and increased 
United States support for delaying the construction of mainstream dams 
                        along the Mekong River.

Whereas the Mekong River is the world's 12th longest river, originating on the 
        Tibetan Plateau and flowing nearly 3,000 miles down through China into 
        Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam;
Whereas the Lower Mekong River in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam is a 
        source of fresh water, food, and economic opportunity for more than 
        60,000,000 people;
Whereas the Mekong River is second in biodiversity only to the Amazon River, 
        with an estimated 1,500 different species of fish, of which at least a 
        third migrate up the river and tributaries in their life cycle, 
        including the majority of the commercial fish catch;
Whereas the Mekong River supports the world's two largest rice exporters, 
        Thailand and Vietnam, as well as the world's largest inland fishery of 
        4,000,000 tons of freshwater fish per year, providing up to 
        $9,000,000,000 annual income and approximately 80 percent of the animal 
        protein consumed in the Lower Mekong Basin;
Whereas China is constructing a cascade of up to 15 dams along the mainstream of 
        the Upper Mekong River, and Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam are 
        planning to construct or finance the construction of up to 11 dams on 
        the lower half of the river's mainstream;
Whereas scientific studies have cautioned that mainstream dam construction will 
        negatively affect the river's water flow, fish population, and wildlife;
Whereas the Mekong River Commission is a river basin management organization 
        including the Governments of Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam that 
        have signed the Agreement on the Cooperation for the Sustainable 
        Development of the Mekong River Basin, done at Chiang Rai, Thailand, 
        April 5, 1995, and agreed to cooperate on management of the river and 
        ``development of the full potential of sustainable benefits to all 
        riparian States'';
Whereas the members of the Commission have also agreed to ``make every effort to 
        avoid, minimize and mitigate harmful effects that might occur to the 
        environment, especially the water quantity and quality, the aquatic 
        (eco-system) conditions, and ecological balance of the river system, 
        from the development and use of the Mekong River Basin water resources 
        or discharge of wastes and return flows'';
Whereas the Mekong River Commission sponsored a Strategic Environmental 
        Assessment of the proposed series of mainstream dams along the Lower 
        Mekong River, concluding that the decision to move forward with even one 
        dam would result in permanent and irreversible changes to the river's 
        productivity and regional environment;
Whereas such changes could threaten the region's food security, block fish 
        migration routes, increase risks to aquatic biodiversity, reduce 
        sediment flows, increase saline intrusion, reduce agricultural 
        production, and destabilize the river channels and coastline along the 
        Mekong Delta;
Whereas the United States has significant economic and strategic interests in 
        the Mekong River subregion that may be jeopardized if the construction 
        of mainstream dams places the region's stability at risk;
Whereas the Department of State initiated the Lower Mekong Initiative in July 
        2009 to engage Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam on water security 
        issues, to build regional capacity, and to facilitate multilateral 
        cooperation on effective water resources management;
Whereas funding for the Lower Mekong Initiative has primarily focused on the 
        environment, health, and education, leaving the fourth pillar--
        infrastructure--largely unfunded;
Whereas attention to infrastructure development is a critical element of 
        promoting the sustainable, coordinated construction of hydropower dams 
        in the region;
Whereas, on September 22, 2010, Laos submitted for review to the Mekong River 
        Commission the proposal for the Xayaburi Dam, the first of nine 
        mainstream dams planned by Laos along the Lower Mekong River;
Whereas, on April 19, 2011, the Mekong River Commission's Joint Committee 
        representatives met to discuss the Xayaburi project without reaching 
        consensus on whether the project should proceed, but agreed during the 
        meeting to table the decision and consider it at a later date at a 
        higher, ministerial level; and
Whereas, on May 8, 2011, the Government of Laos agreed to temporarily suspend 
        work on the Xayaburi dam and announced plans to conduct further 
        environmental assessments on the project in response to regional 
        concerns: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) calls on United States representatives at multilateral 
        development banks to use the voice and vote of the United 
        States to support strict adherence to international 
        environmental standards for any financial assistance to 
        hydropower dam projects on the mainstream of the Mekong River;
            (2) encourages greater United States engagement with the 
        Mekong River countries through the Lower Mekong Initiative and 
        increased support for sustainable infrastructure and water 
        security in Southeast Asia;
            (3) calls on the United States Government in leading the 
        Lower Mekong Initiative to devote greater attention to and 
        funding for capacity building projects on infrastructure and to 
        assist in identifying sustainable economic, water, and energy 
        alternatives to mainstream hydropower dams on the Mekong River;
            (4) applauds the decision of the Mekong River Commission to 
        delay endorsement of the Xayaburi Dam;
            (5) supports further delay of the construction of 
        mainstream hydropower dams along the Mekong River until the 
        studies by the Government of Laos have been completed and 
        adequate planning and multilateral coordination can be 
        guaranteed;
            (6) encourages members of the Mekong River Commission to 
        adhere to the prior consultation process for dam construction 
        under the Commission's Procedures for Notification, Prior 
        Consultation and Agreement;
            (7) calls on all riparian States along the Mekong River, 
        including China, to respect the rights of other river basin 
        countries and take into account any objection or concerns 
        regarding the construction of hydropower dams;
            (8) calls on the Governments of Burma and China to improve 
        cooperation with the Mekong River Commission and information 
        sharing on water flows and engage in regional decisionmaking 
        processes on the development and use of the Mekong River; and
            (9) supports assistance to the Lower Mekong River riparian 
        States to gather data and analyze the impacts of proposed 
        development along the river.