Search this Chehalis River Council site!FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Aug. 13, 2004 04-155 Permit for Westport golf project approved OLYMPIA - The state Department of Ecology (Ecology) today approved the water-quality permit for The Links at Half Moon Bay, a proposed golf course and resort at Westport. The "401 permit" is actually a water-quality certification named after a section in the federal Clean Water Act. The certification assures that the project will protect water quality to meet the state's standards. Conditions in the certification require the project to manage its use of herbicides, storm water and waste water in a manner that protects wetlands, the shoreline and the ocean environment. The conditions require monitoring and reporting to ensure that the site stays in compliance with the state's water quality standards. They also require that wetlands be restored and preserved. "With the conditions we have added, we are confident this project can proceed in an environmentally sound manner," said Paula Ehlers, a manager in Ecology's shorelands program. Ehlers said that Ecology staff will provide assistance to help the project developer meet the conditions of the certification. "We're going to stay involved to provide assistance and do whatever we can to make sure these conditions are met." "It's a relief to see that we're moving ahead with permitting this project. This shows that we can achieve economic development and environmental protection at the same time, and get a win-win for everybody," said Sen. Jim Hargrove, D-Hoquiam. # # #
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