Date:Wed, 7 Jan 2009 22:07:35 -0500
Reply-To:[log in to unmask]Sender:East Coast Shellfish Growers Association <[log in to unmask]>
From:Robert Rheault <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:[Fwd: Urgent help needed with some public comments]
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Folks,
I am passing along this request from Bill Dewey on the West Coast. They
have gotten into a battle with some folks who don't like to look at
shellfish farms and have ended up in a legal battle of absurd
proportions. They are fighting for the rights to harvest clams that
they planted and reared that are now ready to harvest. Unfortunately
they planted the clams on grounds that they purchased but grounds that
were never properly surveyed - so they are technically on public
grounds. If you can find the time to send a letter of support by 4:30pm
Thursday (PST) it might help. see below.
Bob Rheault
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Urgent help needed with some public comments
Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2009 13:51:47 -0800
From: Bill Dewey <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Bob,
We are seeking some *URGENT* help from the shellfish community with
public comments in support of a lease from the Washington Department of
Natural Resources for tidelands in Totten Inlet. If appropriate would
you consider forwarding our plea out to the East Coast Shellfish Growers
Listserve?
The tidelands we've applied to lease are ones that we've believed we
owned for the past 36 years. This past spring in response to a complaint
from shoreline owners opposed to geoduck farming we surveyed the
property. The survey showed that much of the area historically farmed
in fact belongs instead to the state. Prior owners including the oyster
farmer Bill Taylor's father purchased it from in 1972 have farmed this
same area since the early 1900s. Apparently the actual area described
by the deed had never been surveyed. It is very high on the beach with
little use for growing shellfish.
We've been actively working with the Department of Natural Resources to
resolve this problem since it was discovered in April. DNR has
determined an appropriate fee to charge for past use of the land. They
have also decided the best way to address the oyster and geoduck crops
we have planted there is by granting us a five year lease to harvest them.
Part of the process for leasing public property is a review of the
effects of the proposed activity under the State Environmental Policy
Act (SEPA). This review considers environmental, economic and community
impacts. DNR has preliminarily issued a Mitigated Determination of Non
Significance and is seeking public comment on that determination. We're
asking people to take a few minutes to send in a supporting comment.
The local NIMBY organizations are working it hard attempting to stack
the comment deck against us. 81 pro 74 against is the current tally.
You can view information about the proposed lease and comments received
to date at:
http://www.dnr.wa.gov/ResearchScience/Topics/SEPAAquaticResources/Pages/amp_sepa_aqr_totteninlet_feb.aspx
Below are draft comments that people might consider sending if they
agree with them. Submit comments by email to: [log in to unmask]
<mailto:[log in to unmask]>. Include in the subject line "Comments
on SEPA File No. 08-122201".
*Comments must be _received_ by 4:30 tomorrow! *
If people have the time personalize the comments. If you don't just
copy and paste the message below.
If you have questions please feel free to contact me by email or call
360-790-2330.
Thanks for considering my request and I wish you all the best for 2009!
To: [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Re: *SEPA *File No. 08-122201 -- Taylor Shellfish Totten Inlet Lease
I support the Mitigated Determination of Non-Significance (MDNS) finding
by DNR for their environmental review of the proposed tideland lease to
Taylor Shellfish Company. I also support leasing the tidelands to
Taylor Shellfish to resolve the disposition of the oysters and geoducks
they have planted on the land in question.
This area has been farmed by others with shellfish since the early 1900s
and by Taylors since 1972. Only recently has it come to light that the
property actually belongs to the state. Leasing the tidelands to
Taylors to resolve the unintentional trespass is a good option for
several reasons. It allows them to recoup their investment in the crops
planted there. It also provides significant revenue to the State when
it is sorely needed. Eighty percent of the lease revenue goes to the
Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account which is used to restore aquatics
lands and improve public access to them. Finally, it restores several
jobs that were lost when farming on this land ceased with the trespass
discovery this past spring.
I support leasing these tidelands to Taylors so this beach can continue
its long history of commercial shellfish production and reputation for
producing some of the finest shellfish in the world.
Sincerely,
/Bill Dewey/
Taylor Logo 10-9-00
Taylor Shellfish Company
130 SE Lynch Rd.
Shelton, WA 98584
Phone (360) 426-6178
Direct line (360) 432-3334
Fax (360) 432-3344
Cellular (360) 790-2330
www.taylorshellfish.com <http://www.taylorshellfish.com/>
/NOTICE: This communication may contain privileged or other confidential
information. If you have received it in error, please advise the sender
by reply email and immediately delete the message and any attachments
without copying or disclosing the contents. Thank you./
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