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Legislators discuss
solutions after concerns with Ecology's shutdown of exempt wells
Fear of long-term
local ramifications lead to legislative meeting
Legislators from the 13th, 14th and 15th Districts met yesterday with
realtors and home builders who contacted them with concerns about the
future of economic growth in the south central Washington region.
Two weeks ago the Department of Ecology (DOE) imposed a 120-day
emergency moratorium on withdrawals of groundwater from exempt wells in
the upper Yakima basin near Cle Elum, sending a wave of fear among
landowners and the local business community. The agency repealed part of
the moratorium to exclude those who had already invested financially in
the drilling of wells that were previously approved. However, according
to the Kittitas County Association of Realtors, approximately $74
million of active land listings is adversely impacted by the well
moratorium.
Rep. Bill Hinkle said he called the meeting because it
is important for Central Washington legislators to be involved in
creating a solution on behalf of their constituents. Citizens who have
been directly affected by the overzealous actions of the Department of
Ecology have contacted the legislators in recent weeks.
The two recurring themes throughout the meeting were the non-scientific
and unnecessary rulemaking approach taken by DOE and its devastating
impact on much-needed jobs throughout Kittitas County. With nearly 600
real estate listings immediately impacted by the water moratorium, local
realtors said that the local economic impact would increase dramatically
if a solution isn't found quickly.
"This issue isn't simply another anti-development decision being made by
the Department of Ecology. Nor is this a battle between an agency and a
county," said Hinkle, R-Cle Elum. "This issue is about
an agency stripping away the dreams of hardworking citizens. Yesterday
we heard from people who have saved for years to build their dream home,
and now are being told their dreams are on hold or may never be realized
because of this moratorium."
Other state legislators in attendance included Sen. Janéa Holmquist;
R-Moses Lake; Rep. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake; Rep. Charles Ross,
R-Naches; Rep. Norm Johnson, R-Yakima; Rep. Bruce Chandler, R-Granger;
and Rep. David Taylor, R-Moxee.
“With this ban, the governor’s Ecology Department is effectively
bankrupting our building industry, devastating small businesses, issuing
pink slips to workers, and restricting the property rights of families
who hope to live in upper Kittitas County,” Holmquist
said. “So much for the invisible hand of government; families in
Kittitas County are seeing its consequences first hand.”
“It’s sad that so many jobs hinge on a decision made by an unelected
agency,” Johnson said. “My concern is for engineers,
real estate agents, craftsmen, surveyors, and many others who make their
living building and selling homes and property. I’m also concerned about
the potential affect this could have on agriculture and our farmers in
the Yakima Valley."
“The agency is overreaching with this moratorium,” Chandler
said. “It has the responsibility and resources to address an impairment
of senior water rights. Ecology should work with the county to solve
concerns that can be clearly identified.”
"I'm not satisfied that Ecology has done due diligence to prove the need
for this moratorium, or that it has a plan to fully mitigate the
enormous impacts on our local economy and the people the ban directly
affects," Warnick said.
"Ecology’s actions remind us that the government’s decisions directly
impact citizens, as we heard from many families and employers who were
concerned about their futures,” Ross said. “This
moratorium does not solve anything, but it does hurt the local economy
and scare more employers and residents from the area. I hope the county
and the agency will be able to go back to the table and work out a
better solution.”
Legislators ended the meeting with a promise to continue working with
local officials to find both short-term and long-term solutions. All are
committed to maintaining local control of land use and water permitting
issues and ensuring state agencies don't over-step their rulemaking
authority.
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For more information, contact:
Sarah Lamb, Public Information
Officer - (360) 786-7720
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