Maria Cantwell states she will continue to
carefully monitor the situation and take our
views into consideration as this process moves
forward
From: <Maria_Cantwell@cantwell.senate.gov>
To: <fabianj@olympus.net>
Sent: Friday, February 06, 2004 9:44 AM
Subject: From the Office of Senator Cantwell
February 6, 2004
Mr. John Fabian
100 Shine Road
Port Ludlow, Washington 98365
Dear Mr. Fabian:
Thank you for contacting me regarding the
proposed gravel mining project by Fred Hill
Materials. I appreciate hearing from you on
this important issue.
As you know, Fred Hill Materials operates a
gravel mine in Jefferson County, approximately
one mile south of the Hood Canal Bridge and four
miles inland. The company has proposed to build
a four-mile conveyer belt to transport sand and
gravel processed at the mine to a
1100-foot-long, 15-foot-wide pier on Hood Canal,
which would be used to load gravel onto barges
north of Thorndyke Bay. The "pit-to-pier"
process would use barges to transport the gravel
through the Hood Canal. Approximately 75 barges
per month would dock at the pier, load up with
gravel, and deliver it along the West Coast and
abroad.
In December 2002, in response to an application
by Fred Hill Materials, Jefferson County
approved a 690-acre mineral resource land
overlay designation that would facilitate gravel
strip mining. The Hood Canal Coalition appealed
this decision to the Western Washington Growth
Management Hearings Board (WWGMHB), which ruled
that Jefferson County failed to comply with the
State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). The
WWGMHB ordered Jefferson County to conduct
additional environmental impact studies on the
project, and the Board will evaluate the
additional studies at a Compliance Hearing on
April 14, 2004.
I am concerned that this project will damage the
pristine environment of the Hood Canal by
building over wetlands and other sensitive
areas. Although Fred Hill Materials has said it
plans to donate gravel and sand to restore
degraded beaches, I believe that any mitigation
activities must directly address areas of use.
I am also concerned that with 75 barges
traveling through the canal each month, the
potential for disruption or accidents with other
traditional users of the canal, including the
nearby Navy base, creates a risky and
undesirable situation. Fred Hill Materials has
recently begun the permitting process, which
will require approval from various local, state,
and federal agencies. Please be assured that I
will continue to carefully monitor this
situation and take your views into consideration
as this process moves forward.
Thank you again for contacting me to share your
thoughts on this matter.Finally, you may be
interested in signing up for my weekly update
for Washington state residents. Every Monday, I
provide a brief outline about my work in the
Senate and issues of importance to Washington
state. If you are interested in subscribing to
this update, please visit my website at http://cantwell.senate.gov.
Please do not hesitate to contact me in the
future if I can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
Maria Cantwell
United States Senator |
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