For immediate release Date: July 17, 1998 Contact Person: Jack McKenzie, City Manager City of Ocean Shores (360) 289-2486 FAX: (360) 289-0376
The City of Ocean Shores, which has responded to a series of crises caused by erosion of its coastline to the north of the Grays Harbor North Jetty over the past several years, has initiated an environmental review process to develop a long-term solution to managing the coastline erosion in the future. Because some proposed solutions could have serious adverse environmental impacts and would require federal and state-issued permits, an environmental impact statement or EIS must be prepared. The EIS will identify and analyze all the reasonable alternatives to address this coastal erosion problem, leading to the selection of a preferred alternative for its future management.
A special legislative appropriation from the State provided $275,000 to the City as initial funding for the preparation of an EIS. The City has contributed an additional $80,000 toward the cost of the EIS preparation. The City has hired a consultant team led by Pacific International Engineering, Inc. to prepare the EIS. The EIS process is expected to be completed in the summer of 1999.
"Over the past several years, the City has had to respond to emergencies caused by the erosion. With this EIS process, we have an opportunity to develop a long-term solution that will meet the needs of our community and of the environment," said Ocean Shores City Manager Jack McKenzie. He continued, "We need to determine what the best long-term solution is in time to take appropriate measures before the 1999 storm season, so the schedule for this process is aggressive. The City is pleased the process is underway. We need an answer."
The purpose of an EIS is to provide decision makers and the public with an impartial discussion of the impacts of a proposed project and reasonable alternatives on the natural and built environment and to identify methods to reduce unavoidable adverse impacts. The intent is to assure that appropriate consideration has been given to the environment in decision-making. An analysis of economic impacts is also a part of this process.
The EIS findings will be used by the City of Ocean Shores, the government agency that has the primary responsibility for complying with the State Environmental Policy Act's procedural requirements, to make a decision on the preferred course of action for addressing the erosion. The City is the "lead agency" for the preparation of the EIS.
In addition, there are other important "decision-makers" that need to be involved when public beaches, such as those at Ocean Shores, are at issue. They include the state agencies that have permitting authority over the Washington coast and whose role is to protect adjacent public resources. Agency involvement in this process will be through agency participation in an Interagency Policy Coordination Committee and a Technical Advisory Committee. Outside experts are also expected to be involved in the process.
Public involvement will also be a significant part of the EIS process. It is being guided by an independent Citizen Involvement Committee or CIC. Members of the CIC include Bob Anderson, retired Attorney; Nicky Anderson, Citizens for Responsive Government; Judy Antich, Grays Harbor Bank; Brady Engvall, Friends of Grays Harbor; Bill Heinlein, retired military officer; Bruce Wolgemuth, former Ocean Shores Mayor; Dave Hansard, Manager, Community Club; and Mary Weed, League of Women Voters.
A series of three public meetings are scheduled for July and August to develop a common base of understanding about the EIS process and about the erosion problem. The first of these meetings, which will focus on changes that have occurred to the coastline over the past century as well as what is known about the causes of the erosion and its ramifications, will be held on Thursday, July 30. The second, which will focus on the criteria that will be used for screening alternatives, will be held on Thursday, August 6. The third meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 26; it will focus on the alternatives that have been identified for consideration. All three meetings will be held at the Ocean Shores Convention Center; they will be preceded by an Open House 4:00 PM to 5:45 PM, with the meetings to begin at 6:00 PM and to conclude at 9:00 PM. All interested parties are encouraged to attend. Additional meetings will be scheduled to involve citizens and agencies in the environmental review process; they will be announced well in advance.
Over the coming months, frequent press releases will provide additional information about the EIS process and opportunities for public involvement.
To find out more about this process and the schedule of future activities, please contact the Ocean Shores City Manager, Jack McKenzie, at 360-289-2488 or FAX 360-289-0376, or write to him at PO Box 909, Ocean Shores, WA 98569.
City of Ocean Shores page 3 07/17/98 Coastline Erosion Project oshores:pr2-716