|
Ranker will not run for re-election
posted 03/24/08
A week or so before taking on a new role, San Juan County Councilmember Kevin Ranker announced he will finish with a current one. The soon to be first-time dad announced he will not run for re-election to the county Council. "After much thoughtful consideration, I have decided not to seek a second term on the San Juan County Council. I have decided to explore some new opportunities for myself and my family," he said. Ranker and his wife, Dr. Tina Torri are expecting their first child, a girl, next week.
Ranker was elected as a county Commissioner in November 2004 and became a county councilmember when the charter was voted in. "I am proud of the work we have been able to accomplish with regard to the transition to the charter form of government and the significant progress we have made on state and federal legislative matters – particularly ferries and securing outside funding for local projects." he said.
Ranker brought to the council his experience working on legislation at the state and national level. During the past three years he has acted as a lead for the county Council on legislative matters. The preservation of Mitchell Hill on San Juan Island has been prioritized by U.s. Senator Maria Cantwell (D. Wash.) and U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (D-40th Dist). Island Air secured the necessary permits to provide air ambulance service to the islands.
At the state level, he worked to secure year-round funding for the oil spill rescue tug, pass the orca whale protection legislation and significantly increase funding for local salmon recovery projects.
At the local level he helped create the Agricultural Resources Committee, the San Juan Initiative - which has been spotlighted as a pilot for environmental planning by the governor and the U.S. Senate.
In 2005, Ranker was appointed by Governor Christine Gregoire to serve on the Washington State Oil Spill Advisory Council and was later appointed to serve on the Puget Sound Partnership Ecosystem Coordination Board and as a member of the Washington Shoreline Hearing Board – the judicial body responsible for hearing appeals under the State Shoreline Management Act.
Ranker doesn't intend to be a lameduck councilmember during the remainder of his term. "I continue to thoroughly enjoy my time as a member of the San Juan County Council," he said. "I chose to make my announcement now in order to allow potential candidates for the 1st district to develop their campaigns and to give our community ample time for a healthy discussion."
Councilmember Ranker lobbying for county's priorities in D.C.
posted 07/14/2007
San Juan County Councilmember Kevin Ranker will be meeting with Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Rep. Rick Larsen (D-2nd Dist.) and Rep. Norm Dicks this week in Washington, D.C. He was one of 28 people invited by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Coastal States Organization (CSO) to assist with their initiative on Envisioning the Future of Coastal Management.
NOAA and CSO are covering his expenses. Ranker asked his fellow councilmembers for a list of legislative priorities and arranged to meet with congressional representatives. County Administrator Pete Rose and county Prosecutor Randy Gaylord worked with Ranker to finalize the priorities into a streamlined list.
SAN JUAN COUNTY
FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
July 13, 2007
PRIORITY 1. SAVE MITCHELL HILL;
Position: Permanently preserve the recreational and natural resources of Mitchell Hill on San Juan Island by allowing the San Juan Island National Historic Park (SJNP) to acquire the property.
Discussion: One of the largest threatened undeveloped parcels in the San Juan Archipelago, Mitchell Hill is a unique natural treasure providing excellent environmental, cultural and recreation opportunities including; miles of hiking and biking trails, historic military roads and a critical watershed that supports endangered sea-run cutthroat habitat. The current manager of Mitchell Hill, Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has been working divest of properties not producing revenue for the trusts managed by the agency for the past several years. Early in 2006 DNR was discussing a “land swap” with a developer who would give DNR timber land in eastern Washington for the Mitchell Hill in order to develop a gated community of large estate homes. In June of 2006, DNR gave San Juan County three years to work with Congress and the National Park Service to develop a plan that will keep this unique resource in the public trust.
The SJNP has included language in its General Management Plan Revision that discusses the Park expanding into the Mitchell Hill property. Bills have been introduced in the past in Congress to change English Camp's boundaries, but they have not made it out of committee.
Action Needed:
- Completion and Acceptance of the Park’s General Management Plan: The Mitchell Hill acquisition is included in the Park General Management Plan for SJNP. A draft of this plan will be completed in the next two months;
- Acquisition Funding: Congress must make an appropriation from the Land and Water Conservation Fund for the acquisition in the 2009 budget.
PRIORITY 2. SAN JUAN COUNTY REQUESTS FEDERAL AUTHORITY TO ALLOW THE COUNTY TO ADOPT MEASURES TO PROTECT THE SOUTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES
Position: Take interim actions to protect the Southern Resident Orca Whale population, enable enforcement for inappropriate human marine interference. Support local enforcement until federal protection efforts are completed and in place.
