Kremen County has re-issued and revised its earlier Determination of Non-significance for the road to Vineyard Development. And as predicted (surprise, surprise) again determined it's insignificant and no Environmental Impact Statement need be done.
I would propose that nothing less than an exhaustive examination of the impact of additional watershed development on Bellingham's water supply is imperative, given the impact of past development, given the Department of Ecology's recent study and findings, and given the several plans of numerous developers to proceed with still more construction on the north shore of Lake Whatcom and on Squalicum Mountain.
Further, not to call for a comprehensive appraisal of the future impact of growth there is dereliction of duty and, given Kremen's financial interest in seeing development of roads and other infrastructure on Squalicum Mountain, a blatant conflict of interest and crass disregard for the public interest, its health and welfare.
The Washington State Administrative Code provides ample discretion for the county to look beyond the limited proposal of a road and a few houses and consider long term effects that are likely to arise as a result of proceeding with this proposed road.
Those effects can include indirect impacts, such as additional growth stimulated by the project, and even the prospect that precedent will be established if this project is allowed.
Is it so hard to see that the current road will lead to other roads; that 28 new residences will lead to hundreds, even thousands more? Is it Kremen's position these subsequent projects and requests would be equally insignificant? If so, the man is patently irresponsible and a failure as a leader in the community.
Why are these people afraid to openly, publicly, comprehensively and honestly address the future their piecemeal development of the watershed entails? The process to do so would be an appropriately framed Environmental Impact Statement.
But besides the discretion the county has to look hard into the future before proceeding with this insignificant little road, they could honestly address the fact that at least in the watershed, outside any area designated for urban growth, there is no water available for new construction.
Why in the world do you need a road to lots that can't be built on unless it's your intent to avoid looking at this issue as well?
Both Lake Whatcom and Whatcom Creek are closed to additional withdrawals of water. State law and court rulings have affirmed that groundwater in hydraulic continuity with surface waters are subject to the same regulations. What do they think “watershed” means?
It is illegal to draw water from the lake or the creek as a source of water for new construction. What, other than an abuse of discretion, would allow the county to accept a proposal whose source of water is a well they know draws from an aquifer that recharges the lake and the creek?
What will it take to get Brother Kremen and the rest to look at the impact their continued development will have on the watershed above Lake Whatcom? What will it take to get Ecology to listen to proposals to enforce laws that would protect the lake? Why doesn't Bellingham speak up and demand the county and state respect laws that could save the lake?
So you tell me, if all these officials are so passionately concerned about Lake Whatcom, why don't they do something?
