Governor Gregoire Leaves Out Coastal Residents Again

Coastal counties and citizens get a "staffer" from the Governor's Office in Olympia to represent their interests in Coastal Marine Spatial planning.

 

(from Chinook Observer, April 3, 2012)

Governor Gregoire has again left coastal communities upset.  In January coastal representatives and citizens complained about being excluded from the $4.5 million in federal funding available from NOAA's Shellfish Initiative (click here for article).  Funds for helping repair failing septic systems and preventing farm waste from entering marine waters in Pacific and Grays Harbor counties would go elsewhere.

March 30, Governor Gregoire vetoed Sections 5 and 6 from Substitute Senate Bill 6263 which, in part, would have created a council of citizens from these coastal counties to help guide the Coastal Marine Spatial Planning process created in the bill.  Instead she has decided to choose a staffer from the Governor's Office to speak for them.  Coastal representatives are disappointed to hear their citizens will have no voice in the creation of what is best described as "zoning for near-shore waters, tidelands and the continental shelf." (read the Chinook Observer article by clicking here) (read the Daily World article by clicking here)

Not mentioned in either of the articles was Section 4's diversion of 8% of revenues from the leasing of aquatic lands or sale of products from those lands, previously used to fund the Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account (ALEA).  This account's primary purpose?  After appropriation, these funds shall be used solely for aquatic lands enhancement projects; for the purchase, improvement, or protection of aquatic lands for public purposes; for providing and improving access to the lands; and for volunteer cooperative fish and game projects.  RCW 79.105.150