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Michelle McConnell
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Cc:
seablues Puddicombe [seablues@msn.com] @
Saturday, January 10, 20094:36 PM 3~
kathleen. drew@gov.wa.gov; sonntanb@sao.wa.gov; rockefeller. phil@leg.wa.gov;
upthegrove. dave@leg.wa.gov; kevin@kevinranker.com; fraser. karen@leg.wa.gov;
chase. maralyn@leg.wa.gov
kruppd@co.thurston.wa.us; fanchej@co.thurston.wa.us; kainm@co.thurston.wa.us;
romeros@co.thurston.wa.us; wolfec@co.thurston.wa.us; stewarc@co.thurston.wa.us;
welterm@co.thurston.wa.us; wilsonc@co.thurston.wa.us
DNR/Totten lease process corrupted by shellfish industry.
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
January 10, 2009
To: Washington State and Local Elected Officials:
Re: Washington State Department of Natural Resources/
Taylor Shellfish Public Tidelands Trespass/Lease, WDNR SEPA File No. 08-122201
From: Curt Puddicombe
Case Inlet Shoreline Association
PO Box 228
Vaughn, WA 98394
Dear Public Officials,
I respectfully request your support in efforts to properly regulate aquaculture in Puget Sound that will protect our native
species and habitats, and that will address citizens concerns as the shellfish industry continues its intent to expand into
pristine areas of Puget Sound and into residential neighborhoods. Please consider regulations that will require unbiased
and independent scientific review, that will protect shoreline citizens from encroachment and harassment, and that will
uphold the Washington State Shoreline Management Act of 1971.
Of recent concern to me is the current DNR/Taylor Shellfish lease process on 21 acres of public tidelands resulting from
decades of illegal trespass. This lease process has been abused and corrupted by Taylor Shellfish in their efforts to
overwhelm our local public process by soliciting comments from non-residents. Bill Dewey, a shellfish farmer and Public
Affairs Manager for Taylor Shellfish Company posted the following on the New Jersey based East Coast Shellfish
Growers Association listserv on January 7,2009, just days before the end of the comment period:
"We are seeking some *URGENT* help from the shellfish community with public comments in support of a
lease from the Washington Department of Natural Resources for tidelands in Totten Inlet." "The local NIMBY
organizations are working it hard attempting to stack the comment deck against us. 81 pro, 74 against is the
current tally. "
Dewey also inappropriately provided his own comments for Shellfish Association members to 'cut and paste' into an email
to DNR, ostensibly to increase the bias to public perception. On January 10, in an article in the Seattle PI, Dewey noted
that 'more than 300 residents and groups did find time to comment by the deadline... so he was unsure why the deadline
had to be extended.' Of course, we now know that many of these comments were not from Puget Sound residents.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/395539tavlor10.html
Local Puget Sound citizens have been voicing social and environmental concerns about shellfish industry practices for
over a decade, yet this is one of the few times the public has had an opportunity to comment as part of the process. The
shellfish industry continues to minimize citizens concerns by bringing outsiders in to comment when this is a Puget Sound
issue, and to marginalize citizens in derogatory terms in labeling them all as 'NIMBY's'.
My family has lived along the shores of Puget Sound for 140 years. For six generations we have walked, fished, waded,
swam and canoed along these very shores. I would very much appreciate your support and attention in our efforts to
preserve the ecology, resources, and the natural character of Puget Sound's shorelines for all citizens as mandated by
the Shoreline Management Act. I would also very much appreciate your support in future legislation and regulations that
will protect shoreline neighborhoods, and require unbiased and independent scientific review specific to Puget Sound
before we further alter it for commercial purposes.
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Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
Curt Puddicombe
Case Inlet Shoreline Association
PO Box 228
Vaughn, VVA 98394
www.caseinlet.ora
info@caseinlet.org
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