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13th District lawmakers call
Ecology ban on new wells harmful to Kittitas County economy and families
Ironically, during the height of the building season, the Washington
Department of Ecology (Ecology) announced today that it plans to file an
emergency rule that closes upper Kittitas County to all new groundwater
withdrawals.
The move, which
scraps nearly two years of negotiations between Ecology and the Kittitas
County Board of Commissioners, outraged local lawmakers, who see the
move as an unnecessary intrusion by the state that will have a negative
impact on the region.
“At a time when
every job counts and our state is facing yet another deficit, Ecology is
effectively bankrupting the building industry in upper Kittitas County,
issuing pink slips to its workers, and sending economic shockwaves
through a county that is already suffering from economic hardship,” said
Sen. Janéa Holmquist, R-Moses Lake. “Today’s rule represents the
Department of Ecology’s failure to manage the county’s water resources;
and consequently, Ecology is denying families who want to live in upper
Kittitas County the basic right to access drinking water.”
Today’s action is
part of an effort by “slow-growth” activists who are seeking to slow
development and economic growth in Kittitas County, despite the wishes
of Kittitas residents.
“Though
technically Ecology has the authority to regulate ground water, this is
a clear overstepping of the facts and an abuse of their power based on a
political agenda that can’t get enough support to pass legislation in
Olympia,” said Rep. Bill Hinkle, R- Cle Elum. “The only real problem
we’ve had is people drilling too close to streams, something the
department should work to fix. Instead, they’re listening to outside
special interest groups with radical agendas. We have people and
organizations from outside Washington trying to stop development in
Kittitas County, which is just wrong.”
The emergency
rule will be in place for 120 days, although there are some concerns
that it could lead to a permanent ban.
“I’m disappointed
to hear Ecology and the county could not finalize the agreement on
exempt wells at this time,” said Rep. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake. “It is
imperative that we protect senior water rights holders as well as
provide for future development in the county. I have heard from many
constituents who want everyone involved to work for a common sense
solution. Without an agreement, we cannot move forward with the study to
get factual information about our groundwater resources. It would be
devastating for citizens of the county if this temporary ban becomes
permanent.”
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For more information, contact:
Sarah Lamb, Public Information
Officer - (360) 786-7720
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