Public Involvement Process and Results

Summary: Opportunities for public involvement

Ecology provided several opportunities for public involvement in shaping the draft rule. Ecology solicited input from a Shellfish Aquaculture Regulatory Committee (SARC) and an array of affected parties: local governments, shellfish growers, environmental interests, tribes, shoreline property owners, and business groups.

The draft rule was distributed through websites and listservs sponsored by Ecology. Staff also discussed the proposed rule with individual affected parties and gave presentations.

Ecology provided a 98-day public comment period. Public hearings were held in Moses Lake, Everett, Lacey, and Aberdeen. Forty-two people attended the hearings, and fourteen provided testimony. A comment form was provided at the hearings and on-line. A specific Shoreline Rule email box was set up for questions and comments. Ads were published in each county’s paper of record, and a news release was provided to the media.

Public comments received

The public provided comments at three of the four public hearings, by letter, and via email. Many emails were simply a way to transmit a comment letter. If so, the letter is what is provided here under the Emails/Electronic Submittals heading.

Public comments are provided below, with the exception of technical documents provided as attachments to the Taylor Shellfish Technical Memorandum (see below). The technical documents will be provided soon. Please check back.

Hearing Testimony

Letters (in the order received)

Emails / Electronic Submittals

Staff Contact

Contact: Ms. Cedar Bouta
Email: ShorelineRule@ecy.wa.gov
Phone: 360-407-6406 (9:00 am to 5:00 pm, M-F)

Special Accommodations

To ask about documents in a version for the visually impaired, call the Shorelands and Environmental Assistance Program at 360-407-7291
Persons with hearing loss, call 711 for Washington Relay Service
Persons with a speech disability, call 877-833-6341