HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources December 6 20161
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Natural Resources Committee
December 6, 2016
CALL TO ORDER
Committee Chair Carl Weimer called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. in the Council
Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL
Present: Carl Weimer, Satpal Sidhu and Todd Donovan
Absent: None
Also Present: Barbara Brenner, Rud Browne, Barry Buchanan
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
1. PRESENTATION BY PUGET SOUND ENERGY ON THERMAL ELECTRIC GENERATING
FACILITIES (AB2016 -399)
Lynn Murphy, Puget Sound Energy (PSE), submitted and read from a presentation (on file)
and answered questions on the demand for turbines at Cherry Point as turbines in Montana are
shut down; working with Cascade Natural Gas if it were necessary to expand the PSE facilities;
whether there have been any complaints about the wind farm in Ellensburg; the carbon footprint
of natural gas; fuel sources from hydro, thermal, and coal, and; compressed natural gas (CNG)
use in fleet vehicles.
Jim Miller, Puget Sound Energy Ferndale Plant Manager, answered questions about
whether Tenaska is owned by Puget Sound Energy, average running capacity, and the source of
steam for steam generation.
Mike Shores, Puget Sound Energy, answered questions on the natural gas source locations
and emissions from these facilities.
2. UPDATE ON DRAYTON HARBOR SHELLFISH GROWING AREA RECLASSIFICATION
(AB2016 -370)
Doug Allen, Washington State Department of Ecology Bellingham Field Office, gave a
report on the upgrade of 810 acres of shellfish harvest areas in Drayton Harbor. He recognized
the County's efforts and presented two environmental excellence awards to Gary Stoyka and
Erika Douglas for their work with the pollution identification and control (PIC) program.
Gary Stoyka, Public Works Department, thanked Erika Douglas, who has worked on this
project for many years, and the Council, Executive, and PIC staff in the Public Works Department.
The Drayton Harbor community will have a celebration on December 16.
Erika Douglas, Public Works Department, stated she thanks the Council and Executive for
their support in improving water quality. It's a community effort and has been a difficult problem
to solve. Engaging the Council and community to find solutions for long -term stewardship is the
key to success.
Weimer stated he appreciates the work of Ms. Douglas, who has worked with the shellfish
protection district advisory committees to keep them focused and on task.
Natural Resources Committee, 12/6/2016, Page 1
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Allen also presented an award to the Whatcom County Health Department for its onsite
sewage and septic system (OSS) maintenance program. He presented the award to Health
Department Environmental Health Manager John Wolpers.
John Wolpers, Health Department, thanked the Council and Executive for supporting the
program and all the staff who work in the program. He answered questions about what they've
learned in Drayton Harbor that they can apply to Portage Bay, such as having the staff and data
they need.
Sidhu recognized the importance of the cooperation from the dairy farmers to the success
of the program.
Weimer stated there will be a community celebration in Blaine on December 16 to
celebrate the reopening of Drayton Harbor.
3. EMERGENCY BRIEFING ON MANAGEMENT OF SWIFT CREEK (AB2016 -400)
Jon Hutchings, Public Works Department Director, submitted a memo (on file) and gave a
staff report. The existing solution is periodic dredging. He read through the memo. Lowering the
creek bed elevation will keep capacity under the Goodwin Road bridge and delay having to close
the bridge. At Oat Coles Road, there is nowhere for the water to drain. Sediment has collected
to an inch below the bridge on Oat Coles Road. He will educate the community about the solution
to the immediate problems and long -term solution. He read and described the list of actions and
the management expenses in the memo.
He answered questions about where this project is on the legislature's priority list; the
status of the South Pass Road Bridge; whether there have been any cancer clusters in the area;
whether the Canadian government is concerned and involved; whether the County can appeal the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations; the specific concerns about the public health
risks from asbestos and other metals, and; whether the County does or should own property in
the area of Oat Coles Road.
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 10:39 a.m.
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Dank BroW, ri- Davis; Council Qerk
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
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Carl Weimer, Committee Chair
Natural Resources Committee, 12/6/2016, Page 2