 |
| A beach mining demonstration last fall. Photo Courtesy Chris Moran, WDFW. |
Washington State Parks has announced that it will conduct a public informational meeting at 6:30 pm on Thursday, February 16 at Montesano City Hall, located at 112 N. Main St, Montesano, to review and discuss a rule change adopted last year that allows small-scale beach mining on the coast. Public comment will be accepted at the meeting.
Last August the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission approved a rule to allow small-scale mining, beach prospecting, and placer mining on ocean beaches managed by the State. Folks such as coastal Marine Resources Committees, the Washington State Ocean Caucus, Tribes, and groups such as Surfrider were not notified about the proposed rule and those who were, only learned of it two days before the actual ruling. Surfrider and others worked as quickly as possible to distribute information about the hearing to be held in Wenatchee to coastal communities, but most were unable to participate due to the short notice. With that a flood of emails and phone calls were received by State Parks from coastal residents interested in providing comment for the rule.
The new rule applies to our coastal beaches managed by the State, which are declared a Shoreline Conservation Area. It is understood that the actual recreational beach mining activities that have taken place on our coast to date have not significantly impacted the natural or recreational value of ocean beaches. The activity has been small scale, with minimal equipment and there has been little to no trace of activity left once it is completed. However, the way the rule is currently written, there is opportunity for more intensive activities to take place in sensitive habitat areas and high use areas that could possibly threaten sensitive marine species and other recreational uses. For example, forage fish, a primary food source for migrating salmon, spawn on coastal beaches. If mining activity were to occur in a spawning area while eggs were on the beach, it could be harmful for this species and for migrating salmon. This is where folks such as our coastal Marine Resources Committees and groups like Surfrider Foundation work to help inform communities about decisions that may affect area marine resources so in turn they may communicate their concerns to decision makers.
Also, the current rule requires a permit from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, but does not mention fees for permits or a required license. With budget constraints and cutbacks at our natural resource agencies, it is unclear to many how the state is going to manage and monitor this new activity.
There is opportunity for the rule to be improved in order to allow for recreational prospecting and mining without compromising the values of the Shoreline Conservation Area. With that State Park’s, Daniel Farber, Director Policy and Intergovernmental Affairs, communicated the following commitments to improve the rule:
State Parks staff will reach out to the Departments of Fish and Wildlife and Natural Resources staff to request their participation in public outreach and review of the WAC rule on Beach Mining.
Notification of a public meeting will be dispersed to ensure broad participation.
State Parks will encourage WDFW and DNR staff to be present for the public meeting, and work with us before and afterward on this issue.
State Parks will, in addition to sending out advance notice of the meeting to all by email, put out a press release about the meeting.
The purpose of the public meeting, will be to:
Last August the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission approved a rule to allow small-scale mining, beach prospecting, and placer mining on ocean beaches managed by the State. Folks such as coastal Marine Resources Committees, the Washington State Ocean Caucus, Tribes, and groups such as Surfrider were not notified about the proposed rule and those who were, only learned of it two days before the actual ruling. Surfrider and others worked as quickly as possible to distribute information about the hearing to be held in Wenatchee to coastal communities, but most were unable to participate due to the short notice. With that a flood of emails and phone calls were received by State Parks from coastal residents interested in providing comment for the rule.
The new rule applies to our coastal beaches managed by the State, which are declared a Shoreline Conservation Area. It is understood that the actual recreational beach mining activities that have taken place on our coast to date have not significantly impacted the natural or recreational value of ocean beaches. The activity has been small scale, with minimal equipment and there has been little to no trace of activity left once it is completed. However, the way the rule is currently written, there is opportunity for more intensive activities to take place in sensitive habitat areas and high use areas that could possibly threaten sensitive marine species and other recreational uses. For example, forage fish, a primary food source for migrating salmon, spawn on coastal beaches. If mining activity were to occur in a spawning area while eggs were on the beach, it could be harmful for this species and for migrating salmon. This is where folks such as our coastal Marine Resources Committees and groups like Surfrider Foundation work to help inform communities about decisions that may affect area marine resources so in turn they may communicate their concerns to decision makers.
Also, the current rule requires a permit from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, but does not mention fees for permits or a required license. With budget constraints and cutbacks at our natural resource agencies, it is unclear to many how the state is going to manage and monitor this new activity.
There is opportunity for the rule to be improved in order to allow for recreational prospecting and mining without compromising the values of the Shoreline Conservation Area. With that State Park’s, Daniel Farber, Director Policy and Intergovernmental Affairs, communicated the following commitments to improve the rule:
State Parks staff will reach out to the Departments of Fish and Wildlife and Natural Resources staff to request their participation in public outreach and review of the WAC rule on Beach Mining.
Notification of a public meeting will be dispersed to ensure broad participation.
State Parks will encourage WDFW and DNR staff to be present for the public meeting, and work with us before and afterward on this issue.
State Parks will, in addition to sending out advance notice of the meeting to all by email, put out a press release about the meeting.
The purpose of the public meeting, will be to:
lay out the history of the issue, including the substantive questions and analysis that went into the rule making, and discuss questions and suggested changes to the rule from any and all at the meeting;
Also in communications with Surfrider Parks conveyed they are “absolutely open to hearing and discussing changes to the rule that was adopted.” They did note however that like any public process, they “cannot make any assurance of a [particular] outcome.”
Broad participation and a large turnout is expected for this public meeting. For more information please email Lisa Lantz, Environmental Planner, Washington State Parks Commission.
No comments:
Post a Comment