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HomeMy WebLinkAbout002Michelle Farfan From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Attachments: Johnson, Reid C,, Ph.D. <RCJohnson@mednet.ucla.edu> Sunday, January 03, 201-6 1:05 AM dgoldsmith@cojefferson.wa.us; dwjohnson@cojefferson.wa.us; dsullivan@co jefferson.wa.us;jaustin@co jefferson.wa.us; pjohnson@co jefferson.wa.us; ascalf @co jefferson.wa.us lianna johnson@gmail.com Comments on FS EIS for Pleasant Harbor Comments on FS-EIS-Pleasant Harboilohnson.pdf To whom it may concern: We have just obtained and reviewed the Final Supplemental EIS for the Pleasant Harbor Master Planned Resort on the Black Point Peninsula. We will not be able to attend the Public Hearing on January 6,2016 but wish our comments to be entered into the public record. We favor the No Action Alternative without a 9-hole golf course that would require large scale construction- grading and maintenance that we believe to be environmentally inappropriate for the area. We are an interested party as we own a cottage on the Hood Canal on the other side of the Duckabush estuary (221 Canal Lane, Brinnon) from Black Point. We were unaware of this development plan when we purchased our cottage ayear and a half ago, and had we been aware, probably would not have done so. The planned resort development that is located immediately adjacent to the highly sensitive Duckabush estuary will potentially double the population of the Brinnon area. Along with the 890 housing units, construction of the site will involve massive clearing and grading involving l-2,2 million cubic yards of earthwork (cut and fill) for golf course grading, 1550 parking spaces, 56,608 - 79,000 sq.ft.of commercial space, and a 9-18 hole golf course. A development of this magnitude is inappropriate for the area and is likely to have detrimental environmental consequences. Below we list some of our specific concerns that we feel are not adequately considered in the Final Supplemental EIS or where there are vague and poorly supported assurances. We are concerned about the impact on water quality in the Hood Canal affecting the entire marine ecology. In the summers, the canal already suffers from low dissolved oxygen and the 1 a a a a a a a Pleasant Harbor marina area exhibits clear evidence of eutrofication, despite what is written in 3.5-1. The impact on Hood Canal water quality would seem pafticularly acute during the 10 year construction phase where runoff and silting during high precipitation periods seem likely to be unavoidable, despite stated "best practices" assurances othenarise. How will the effectiveness of mitigation procedures be monitored, evaluated, and policed? We are concerned about the impact of the expected large increase in local boat trafflc, which is now relatively light and compatible with the marine wildlife present (seals, otters, water birds, fish, etc). We are concerned about the impact of the almost ceftain large increase in recreational shellfishing: crabs, shrimp, oysters, and clams. We are concerned about the impact of golf course maintenance (feftilizers, herbicides, insecticides, irrigation requirements) on the ecology of the area, especially the Hood Canal, despite assurances otherwise in the EIS. We note that a monoculture golf course is NOT a natural area. We are concerned about the increase of vehicle traffic on Hwy 101 and the resulting increase dangers to people and wildlife. Already, deer are killed regularly while crossing the highway. Last summer alone, at least two were killed while crossing the highway in front of the Olympic Canal Tracts community center. We question the mild impact on traffic stated in the EIS. We are concerned about the impact on wintering elk, which occasionally travel through our propefi that is on the east side of Hwy 101, as is the planned development. We seriously question the economic viability of this high end development in an economically depressed area with low real estate prices. It is stated that 99 percent of operational jobs that would be created by the Pleasant Harbor project could be at B0% or less of the Brinnon area AMI. This would hardly seem to be an economic benefit to the community. 