A corporation intends to industrialize 34-acres* of the publicly-owned Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge with 80,000 plastic bags of oysters. The U.S. Corps of Engineers and the Washington State Department of Ecology are interested in your comments.
Submit comments by MAY 30, 2020.
The Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge in Washington State’s Salish Sea is one of the most pristine national refuges. This Refuge was dedicated in 1915 for its abundance of eelgrass which sustains migrating and resident birds, their feeder fish and salmon. The site hosts more than 250 species of birds, some of which nest and raise their young here. The 5.5 mile spit is one of the longest in the world and is a major U.S. attraction.
For background information visit: http://www.protectpeninsulasfuture.org/dungeness-refuge-alert/
Comments are needed on any of the operation’s potential impacts: Conservation, eelgrass, water quality, local and refuge economics, aesthetics, plastics, bird and fish feed, benthic life, shore erosion, cumulative impacts, and/or recreation, with as much back-up data as possible.
Click here to open Joint Public Notice
Where to submit your comments
Send your U.S. Army Corps of Engineers comments to:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regulatory Branch, Attention: Pamela Sanguinetti,
P.O. Box 3755, Seattle, Washington 98124-3755; email pamela.sanguinetti@usace.army.mil Reference Case #: 2007-1213
Send your Washington State Department of Ecology comments to:
Washington State Department of Ecology, Attention: Federal Permit Coordinator,
P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, Washington 98504-7600; email ecyrefedpermits@ecy.wa.gov
For more details on how to comment, visit:
http://www.protectpeninsulasfuture.org/how-to-comment/
*NOTE:
Due to the Applicant requesting a “phased “approach, the initial proposed work of ‘on-bottom bag culture” = 5 acres of 20,000 bags. When the oysters grow to a certain size, they would be removed from the bags and spread on 29 acres of refuge beach shoreline to grow to commercial size and be harvested. Total allowable coverage is still 34 acres. The Applicant’s full plan is to cover 20 acres with 80,000 plastic bags of oysters.
This press release came from Protect the Peninsula’s Future
http://www.protectpeninsulasfuture.org/