Fish & Wildlife Section of Critical Areas Ordinance Hearing

Updated May 15 at 9 p.m.

Friday, May 18 at 8:45 a.m. in Friday Harbor-videoconferencing  at the Orcas Island Public Library, from 8:45  a.m. to 2 p.m.

From Ingrid Gabriel, San Juan County Council Clerk

The San Juan County Council will conduct an Early Start Special Meeting on Friday, May 18, 2012 in the Legislative Hearing Room, 55 Second Street, Friday Harbor beginning at 8:45 AM.  Agenda items include:

1. San Juan County Council and Planning Commission joint public hearing on an ordinance amending the Critical Area provisions of the San Juan County Code. The ordinance addresses Fish and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Areas.
2. Approval of San Juan County Council’s May 8, 2012 minutes
3.  Discussion of county administrator transition.

The agenda and related materials may be obtained 3 days prior at the County website at www.sanjuanco.com/council/default.aspx or at the Council offices during each business day between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.  For more information please contact the Clerk of the County Council at (360) 370-7470.

Interested parties are encouraged to attend and  submit written or oral comments. Written comments submitted prior to 8  a.m. May 17 will be copied for the Planning Commission and Council members.

If written comments are submitted after 8 a.m. May 17, or at the hearing, please provide 20 paper copies. In addition, videoconferencing for the purpose of public comment will be available at the Orcas Island Public Library only, from 8:45  a.m. to 2 p.m.  The meeting will be live streamed at https://sanjuanco.com/council/video.aspx.

The proposed ordinance:

• revises the list of maps used to identify FWHCAs;
• modifies definitions of terms;
• adds a section on applicability;
• identifies types of FWHCAs;
• adopts provisions associated with the use of maps; revises the classification system to meet current state requirements; establishes protection standards including standards for aquatic FWHCAs including streams, lakes over 20 acres in size and marine shorelines, as well as upland habitats and specific species;
• revises the process for nominating species of local concern.

State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Review

An Environmental Checklist for the proposed amendments was reviewed, and it was determined that adoption of the proposed regulations will not have a significant adverse impact on the environment, and an environmental impact statement is not required under RCW 43.21C.030(2)(c).  Under WAC 197-11-340(2) a Determination of Non-Significance was issued on May 1, 2012.

Comments on this determination must be submitted by May 16, 2012. Following a final decision this determination may be appealed with the underlying action to Superior Court or State Boards as provided in RCW 36.70A, RCW 90.58, and RCW 36.70C.  For appeals to Superior Court, the appeal period is 21 days and for appeals to the Growth Management Hearings Board, the appeal period is 60 days.