Planning Commission, With Help From Friends In Ag, Undermine Court Required Compliance With Hirst Decision / Facebook Post, Whatcom Hawk, Wendy Harris

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personius impervious hirst 04052017

Click the graphic above to view the full April 5, 2017 Memorandum from Gary Davis,  Whatcom County Senior Planner, “Impervious Surface and Animal Husbandry Proposals”

4 hrs  April 9, 2017  Wendy Harris

While the county continues to seek state legislative fixes to the Hirst decision, and at all costs avoid its obligation to actually plan, the county is still under a court imposed obligation to come into compliance with the GMA, and protect rural water quality and quantity. (Yes, somehow with all the hysterical theatrics that surrounds this decision, it is easy to forget that it is, after all, a GMA compliance case). Continue reading →

A toxic site in the vicinity of Cherry Point / Facebook post, Whatcom Hawk, Wendy Harris

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treoil herald

2 hrs  April 4, 2017  Wendy Harris

I am surprised this story has not generated much interest. Wake up, everyone. Why have the county and the EPA waited 25 years to clean up a toxic site in the vicinity of Cherry Point, adjacent to the Custer Spur rail road line into BP? They are only now, in 2017, taking finally taking emergency action and acting as if the dangerous conditions on the site are a complete shock.  Continue reading →

Thank you for approving the interim moratorium for Cherry Point and other things regarding the Cherry Point Amendments / Letter to Whatcom County Council, Dena Jensen

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interim moratorium agenda bill

March 29, 2017  Dena Jensen

Last week Whatcom County Council voted 6-1, Council Member Brenner opposed, to approve the “ordinance imposing an interim moratorium on the acceptance and processing of applications and permits for new or expanded facilities in the Cherry Point Urban Growth Area, the primary purpose of which would be the shipment of unrefined fossil fuels not to be processed at Cherry Point.”  I wanted to write this week to thank them for approving the moratorium. Continue reading →

Public testimony of retired refinery worker, Steve Garey, at 3/21/17 Whatcom County Public Hearing regarding increased unrefined fossil fuel export moratorium/ Noisy Waters Northwest

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steve garey 032117 council meeting

Click the graphic to view Mr. Garey’s public testimony, which begins at around the 01:00:40 mark on the video (the linked graphic should take you to that location on the video) at the March 21, 2017 Whatcom County Council Meeting.

March 24, 2017  Dena Jensen

Here is a transcript of the public comment offered by retired refinery worker Steve Garey, at the March 21, 2017, Whatcom County Public Hearing on “imposing an interim moratorium on the acceptance and processing of applications and permits for new or expanded facilities in the Cherry Point urban growth area the primary purpose of which would be the shipment of unrefined fossil fuels not to be processed at Cherry Point.”  The interim ordinance was approved by the Whatcom County Council on the evening of the hearing, by a vote of 6-1, Council Member Brenner opposed.  Continue reading →

Biggest Bullshit Not Called Out During Ericksen Town Hall Meeting: In Defense of Trees / Facebook post, Whatcom Hawk, Wendy Harris

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old-growth-eco-systems-earth-justice

Click the above graphic to view the full report: “The Economic Benefits of Old-Growth Forests in the Pacific Northwest, An Overview” prepared for Earthjustice by ECONorthwest

38 mins  March 5, 2017  Wendy Harris

I have heard this meme before… trees take up more water from the ground than a single family residence. That is not the issue. The issue is how that water is then used to help or hurt the environment. Continue reading →

Peak Oil? A Chaotic Transition is in Process / NorthwestCitizen, David Camp

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As the graphic shows, US gasoline inventories are at a 27-year record high. And yet, gas prices and oil prices continue to rise – having increased by about 30-40% (depending on the grade and source) in 2016. And as the second graphic shows, US gasoline consumption in the first part of 2017 is down 8% from the same period in 2016. Strange things are happening –

Continue reading →

General Overview of Problems With Critical Area Ordinance / Facebook post, Whatcom Hawk, Wendy Harris

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council-linked-page-to-cao

10 hrs  February 22, 2017  Wendy Harris

Will the council approve a Critical Area Ordinance (CAO) that does not comply with the GMA? It is looking more and more likely. I am sick to my stomach thinking that after just one “general issues” work session, council will be ready to vote on the updated Critical Area Ordinance. It really did not help that few people participated, but how could they when there was no real training provided on such a technical issue? Perhaps if the CAO was not improperly separated from the Comp. Plan update, it would have been easier to obtain public input. Continue reading →