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Community airs permit concerns

Residents say project will be ‘an eyesore’ in bay

Residents can make their voices heard about Taylor Shellfish’s proposal for an oyster-growing operation in Oakland Bay at a public hearing at 1 p.m. May 24.

The meeting is with Mason County hearing examiner at the Commission Chambers at 411 North 5th St. in Shelton.

Commissioner Sharon Trask, who represents the area where the proposed oyster bag farm would be sited, has directed people to make their voices heard by attending the public hearing or by emailing the county and Taylor Shellfish.

Jeff Zenk, Department of Ecology’s spokesperson for Southwest Washington, said these types of requests are common in the state.

“Fifty acres is a pretty big size of property. Nine acres is quite large, it’s all just relative to the topography of the area,” Zenk said.

Zenk said the shellfish industry in the state is “vibrant,” and the jobs associated with the project will benefit the community and awareness about clean water.

After a decision is made after the public hearing, Zenk said the proposal will go to the state Department of Ecology, which has 30 days to approve or disprove it.

“That’s with the caveat that the submittal that Mason County sends to Ecology is complete,” Zenk said. “It’s not infrequent when we receive an application that is missing some information and we have to go back and ask for additional information but assuming everything is complete, we would have 30 days to make a decision. It’s actually Mason County who will evaluate the comments from the public and they will make a decision from there.”

Zenk said Ecology will evaluate the proposal based on state law and the environment.

The Journal received multiple emails responding to a story in last week’s paper in opposition of the proposed project.

“There are so many reasons why this is a bad idea however I’ll just name a bunch after doing my own research,” Christin Herinkx wrote to the Journal. “It will be a huge disgusting eyesore, dimensionally massive and eventually covered in bird droppings. The dioxins from the mill have not been dealt with and there is no egress of water in the bay without passing through the area banned for oyster farming. Dioxins build up in the oysters which then build up in the humans ingesting them and voila, cancer. I’m certain Camp LeJeune folks and women dying of cancer from talcum powder would love a re-do. No one experiencing food insecurity in this country or any other has oysters on their menu. This is only about the benjamins.”

“Consider two aircraft carriers being parked in the middle of the bay or even easier to conceptualize is the footprint of the proposed structure will be greater than the combined land mass used for the Mariners and Seahawks stadiums in downtown Seattle,” Ginny Douglas, who lives near Oakland Bay, wrote to the Journal. “This is not minimal. The structure will be lit at night which will also cause a disruption for the neighbors. And all these shenanigans will employ 2-5 people, full time! Really? Doesn’t sound a whole lot of ‘quality jobs’ being created ... just sounds like a lot of money going into the deep pockets of Taylor Shellfish! The information states the bags can be moved for the Squaxin Tribe during salmon season...where will 50 acres of bags be moved?  And, with respect, will Taylor move the bags for my grandkids and I when we want to fish, or boat or enjoy the views from our nearby parks?  I don’t think so! There are so many reasons this precedent-setting oyster farm should not be permitted and most of them are other than cosmetic. I fear, if this proposal is passed, we will find these farms popping up, and polluting all of our precious waterways.”

Zenk said the project could require a 401 water quality certification, which states that federal agencies can’t issue a license or permit before making a determination on a water quality certification request or waive the right to review. Any conditions that the county sets then become conditions of the federal permit or license. The federal Clean Water Act of 1972 grants states and tribal governments the authority to review and approve, condition or deny proposed projects, actions and activities directly affecting waters in the U.S., and Ecology is the certifying authority and responsible for issuance of 401 water quality certifications.

While the project could be approved after the public hearing by Mason County, the project could be delayed by months due to state and federal certification.

“We don’t know enough now to know if it’s going to require that or not,” Zenk said. “It’s a possibility and that would include a public comment period. … There’s also the opportunity to appeal a certification with the state pollution control hearings board.”

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Matt Baide, Reporter

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Shelton-Mason County Journal & Belfair Herald
Email: [email protected]

 

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