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Jeanie Orr
IIi ti {
From:
Jeanie Orr
Sent: Thursday, June 18, 20098:02 AM
To: Michelle McConnell
Cc: AI Scalf; Stacie Hoskins; Jeanie Orr
Subject: FW: Jefferson County SMP update comments
Attachments: Jefferson County SMP Letter.doc
From: Laura Hendricks [mailto:laura.l.hendricks@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 20094:31 PM
To: #Long-Range Planning
Subject: Fwd: Jefferson County SMP update comments
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Laura Hendricks <laura.l.hendricks@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Jun 17,2009 at 4:29 PM
Subject: Jefferson County SMP update comments
To: ascalf@co.jefferson.wa.us
Dear Mr Scalf,
Please accept our comments contained in the attached letter regarding the Jefferson County Planning
Commission SMP update draft.
We appreciate your consideration of our comments and the previous documentation our Coalition has
provided in the past months regarding industrial aquaculture impacts and necessary regulation.
Sincerely,
Laura llendricks
Coalition
J)rotect Pugct Sound
6/18/2009
THE COAUTION To PROTECT PUGET SOUND HABITAT
Mr. Al Scalf
Director, Community Development, Jefferson County
P.O. Box 1220
Port Townsend, Wa 98368
Re: SMP Update Aquaculture Regulations Proposed by the Planning
Commission
Dear Mr. Scalf,
Members of our Coalition who are residents of Jefferson County have requested
that we convey their deep concerns about the lack of environmental protections and
the unprecedented aquaculture expansion allowed in all Jefferson County shoreline
designations by the Planning Commission SMP draft. Residents question the
elimination of significant portions of the aquaculture SMP draft sent to the
Planning Commission when the Chairman of the Planning Commission is an active
shellfish/geoduck farmer, his wife is the Director of the Pacific Shellfish Growers
Association and he did not recuse himself as requested.
For over three years, a large number of people volunteered their time with the two
citizen advisory and scientific advisory committees. We request that the
aquaculture regulations as sent to the Planning Commission be reconsidered as
previously written, that industrial aquaculture not be allowed in the Natural
shoreline designation and the following regulations be removed:
1. 7.5 "Tidelands and bed lands that were aquired and retained under the Bush
and Callow Acts should be protected by not permitting non-aquaculture use and
development on these tidelands."
It is our understanding that there is no report that documents where these parcels
are located and the potential fish habitat and native species that could be impacted
by the various industrial aquaculture practices. The original Bush and Callow Acts
language stated oysters only and the term "shellfish" was only added after industry
requested a bill just a few years ago that did not involve public input.
2. 8.6 "Intensive residential uses, other industrial and commercial uses, and uses
that are unrelated to aquaculture should be located so as not to create
conflicts with aquaculture operations."
This language ignores the original Shoreline Management Act that clearly states
aquaculture as a water dependent use that is not intended to override the priority
rights of other shoreline users.
Page 2 of2
3. 9.7 "The County should promote cooperative arrangements between
aquaculture growers and public recreation agencies so that public use of
public shorelines does not conflict with aquaculture operations."
While cooperation between Counties and other users of the shoreline is always
beneficial, this language takes away the rights of the public to enjoy and use the
shorelines as outlined in the Shoreline Management Act. The waters of the State of
Washington belong to the public and are not to be privatized.
Net Pen Aquaculture
With all of the documented adverse impacts of net pen aquaculture, these
regulations should prohibit open cage carnivorous finfish net pens. In a
recent court case in British Columbia, both the finfish and shellfish
aquaculture oversight is being transferred from the Provincial Government
to the Federal Government because of the lack of regulation, the impacts
on native species and that the waters belong to the public. The following link
to the article on Chile fish farming documents that lack of
regulation has caused an environmental and economic crisis:
h tto:/ /latin trade.com/2009 /06/swimmin2:-u ostream-chile-salmon - fishin2:/
We appreciate the long hours that have been spent on these regulations by
numerous residents, staff and consultants and look forward to a SMP update that
protects the important habitat, native species and the rights of citizens to
responsibly use the shorelines as set forth in the Shoreline Management Act.
Sincerely,
Laura Hendricks
Director
31 1 0 JUDSON STREET
GIG HARBOR, W A 98335 (253) 509-4987