2 a a We believe the concerns raised by the Brinnon Group (FSEIS vol. 2 letter B) should be more seriously considered. Thank you for consideration of our concerns. Sincerely Reid C. Johnson, Ph.D Professor, Biolo gical Chemistry University of California, Los Angeles rcj ohnson@mednet. ucla. edu Lianna M. Johnson, Ph.D Academic Coordinator, Life Sciences Core Faculty University of California, Los Angeles lianna j ohnson@ email.com Local address: 221Canal Lane, Brinnon, WA 98320 IMPORTANT WARNING: This email (and any attachments) is only intended for the use of the person or entity to which it is addressed, and may contain information that is privileged and confidential. You, the recipient, are obligated to maintain it in a safe, secure and confidential manner. Unauthorized redisclosure or failure to maintain confidentiality may subject you to federal and state penalties. lf you are not the intended recipient, please immediately notify us by return email, and delete this message from your computer. 3 January 2,2016 To whom it may concern: We have just obtained and reviewed the Final Supplemental EIS for the Pleasant Harbor Master Planned Resort on the Black Point Peninsula. We will not be able to attend the Public Hearing on January 6,2016 but wish our comments to be entered into the public record. We favor the No Action Alternative without a 9-hole golf course that would require large scale construction-grading and maintenance that we believe to be environmentally inappropriate for the area. We are an interested party as we own a cottage on the Hood Canalon the other side of the Duckabush estuary (221 Canal Lane, Brinnon) from Black Point. We were unaware of this development plan when we purchased our cottage a year and a half ago, and had we been aware, probably would not have done so. The planned resort development that is located immediately adjacent to the highly sensitive Duckabush estuary will potentially double the population of the Brinnon area. Along with the 890 housing units, construction of the site will involve massive clearing and grading involving l- 2.2 million cubic yards of earthwork (cut and fill) for golf course grading, 1550 parking spaces, 56,608 - 79,000 sq. ft. of commercialspace, and a 9-18 hole golf course. A development of this magnitude is inappropriate for the area and is likely to have detrimental environmental consequences. Below we list some of our specific concerns that we feel are not adequately considered in the Final Supplemental EIS or where there are vague and poorly supported assurances. We are concerned about the impact on water quality in the Hood Canal affecting the entire marine ecology. In the summers, the canal already suffers from low dissolved oxygen and the Pleasant Harbor marina area exhibits clear evidence of eutrofication, despite what is written in 3.5-1. a a a The impact on Hood Canal water quality would seem particularly acute during the l0 year construction phase rvhere runoff and silting during high precipitation periods seem likely to be unavoidable, despite stated "best practices" assurances otherwise. How will the effectiveness of mitigation procedures be monitored, evaluated, and policed? We are concerned about the impact of the expected large increase in local boat traffic, which is now relatively light and compatible with the marine wildlife present (seals, otters, water birds, fish, etc). We are concerned about the impact of the almost certain large increase in recreational shellfishing: crabs, shrimp, oysters, and clams. a a a We are concerned about the impact of golf course maintenance (fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, irrigation requirements) on the ecology of the area, especially the Hood Canal, despite assurances otherwise in the EIS. We note that a monoculture golf course is NOT a natural area. We are concerned about the increase of vehicle traffic on Hwy 101 and the resulting increase dangers to people and wildlife. Already, deer are killed regularly while crossing the highway. Last summer alone, at least two were killed while crossing the highway in front of the Olympic CanalTracts community center. We question the mild impact on traffic stated in the EIS. We are concerned about the impact on wintering elk, which occasionally travel through our property that is on the east side of Hwy I 01 , as is the planned development. We seriously question the economic viability of this high end development in an economically depressed area with low real estate prices. It is stated that 99 percent of operationaljobs that would be created by the Pleasant Harbor project could be at 80o/o or less of the Brinnon area AMI. This would hardly seem to be an economic benefit to the community. o We believe the concerns raised by the Brinnon Group (FSEIS vol. 2 letter 8) should be more seriously considered. Thank you for consideration ofour concerns. Sincerely, C Reid C. Johnson, Ph.D. Professor, Biological Chemistry University of California, Los Angeles rcj ohnson@mednet. ucla.edu Lianna M. Johnson, Ph.D. Academic Coordinator, Life Sciences Core Faculty University of California, Los Angeles I ianna j ohnson@gmail.com Local address: 221 Canal Lane, Brinnon, WA 98320 a a Lt