Shine Pit meeting draws another large crowd

Thursday, June 10, 2004

By Sarah J. Bell
Leader Staff Writer

Nearly 350 people entered the Chimacum High School auditorium Wednesday evening – some to express their support, but most to voice their displeasure with Fred Hill Materials' proposal to expand its gravel mining operation.

Fred Hill Materials is seeking a Mineral Lands Overlay (MLO) to redesignate 698 acres a Mineral Resource Land (MRL) in the Shine area south of State Route 104.

The county commissioners approved the issue in 2002.

The Western Washington Growth Management Hearings Board had ruled that the county acted properly in approving a Mineral Resource Lands (MRL) request, but still needed to conduct further environmental analysis to substantiate that decision. Wednesday's hearing was part of that process.

In a continuation from a May 25 hearing that was ended when more people arrived than could be seated in the Jefferson County Superior Courtroom, the June 9 hearing had room for about 400 people.

Since May 25, 113 letters were received by the Jefferson County Commissioners, 111 in protest of the proposed overlay.

A majority of attendees expressed concern with the dying waters of the Hood Canal, with depleted oxygen issues causing fish kills. Also, people noted the proposed pit-to-pier project would increase the risk of barge or boat accidents involving the Hood Canal Bridge. Many people remain convinced the MLO and the pit-to-pier projects were linked.

U.S. Congressman Norm Dicks (D-Bremerton) sent Tom Luce, an administrative assistant, to read a letter Dicks had written against the MRL and pit-to-pier.

"The board cannot consider the MRL as an isolated action," Dicks stated in the letter. "I fear the project will unalterably change the Hood Canal."

The pit-to-pier project, which would allow gravel and sand shipments by barge instead of only by truck, is not technically part of the MRL discussion. The pit-to-pier project application is proceeding on its own schedule, and a final decision on that is to be made by state and county staff, not elected officials. That decision is several years away, according to county and FHM officials.

Also on hand were members of local Teamsters Union 589, Fred Hill Materials, the Hood Canal Coalition and the Sierra Club.

James Tracy, attorney for Fred Hill Materials supported the county staff report that endorses the MRL of 690 acres.

"The MRL is not linked to the pit-to-pier," Tracy said. "This was utilized (by the Hood Canal Coalition) to inflame the public instead of to inform."

Many members of the crowd accused the commissioners of lacking neutrality and attempting to quiet constituents opposed to the gravel mining expansion.

Huntingford said the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners will make its decision about the MRL in the next two weeks.