HomeMy WebLinkAbout070126 - Protection Island Land Transfer_ One legal issue to rememberALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
In your considerations about supporting the Jamestown in their Land Transfer plan, I want to remind you to consider the following:
Federal law requires wildlife refuge land exchanges to provide a net conservation benefit both to the individual refuge and to the refuge system as a whole. Any lawsuit that may be brought
against the county, state or Federal Government for supporting this transfer is likely to mention that standard was not met. Those of us not favoring this transfer cannot see what benefit
to the Island and the System as a whole is gained by transferring away this property. The current co-management system, which pays the tribe $800k a year according to Congressional
Testimony, seems to have been working very well. Only the Tribe is claiming otherwise. There is no imminent threat to the Island’s status. Continuing to support the existing arrangement
seems to be the least costly and most effective way for the public to continue to own this property.
I would also remind you that this very Board, awarded Eleanor Stopps the Citizen of the Century, for her work in 1898-1989, shared with Mary McQuillen.
Thanks for your time.
Al Bergstein
Port Townsend