May 25, 1998

Editor The North Coast News
PO Box 272
Ocean Shores, Washington,
98569
(360) 289-2441
Fax (360) 289-9306
ncnews@ncoastnews.com

Dear Editor and Governor Locke:

We very much appreciate Tom Hyde's article, "Our Opinion - Open Process Critical on Erosion Issue" in the North Coast News, May 20, 1998 and support his call for more open public discussion on erosion control. The beaches of Washington belong to all of the citizens of the State and decisions effecting them have international implications.

Additionally, FOGH (Friends of Grays Harbor) has long had concerns about the use of only one consulting firm for numerous major projects in Grays Harbor, Pacific and Lewis Counties. This firm has been intimately involved in the environmentally sensitive siting of the State prison at Stafford Creek, the proposed dredging of the Chehalis River, the geotube insertion and wave bumpers at Ocean Shores, the amoring of Westport/Half Moon Bay, the rocking and groining of Highway 105 and Washaway Beach, the dredging of the main channel of Willapa Bay and the diversion of Conner Creek to name just a few.

Each of these proposed solutions involves a significant assault on the natural environment and its processes when there may be a less traumatic alternative.

As Mr. Hyde points out, many of these projects are declared "emergencies" which circumvent adequate environmental review and proceed without the consideration of other plans by competing firms.

Mr. Hyde's description of the procedures used by the City of Ocean Shores to deny public input is alarming. Questions do need to be asked. What is so frail about their solutions that public discussion is discouraged? Why are no alternative proposals considered? Why is only one firm hired for all these public projects? The task force commissioned by Governor Locke should address these questions as well as the erosion issue. Our shorelines, beaches, estuaries and rivers are our most important heritage and decisions we make now will have impacts for future generations.

Investigative reporting such as Mr. Hyde's is critical to the democratic process. We all need to be involved and have a voice in these decisions.

Sincerely yours,

Arthur (R.D.) Grunbaum
Member Board of Directors
FOGH (Friends of Grays Harbor)
olearycrk@aol.com
(360) 648-2254 (FOGHphone/fax)