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Department of Ecology News Release - June 3, 2008
08-150
BELLEVUE – The Department of Ecology (Ecology) seeks public comment on the Town of Coupeville’s draft Shoreline Master Program (SMP), adopted recently by the Town Council. The public comment period will run through July 7, 2008.
An SMP – required under the state Shoreline Management Act (SMA) – guides shoreline development over time. It takes effect when Ecology approves it. Local permitting decisions in shoreline areas must be consistent with the SMP. All cities, counties and towns with shorelines regulated under the SMA must update their SMPs to make them consistent with new guidelines adopted by Ecology in 2003.
Ecology will host a public meeting and hearing on the draft SMP at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 25, 2008, at the Island County Annex, Commissioners Hearing Room, 1 NE 6th Street, in Coupeville. Coupeville and Ecology staff will be available to answer questions. Brief presentations on the draft SMP and Ecology’s review process will begin at 6:30, followed by a question and answer session, then the public hearing. Ecology will take oral and written comments about the draft SMP during the hearing.
The proposal revises and updates Coupeville’s existing SMP, which was approved in 1976 as part of the Island County SMP. The town’s revised SMP contains goals, policies, regulations, shoreline environment designations, and administrative procedures and definitions. Coupeville began work on updating the SMP in 2004 under a grant agreement with Ecology.
The draft SMP is available for review at the Coupeville Library, 788 NW Alexander, Coupeville, and on the Town of Coupeville website at http://www.town.coupeville.wa.us/ .
Written comments on the SMP must be received by July 7, 2008 at Dept. of Ecology, Northwest Regional Office, ATTN: Betty Renkor, 3190 160th Avenue SE, Bellevue, WA 98008. Comments also may be sent via email to Betty Renkor at eren461@ecy.wa.gov.
Questions about the public hearing or public comment period should be directed to Betty Renkor at 425-649-4309. Persons who wish to attend the public hearing and have special accommodation needs should contact Cindy Avanzino at the Department of Ecology at (425) 649-7244 (voice) or 1-877 833-6341 or 711 (TTY).
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Media Contacts:
Larry Altose, Ecology, media relations, 425-649-7009;
pager 206-663-1785
Betty Renkor, Ecology shoreline planning specialist, 425-649-
4309
For more information: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/sma/st_guide/SMP/index.html
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
