FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - July 16, 2003
OLYMPIA - The state Department of Ecology (Ecology) is hoping the third time's the charm for updating Washington's shoreline management guidelines.
The department is seeking public comment on draft rules that will be used by cities and counties in updating and implementing their shoreline master programs. Local master programs regulate the development and use of shorelines along rivers and larger streams, lakes over 20 acres and marine waterfronts within their jurisdictions.
Ecology has been working since 1995 to satisfy a legislative requirement to update the shoreline management guidelines. This effort included a 1999 draft that was withdrawn after comments showed that substantial changes were needed. Ecology subsequently proposed and adopted a revised rule in 2000, but parts of it were overturned on appeal.
A year-long mediation effort with the various interests culminated in the new draft guidelines that Ecology is now proposing for public comment and adoption. The proposal has been endorsed by the Association of Washington Business (representing a coalition of business organizations, cities and counties), the Washington Aggregates & Concrete Association, the Washington Environmental Council (WEC) and other environmental organizations.
"It took a lot of work, but we finally have a shorelines proposal that has the support of both the business community and environmentalists," said Ecology Director Tom Fitzsimmons. "That is a unique accomplishment, and we are proud to submit these guidelines for public review."
"These guidelines are a huge step forward and long overdue," said Jay Manning, president of the WEC. "We appreciate Ecology's and the business community's cooperation in reaching agreement on these much-needed standards.
The proposed guidelines will require cities and counties to inventory the shorelines in their jurisdictions and analyze the ecological functions they provide as the foundation for updating their shoreline master programs.
"No net loss of shoreline ecological functions" would be established as the environmental protection standard for local master programs to achieve. The guidelines then outline a variety of tools a jurisdiction could use to achieve the "no net loss" standard.
For example, in an area where vegetation is essential to cleaning and filtering stormwater runoff to prevent downstream pollution, the jurisdiction might use set-back requirements or wetland-protection measures to preserve cleaning and filtering functions in the shoreline areas.
As with previous versions of the guidelines, cities and counties will need to slow the spread of bulkheads and other "hard" shoreline armoring that degrades fish and wildlife habitat and can accelerate erosion on neighboring properties. Also, piers and docks will be restricted to the minimum size needed for the proposed use, and property owners will be encouraged to share docks with other neighbors to minimize damage to the environment.
The public-comment period on the proposal lasts through Sept. 15 and will include four public hearings. Each meeting will begin with an informal open-house discussion at 5:30 p.m., followed by the formal hearing at 7 p.m.:
* Seattle on Aug. 5 - Seattle Center Northwest Rooms (Shaw Room), 305 Harrison St.
* Longview on Aug. 6 - Public Utility District of Cowlitz County (Auditorium), 961 12th Ave.
* Spokane on Aug. 12 - Washington State University (Phase I Classroom), 668 N. River Point.
* Wenatchee on Aug. 13 - Chelan County PUD No. 1, 327 N. Wenatchee Ave.
The draft rule and background information are posted on Ecology's Web site at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/SMA/guidelines/index.html. To obtain a printed copy of the rule, call 888-211-3641.
Written comments on the rule should be sent by 5 p.m. on Sept. 15 to Shoreline Guidelines, Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, Wash., 98504.
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