Taylor Shellfish: Further Negotiations Would not Be Fruitful, Refuses County Monitoring Plan

What is Taylor Shellfish worried monitoring of their proposed 58 raft mussel farm will reveal?

(From https://www.facebook.com/ProtectOurShoreline)

Taylor Shellfish Refuses Thurston County Monitoring Plan for Mussel Rafts: It's called Puget Sound, not Taylor Shellfish Sound, and it is "...the most valuable and fragile of its natural resources..." (RCW 90.58.020, Shoreline Management Act) What is Taylor Shellfish afraid of?

Taylor Shellfish has complained about the time it has taken to obtain a permit for a 58 raft mussel farm near the mouth of Totten Inlet. Now that the permit has been approved, Taylor Shellfish has refused to agree to a monitoring plan which would ensure its operation would not adversely impact the marine habitat.
Read letter from Taylor Shellfish's attorney here:
https://app.box.com/s/acpmsxn98mq3q34fpd35

Initially the hearing examiner for Thurston County said a cumulative impacts analysis would be required. Taylor Shellfish appealed to Thurston County who denied the appeal. Taylor Shellfish then appealed to the Shorelines Hearings Board who reversed the denial but required a monitoring plan, developed by Thurston County, as part of the approval. The permit approval was appealed by APHETI to Superior Court but lost that appeal. Taylor Shellfish did not appeal the monitoring requirement then. They now refuse to agree to the monitoring plan required by the Shorelines Hearings Board.
Read SHB decision here (monitoring Taylor refuses is on p.33):
https://app.box.com/s/rk62mgobmbxenf5ff47d

Taylor Shellfish continues to believe it may do as it pleases when it pleases wherever it pleases in Puget Sound. The reality of Taylor Shellfish and others who hide behind them is clear: deep pockets from extracting geoduck from Puget Sound's marine habitat for the Chinese affords them the luxury of hiring attorneys to file appeal after appeal, hoping they will wear down those less fortunate than them, allowing them to proceed headlong in achieving their vision of Puget Sound being nothing more than a shellfish "factory" for their family's corporation to grow wealthy from. At the expense of what citizens of Washington consider "...the most valuable and fragile of its natural resources..." (RCW 90.58.020, Shoreline Management Act)

Get involved. Tell Thurston County you support their requirement of monitoring. Tell Governor Inslee he is on the wrong side of protecting what the Shoreline Management Act is intended to protect, for everyone: the treasure Puget Sound's marine habitat provides for everyone, not just Taylor Shellfish and their family.

Mussel Farm Permit: APHETI and Taylor Shellfish in Court on Friday, March 28th, at 1:30PM

APHETI and Taylor Shellfish will be in Superior Court Friday, March 28 at 1:30PM. Listen to each explain their differing opinions on whether Taylor Shellfish's proposed 58 raft mussel farm at the mouth of Totten Inlet is or is not consistent with the state's Shoreline Management Act and Thurston County's Shoreline Master Program.

 

From APHETI:

 

Association for the Protection of Hammersley, Eld, & Totten Inlets

-APHETI-

PO BOX 11523, Olympia WA 98508-1523 

(360) 866 - 8245  

March 24, 2013

Reminder:  APHETI Superior Court Hearing Date / 1:30 PM, Friday, March 28, 2014

Greetings APHETI Members and Supporters -  

If you can possibly do so, please attend the Superior Court hearing of APHETI's and Thurton County's joint appeal the State Shoreline Hearing Board decision to overturn Thurston County's denial of Taylor's permit application for expanded mussel raft aquaculture operations in Totten Inlet.   

 

Your personal presence of support to uphold Thurston County's denial of Taylor's permit application is very important! Bring your family. Bring your friends. 

The hearing will begin promptly at 1:30 PM, this coming Friday, March 28, 2014.  The location is Courtroom 202, Building #2 of the Thurston County administrative complex, 2000 Lakeridge Drive SW, Olympia, WA 98512.  Please spread the word.

Plan to arrive by 1:00 PM to get parked and walk to Courts Building #2.  Upon entry, go through security and then check the Court Scheduleing board to confirm the hearing is still to be in  Courtroom 202.  This is on the second floor of Building #2.  An elevator is available.  

Feel welcome to call Superior Court at (360) 786-5560, Ext. -0- or APHETI at (360/866-8245) with any questions you may have.  

In advance, Thank You!

APHETI Board of Directors