Dear Friends of Hood Canal

Peter Goldmark Opposes Pit-to-Pier

Peter Goldmark seeks to become the next Washington Commissioner of Public Lands, a most powerful position responsible for managing vast resources including forest lands and waterways.  One part of his domain would be the Department of Natural Resources.  The Land Commissioner is probably the second most powerful elected position in our state government. The Land Commissioner needs to be someone who can properly and effectively balance needs to manage and harvest resources while protecting our natural environment.  Mr. Goldmark says that our present Land Commissioner, Doug Sutherland, has not done so.

Here is a recent statement from Peter Goldmark on the pit-to-pier project.

        "I am very concerned about the proposed Pit-to-Pier Project.  The health of Puget Sound, including Hood Canal, has reached a crisis point, and the state is poised to spend billions of dollars to restore the ecosystem to health by the year 2020.  How can we clean up and restore the Sound with one hand, while continuing to destroy it with the other?

        The Pit-To Pier Project would mine gravel from Fred Hill’s existing pit near Shine and move it on a 4-mile-long conveyor belt to Thorndyke Bay on Hood Canal, 5 miles south of Hood Canal Bridge. A 1,100-foot-long pier would be constructed to load gravel onto very large barges and ships. This pier would have significant impacts to the important eelgrass beds and the pristine shoreline habitat along the Hood Canal. Approximately 2 million tons of sand and gravel would be transported the first year, gradually increasing vessel traffic to transport more than 4 million tons in future years. Construction and operation of the pier will destroy high quality nearshore habitat, increase risks of oil spills, and greatly increase noise, dust and other impacts to the delicate ecosystem of Hood Canal.

        Also, the Navy has serious concerns about the dramatic increase in large barge and ship activity as a result of this project. This has the potential to threaten the unrestricted access of naval vessels to the base on Hood Canal.

        As Commissioner of Public Lands, I will insist on a critical review of all potential adverse environmental impacts to Hood Canal, its watershed, recreational activities, and the public’s enjoyment of this fragile ecosystem.  I will also require that all of the Navy’s concerns are fully considered.  Only if completely satisfied that the health of Hood Canal and the public interest would not be threatened in any way, would I consider issuing a permit for the pier."

For those who want more information on the Goldmark campaign, visit www.petergoldmark.com   A fundraiser for Peter Goldmark is scheduled for April 23rd at the Public House restaurant in Port Townsend from 5 to 7 pm.

A New Threat

Another large gravel strip mining operation is attempting to obtain permits in the area  north of  Highway 104 near the Fred Hill Materials mining site.  This new mine would cover more than 140 acres within the Hood Canal watershed.  The mining company, Iron Mountain, seems intent on avoiding Jefferson County procedures and constraints to protect our natural environment.  This will need to be carefully followed.

Thanks

Many of you are working diligently to help protect Hood Canal, its shoreline, and surroundings.  Keep it up.  Talk to your friends and relatives.  Send a letter to the editor of your newspapers.  Work with your elected officials.  Do what you can.  Thanks.

John Fabian