Dave and Judith Palmer
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April 23, 2002
Gayle Zeller
2000 Lakeridge Drive SW
Olympia, WA 98502-6045
Subject: Land Use Case #: SSDP020135
Dear Ms. Zeller,
Thank you for the opportunity to object to the Anderson Road Project promoted by the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation (CTCR) and their engineering firm Pacific International Engineering (PIE). We appreciate the Thurston County attempt to include the general public in this project review.
This project has surfaced many times under many disguises and jurisdictions. Based on the many changes (please refer to our attachments) one could wonder if there is a jurisdiction plan in place to discourage honest and open public participation and review.
Questions that need to be publicly answered to address our concerns are:
What original Anderson Road conditions were acceptable in the original National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) which governed the construction of the Luck Eagle Casino?
What has changed since the Casino construction that warrants this major road alteration?
Given that the CTCR knows this portion of the Chehalis River watershed has been subject to many historical and very recent flooding episodes why has the CTCR continued to invest significant amounts of money in construction of new Casino attractions?
In the year 2002 should the CTCR, or any other jurisdiction, continue to develop a destination location in a major floodplain and across the path of floodwaters? Isn't that type of land use in conflict with current floodplain and floodway management practices?
The CTCR in a news article this month publicly stated that they have invested significant funds in the Casino and that they want to move the Casino to Grand Mound. Wouldn't this lackadaisical approach to land use and apparent lack of concern for the health, safety and welfare of non-tribal property owners doom any project in a traditional jurisdiction?
Why is this project seeking approval outside the boundary of the already existing federal and state funded studies? Why isn't it part of the entire watershed plan and subject to the public processes that will be incorporated in the watershed plan? This statement in The Chronicle 11/10/2001 hints at the size of the watershed plan:
"WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Brian Baird, D-Wash., announced Friday that the federal fiscal year 2002 Energy and Water Appropriations conference report includes critical projects for Southwest Washington.
The bill included $1 million for the Centralia Flood Control project and $250,000 to conduct the Chehalis River Basin Flood Study. It now awaits the president's signature before becoming law. "I'm pleased that these projects will receive well deserved funding," said the Democrat. "Securing the funding necessary to move forward on the Centralia Flood Control Project and to find ways to prevent flood damage within the Chehalis River Basin are two important projects, and I'll continue to work hard for local projects that will benefit our local community." "
What safeguards exist for the general non-tribal public? Is the engineering firm, which is also the prime engineering contractor in the federally funded study, in a position of conflict of interest? How does the general public gain protection by an independent engineering analysis and review?
Why is no reference made to Washington State Department of Transportation plans and study for the widening and elevation of State Route 12? Since this highway forms a man-made barrier which directly impacts Anderson Road shouldn't that design be stated as part of the Anderson Road project?
Will the CTCR assume the liability inherent in this floodplain development and the resulting losses? Our property has suffered flood damage multiple times. When the next flood damage involving Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Insurance Program (FIP) funds results in the condemnation of our home will Thurston County or the CTCR reimburse us for our loss?
Obviously we strongly object to this project. It serves only the CTCR Casino and Casino customers. It is not in the interest of the general public. This project does nothing to reduce or eliminate the potential flooding damage non-tribal taxpayers and residents are already subjected to.
Thank you for your consideration,
Dave Palmer
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