Fred Hill Materials clears gravel-mine permit hurdle
[2008-12-23 17:03:34]
Fred Hill Materials clears gravel-mine permit hurdle
By Jeff Chew
Peninsula Daily News
c_
PORT TOWNSEND -- A visiting Kitsap County Superior Court judge hasruled in favor of a decision that allows Fred Hill Materials toexpand gravel mining gravel at its site south of state Highway 104.
Judge Anna Laurie affirmed a 2004 Western Washington GrowthManagement Hearings Board finding that a Jefferson County-approved690-acre mineral resource land overlay for Fred Hill Materialscomplies with the state Growth Management Act.
She signed her decision and published it Friday in Jefferson CountySuperior Court.
The petitioners -- Hood Canal Coalition, Olympic EnvironmentalCouncil, Jefferson County Green Party, People for a LivableCommunity, Kitsap Audubon Society, Hood Canal Environmental Counseland People for Puget Sound -- had challenged the hearings board'sdecision, filing a Jefferson County Superior Court lawsuit againstFred Hill Materials and Jefferson County.
The petitioners have until Nov. 26 to file an appeal with the stateCourt of Appeals.
Laurie said that the environmental groups tried to tie thecomprehensive plan overlay to Fred Hill Materials' pit-to-pierproject -- a controversial plan to build a 4-mile-long conveyorbelt from the company's Shine gravel pit to a 1,000-foot dock tomove gravel to ships in Hood Canal.
The comprehensive plan amendment requires far less environmentalreview than the pit-to-pier project itself, Laurie said.
David Alvarez, Jefferson County deputy prosecuting civil attorney,said Friday that he was pleased with the court's decision.
The county was named as a respondent in the case. Jefferson Countycommissioners had approved on Dec. 9, 2002, the 690-acre MineralResource Land Overlay for Fred Hill Materials.
A Fred Hill Materials spokesman also praised the decision.
'Responsible steward'
"This ruling is another clear example that Fred Hill Materials is aknowledgeable, responsible steward of the environment, and hascomplied with environmental rules and regulations," said DanBaskins, Fred Hill Material project manager.
"This ruling is also a call for hard-working citizens of JeffersonCounty to rise above obstructionists who simply oppose, oppose andoppose projects that benefit everyone.
"Sand and gravel is a basic commodity, half of which is used tobuild our schools, roads, bridges and other public projects.
"Securing a domestic-based source like Shine for local and regionalneeds lowers costs for taxpayers, creates union-wage jobs, andlightens the load on our strapped building industry.
"Times are tough. We need to get our economy moving and be mindfulof the environment. We can do both. It's essential we do both."
The overlay is tangential to Fred Hill's proposed pit-to-pierproject, which the county is assessing separately from the landoverlay.
Fred Hill submitted applications to Jefferson County planners in2003 for zoning, substantial development and shoreline permitsallowing it to construct the conveyor that would take gravel tobarges in the Hood Canal.
The Poulsbo-based company employs about 150, including 40 percentwho live on the North Olympic Peninsula.
John Fabian, a Port Ludlow retired astronaut and spokesman for HoodCanal Coalition, was unavailable for comment.
Hood Canal Coalition appealed the Western Washington GrowthManagement Hearings Board decision in February 2003.
The pit-to-pier project has long been opposed by the Hood CanalCoalition and Olympic Environmental Council, environmental groupsthat fear the company is industrializing Hood Canal.
In the past, Fabian has also voiced concerns about additional HoodCanal Bridge openings and closings with the additional shippingtraffic.
________
Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsula dailynews.com.
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20081102/news/311029991 [2008-11-4]
Tag : GravelBy Jeff Chew
Peninsula Daily News
c_
PORT TOWNSEND -- A visiting Kitsap County Superior Court judge hasruled in favor of a decision that allows Fred Hill Materials toexpand gravel mining gravel at its site south of state Highway 104.
Judge Anna Laurie affirmed a 2004 Western Washington GrowthManagement Hearings Board finding that a Jefferson County-approved690-acre mineral resource land overlay for Fred Hill Materialscomplies with the state Growth Management Act.
She signed her decision and published it Friday in Jefferson CountySuperior Court.
The petitioners -- Hood Canal Coalition, Olympic EnvironmentalCouncil, Jefferson County Green Party, People for a LivableCommunity, Kitsap Audubon Society, Hood Canal Environmental Counseland People for Puget Sound -- had challenged the hearings board'sdecision, filing a Jefferson County Superior Court lawsuit againstFred Hill Materials and Jefferson County.
The petitioners have until Nov. 26 to file an appeal with the stateCourt of Appeals.
Laurie said that the environmental groups tried to tie thecomprehensive plan overlay to Fred Hill Materials' pit-to-pierproject -- a controversial plan to build a 4-mile-long conveyorbelt from the company's Shine gravel pit to a 1,000-foot dock tomove gravel to ships in Hood Canal.
The comprehensive plan amendment requires far less environmentalreview than the pit-to-pier project itself, Laurie said.
David Alvarez, Jefferson County deputy prosecuting civil attorney,said Friday that he was pleased with the court's decision.
The county was named as a respondent in the case. Jefferson Countycommissioners had approved on Dec. 9, 2002, the 690-acre MineralResource Land Overlay for Fred Hill Materials.
A Fred Hill Materials spokesman also praised the decision.
'Responsible steward'
"This ruling is another clear example that Fred Hill Materials is aknowledgeable, responsible steward of the environment, and hascomplied with environmental rules and regulations," said DanBaskins, Fred Hill Material project manager.
"This ruling is also a call for hard-working citizens of JeffersonCounty to rise above obstructionists who simply oppose, oppose andoppose projects that benefit everyone.
"Sand and gravel is a basic commodity, half of which is used tobuild our schools, roads, bridges and other public projects.
"Securing a domestic-based source like Shine for local and regionalneeds lowers costs for taxpayers, creates union-wage jobs, andlightens the load on our strapped building industry.
"Times are tough. We need to get our economy moving and be mindfulof the environment. We can do both. It's essential we do both."
The overlay is tangential to Fred Hill's proposed pit-to-pierproject, which the county is assessing separately from the landoverlay.
Fred Hill submitted applications to Jefferson County planners in2003 for zoning, substantial development and shoreline permitsallowing it to construct the conveyor that would take gravel tobarges in the Hood Canal.
The Poulsbo-based company employs about 150, including 40 percentwho live on the North Olympic Peninsula.
John Fabian, a Port Ludlow retired astronaut and spokesman for HoodCanal Coalition, was unavailable for comment.
Hood Canal Coalition appealed the Western Washington GrowthManagement Hearings Board decision in February 2003.
The pit-to-pier project has long been opposed by the Hood CanalCoalition and Olympic Environmental Council, environmental groupsthat fear the company is industrializing Hood Canal.
In the past, Fabian has also voiced concerns about additional HoodCanal Bridge openings and closings with the additional shippingtraffic.
________
Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsula dailynews.com.
Source: 沱沱网
Keywords:Industrial Supplies
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