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Department of Ecology News Release - September 25, 2001
01-167
OLYMPIA -- Officials representing the state, environmentalists and business interests today announced that they will attempt to negotiate an agreement on new shorelines guidelines for the state.
On Aug. 27, the state Shorelines Hearings Board invalidated shoreline management guidelines adopted last November by the state Department of Ecology. The rules, intended to protect 20,000 miles of freshwater and saltwater shorelines, were challenged by various business, local-government and private interests. The state and other parties had 30 days to decide whether to appeal the board's decision.
At a meeting last Friday, state Attorney General Christine Gregoire, Ecology Director Tom Fitzsimmons, Association of Washington Business President Don Brunell and Washington Environmental Council President Jay Manning expressed interest in seeking a settlement. While they explore that possibility, the parties will file separate appeals to protect their legal standing in the case.
In a brief statement, the four said: "We want to try to resolve this issue without expensive, divisive and time-consuming litigation. We believe there are some misperceptions about the guidelines that need to be clarified, and we are willing to attempt to resolve our differences over other provisions. It is in everyone's interests to have clear, reasonable, workable guidelines in place as soon as possible that carry out Washington's Shoreline Management Act."
Former Washington State Supreme Court Justice Richard Guy and Bill Ross, a Seattle consultant and mediator, have agreed to help launch the negotiation effort.
Media contact:
Sheryl Hutchison, Department of Ecology, 360-407-7004
Cheryl Reid, Attorney General's Office, 360-586-4802
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