Discussion: San Juan County, Washington is an archipelago located in the northwest corner of the state. The Southern Resident killer whale spends the spring, fall and summer in the marine waters in and around San Juan County, Washington. In November 2005 the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) listed the Southern Resident killer whale as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. On March 22, 2007, NOAA issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding conservation measures to protect the killer whales from the detrimental effects of vessel traffic. (See Federal Register, Vol. 72, No. 55 at p. 13464, March 22, 2007).
NOAA has informed the legislative authority that it will take “some time for NOAA to complete rulemaking.” San Juan County desires to promptly adopt interim measures to regulate vessel traffic and provide a zone ahead, behind and to the side of the whales that is free from vessel traffic. To this end, the attorney for San Juan County has drafted an ordinance to implement the well-established “Be Whale Wise” voluntary guidelines as a legal requirement for which there would be fines or other penalties for violations.
A local ordinance can be adopted by San Juan County much more quickly than the rulemaking procedures of NOAA. But, a potential obstacle to a local ordinance is the strong preemptive language of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, 16 USC 1379 (a) which states:
No state may enforce, or attempt to enforce, any State law or regulation relating to the taking of any species (which term for purposes of this section includes any population stock) or marine mammal within the state unless the Secretary has transferred authority for the conservation and management of the species (hereinafter referred to in this section as “management authority”) to the State under subsection (b)(1) of this section.
A Hawaii Federal District Court judge has ruled that this language of the Marine Mammal Protection Act applies notwithstanding the fact that the species to be protected is listed as “endangered.” UFO Chuting of Hawaii, Inc. v. Young, 327 F.S. 1220 (July 9, 2004). The court held that state regulation of parasail boats near the humpback whale to be invalid under the Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution.
In response to the 2004 Hawaii court decision, Congress specifically authorized the State of Hawaii to adopt restrictions on the operation of vessels near the humpback whales. This authorization was part of the Fiscal Year 2005 Omnibus Appropriations Bill (“Omnibus Appropriations Bill”), H.R. 4818 Public Law 108-447, 18 Stat. 2809. Section 213 of the Omnibus Appropriations Bill (“section 213”) states:
Hereafter, notwithstanding any other Federal law related to the conservation and management of marine mammals, the State of Hawaii may enforce any State law or regulation with respect to the operation in State waters of recreational and commercial vessels, for the purpose of conservation and management of humpback whales, to the extent that such law or regulation is no less restrictive than Federal law.
San Juan County is requesting that a similar provision be adopted authorizing the State of Washington or any County Bordering on Puget Sound to adopt regulations to protect the killer whale in waters of the State of Washington. Such a provision would read as follows:
Hereafter, notwithstanding any other Federal law relating to the conservation and management of marine mammals, the State of Washington and any County thereof may adopt and enforce any law, rule, regulation or ordinance with respect to the operation in State waters of recreational and commercial vessels, for the purpose of conservation and management of Southern Resident killer whales, to the extent that such law or regulation is on less restrictive than Federal law.
The concept of local initiatives and cooperative measures to protect an endangered species in a manner consistent with a Proposed Recovery Plan has the support of Donna Darm, the Assistant Regional Administrator for Protected Resources in the Northwest Region of the National Marine Fisheries Service, the unanimous support of the San Juan County Council, and widespread support among citizens, whale watch industry organizations, scientists and others.
In making this request, we have considered the notion that should at this time Congress clarify that states and local governments are able to adopt measures to protect all species that are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. While that is a laudable goal, and one that the County would support, we believe the narrower, technical approach that we have proposed will be easier to adopt in a short time frame.
Action Needed:
- Congressional action to assure that local enforcement efforts to protect the listed Southern Resident Orcas under ESA are authorized.
- Your "good offices" to encourage agencies to contribute to the cost of enforcement services during this interim period.
PRIORITY 3. FUND THE WASHINGTON STATE OIL SPILL ADVISORY COUNCIL AND YEAR-ROUND NEAH BAY RESCUE TUG
Position: Support the Oil Spill Pollution Prevention and Response Act of 2007
Discussion: The quality of life in San Juan County, and Washington State, substantially resides in the health and biodiversity of the marine ecosystem. San Juan County recognizes the importance of aesthetic, recreational, educational, economic and scientific resources provided by a healthy marine ecosystem. Historic tribal and cultural practices are dependent on the protection and preservation of a healthy marine ecosystem and much of the local and state economy is dependent on a healthy marine ecosystem.
