HomeMy WebLinkAbout041NOTE to FILE
March 5, 2015
Response to HCEC letter dated March 4,20L5 - not send to HCEC
ls the HCEC contending that our meeting with Port Gamble Tribe was improper? WAC 197-11-560(3)
clearly gives the lead agency the authority to use such means in preparation of the final SEIS. And I can
assure you that the Tribe does not believe it was improper, but was grateful for the opportunity.
Are you also contending that meeting with and working with the applicant's representative on our
response to comments as part of the overall EIS preparation process is improper? WAC 197-!7-420 also
gives the lead agency the authority to determine who will be involved in its preparation, which can be
the agency, the applicant or an outside consultant. Our collaborative process includes all three.
Finally, your statement that my desire to "work together" to make this project benefit everyone is a
"flagrant disregard of the correct process" flies in theface of the authority I have just cited above, and
the spirit of SEPA overall. Also the Brinnon Community through their Subarea Plan, and the County
Commissioners through their Phase L approval have already determined that the subject site shall be a
Master Planned Resort. The only question now is, what type and scale of resort will go there. Now is
the time to "evaluate the proposed project, with the environmental impacts in mind," not after the
FSEIS is issued.
My proper role is to ensure that the final SEIS is the best that can be produced under the constraints,
guidance and authority of Chapter 197-LL WAC SEPA Rules, so that the Decision Makers have the best
information possible to either approve or deny the proposed preferred alternative, and a critical part of
that is properly and thoroughly evaluating substantive comments, yours included.
DWJ