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HomeMy WebLinkAbout062226 Letter Protection Island 6-10-26 Please Copy and place in the packets of all commissioners RECEIVED To:Jefferson County Commissioners JUN 2 2 2026 Re: The Jamestown S'Klallam Land Transfer Act of 2026 JEFFERSON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Dear Jefferson County Commissioner: It has come to my attention that there is proposed legislation to transfer the jurisdiction of federal lands—the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge and Protection(Island)National Wildlife Refuge—from the U.S. Department of Interior,Fish and Wildlife Service to the Department of Interior,for the purpose of placing those lands into a perpetual trust for the Jamestown S'Klallam tribe. Being a resident of Clallam County,and residing within close proximity to the lands that would be affected should such a transfer of jurisdiction take place,I feel compelled to present a response.Each of the aforementioned areas are particularly precious as they all have a unique and special environmental status and were therefore deemed worthy to be included as a part of the Refuge. For many generations these lands have been under the competent jurisdiction of the U.S.Department of Fish and Wildlife ranging from the earliest- 1915 (the Dungeness Wildlife Refuge),another in 1972,and the most recent addition Protection Island in 1982. Over this span of 111 years the Fish and Wildlife agency has developed and implemented comprehensive plans designed to address best practices of conservation,resource protection,and the development of measures which would provide access-where appropriate-to all citizens. Their plans of service were regularly reviewed, evaluated,and input was encouraged from professionals in a variety of disciplines as well as the stakeholders-the general public. If the American public...all citizens...had ideas pertaining to the management of any one of the areas,then they had both a process and accessibility to accountable agency representatives. The alternative being presented by the Jamestown S'Klallam Land Transfer Act would be the removal of these precious lands from the control of an entity accountable to the general public and giving them to a corporation that has wide ranging authority and no legal accountability to the public at large. Despite objections and legal challenges the 1974 Boldt(court)decision confirmed that Natives were guaranteed specific treaty rights related to harvesting traditional resources. At the time the original treaty rights were conferred people were walking on trails and harvesting by weirs and wooden canoes. Now,the Jamestown S'Klallam tribe/corporation has large commercial fishing boats,shell fish operations, large nets,commercial vehicles,refrigeration,and operates as a large business. In addition,to resource gathering they have a large casino,hotel and other business enterprises. They do have historical ties to their culture,but they have also assimilated well to the culture of business and a cash economy. If the protected areas in question are transferred to the tribe all decisions will then be made by the corporation with the well-being of the tribe as the primary concern. Should these properties be transferred,the general public,including government authorities,will have very little authority or recourse with respect to meaningful input and control. Transferring these incredible,unique and precious public lands to the tribe would be a violation of the trust previous generations put into place under the authority of our government. These lands were not meant to be transferred to private individuals or corporations. These wildlife areas were set aside for protection so that ALL citizens,now and in the future,would be able to enjoy them. My primary questions to you are tied to WHY? Why does the tribe want these lands? How would the transfer of these lands serve to benefit the citizens of the United States...the very people you have been elected to serve?I cannot envision how you would be able to respond to the second part in the affirmative, so WHY would you as an elected body consider submitting your approval of such a request? Respectively Submitted: Richard M. illman 91 Cascade Dr. Sequim, WA 98382 PROTECT' ** ' -� 2026 Richard Stillman SEATTLE WA 980 * >hr� aaml t '' 91 Cascade Dr. �.; ,'} Sequim, WA 98382-9625 1.7 JUN2026 PM7 L •.d r.5 i k lean RECEIVED hy`a FOREVER USA JUN 22 2026 JEFFERSON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ----6 0,N, eg cow.A...\7/ aw..,A.,s-c(0,v,t5 Vo. -,c. \,22© Voc \c,,, \ J -A c*:3(,)(6 `.336 — _;i20"3:_: I'lull'iliii liiiiiiIII'HIIII,IIIIIIiiiihili11i,1,11i,1,11111