Anacortes American, August 14, 2002
Moving T
Bailey next to one of the largest colonies of Great Blue Herons in Puget Sound
is a bad idea. The project should undergo a full Environmental Impact
Statement, and not be issued a premature "Mitigated Determination of
Non-Significance," as the Port of Anacortes has done.
They are
insisting it will have no effect on the herons, and are now fast-tracking the
permitting. The Port will only anger the public if this project causes these
birds to abandon their colony or results in their numbers plummeting.
This heronry is a more than a public resource. The National Audubon Society has
designated this colony as an "Important Bird Area" in recognition
that its 425-plus nests yield a "source" population of regional
significance that then moves out throughout northern Puget Sound to sustain
other nesting colonies -- whose numbers have declined alarmingly in recent
years.
The Port is not acting in the public's interest. Their own Comprehensive Plan
stipulates that their projects be compatible with existing, adjacent
environmental uses and protect sensitive environmental areas. Washington state
law requires an environmental impact statement when a there's "a
reasonable likelihood of more than a moderate adverse impact on environmental
quality."
The
project's proposed 200-foot buffer is less than one quarter of the distance
called for by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to protect
heronries. A 300-meter buffer was required at the Point Roberts heronry for
just a golf course, which is a great deal quieter than T Bailey's operation
will be.
T Bailey hired an acoustics expert who measured the "average" noise
during the day at the heronry, compared it to the "average" noise level
produced by T Bailey at one of their facilities, then concluded that the
"average" noise level at the heronry won't increase. Therefore, there
will be no effect on the herons, they say.
But, the
Port knows T Bailey will work day and night. Why has there been no disclosure
of what will obviously be an increased noise level in the heronry at night? Are
the consultant and the Port being truthful here? In addition, in reporting only
average noise levels the consultant sidesteps an important issue by not accounting
for the sharp and loud disturbances that drove T Bailey out of Anacortes.
While the Port's conclusion is to confidently declare that T Bailey's operation
will have no effect on the birds, the truth is that no one knows what this
colony's tolerance for adjacent day and night industrial activities will be.
But it won't be determined if the birds are nearing a tolerance threshold
because the Port's approval of the project does not even call for monitoring
them so it can be noticed if they change their behavior. Whatever happens will
be found out after the fact, not in time to change the method of construction
or operation of the facility.
The Skagit Audubon Society and the public have serious concerns about this
project. These concerns should be examined in a full environmental impact
statement, to include examining alternative sites and alternative site designs.
Steve
Aslanian, Conservation Chair
Skagit
Audubon Society