The risk to this quality of life is high. These straits and channels have active international shipping lanes serving three major commercial ports and two oil refineries.
Several conservation plans, including the San Juan Marine Stewardship Area Plan and the US Recovery Plan for Southern Resident Killer Whales, identified the potential for catastrophic oil spill one of the greatest threats to the marine ecosystem. Additionally, the Puget Sound Partnership and the Washington State Oil Spill Advisory Council determined that sustained funding for a year-round permanent rescue tug at Neah Bay was one of the best defenses against a catastrophic oil spill recognizing that the Neah Bay tug has made 33 'saves' since being on part-time duty since 1999, the last save coming on the day it was taken out of service in 2007.
The Oil Spill Pollution Prevention and Response Act of 2007, introduced by Senator Maria Cantwell includes several key measures to protect the marine ecosystem from a catastrophic oil spill, including requiring a user-funded permanent year-round rescue tug at Neah Bay.
It is essential that Congress pass the Oil Spill Pollution Prevention and Response Act of 2007 and the federal budget include funding for the Washington State Oil Spill Advisory Council and a year-round permanent rescue tug at Neah Bay.
Action Needed:
- Congressional action on S1620 the "Oil Spill Pollution Prevention and Response Act of 2007."
PRIORITY 4. SUPPORT EFFORTS TO ADVANCE THE JOINT OCEANS COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS AT THE LOCAL AND REGIONAL LEVEL
Position:
1. Recognize and support local efforts for coastal and marine conservation through ecosystem-based management.
2. Provide adequate and ongoing federal funding for the Northwest Straits Commission.
3. Support Congressman Dicks’ request for a $15 million appropriation for the Puget Sound Partnership
Discussion: In June 2006, the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative (JOCI) released its report to Congress, From Sea to Shining Sea (http://www.jointoceancommission.org/press/press/release0613.html), in response to a request from ten U.S. Senators to identify the most urgent priorities for congressional action to secure a healthy and viable ocean future for the United States. One of the priority recommendations that JOCI provided to the Senators in Sea to Shining Sea was to “Enact legislation to create incentives for ecosystem-based management that builds upon existing and emerging regional efforts to involve federal, state, tribal, and local governments, as well as the private sector, nongovernmental organizations, and academic institutions.”
1. The San Juan Initiative and Marine Stewardship Area have been recognized as a national model of ecosystem-based management and has been spotlighted as such through regional and state initiatives. Through this innovative work there is a very real opportunity for preservation of the special coastal, marine and recreational resources of the San Juan Archipelago of generations to come. Federal recognition of this effort as a model of ecosystem-based management in Washington State will allow us to better position ourselves for public/private partnerships and resources. Further, it will allow our Congressional delegation to once again demonstrate their leadership on ocean and coastal issues and their commitment to the JOCI recommendations to protect the health of our oceans.
There are other examples of ocean and coastal ecosystem-based management efforts underway at various scales across the country. Here in the Puget Sound two critical efforts are the Northwest Straits Commission and the Puget Sound Partnership.
2. The Northwest Straits Commission coordinates marine policy, protection planning and restoration projects for the seven NW Washington counties that border on salt water coast. It has been a primary contributor and funding agency for marine education and outreach programs such as the forward-thinking San Juan Marine Stewardship Area; as well as “on-the-water” projects such as the removal of creosote pilings and derelict fishing gear. The Northwest Straits Commission has been an invaluable leadership and activity resource serving the northern Puget Sound. Its regional overview and programs must be retained.
3. A healthy, restored and recovered Puget Sound is not debatable. The Puget Sound Partnership has been the hallmark to achieve this vision to date. San Juan County was an active and engaged supporter of the new focused effort to restore Puget Sound by year 2020. This has been approved at the state level with significant state funding. More funding is needed from the federal level. With additional federal support, local governments and tribes will be able to better participate in the development and implementation of the 2020 Agenda to restore Puget Sound.
These examples and others are indicative of the recognition, as expressed by the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative, of the need to address ocean and coastal issues on a regional ecosystem scale, and to do so using an ecosystem-based approach. The existence of these processes and the work underway is important and encouraging. But to truly be effective, these efforts need support from the federal government.
It is important for members of Congress to understand the compelling need for the nation to adopt regional approaches to managing the human activities that affect and depend on oceans and coasts, and commit to supporting such approaches in policy and appropriation.
Action Needed:
- Continue to recognize and fund local models of ecosystem-based management addressing critical land/sea connections such as the San Juan Initiative;
- Support the FY 2008 budget request of $1.8 million for the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative;
- Support Congressman Dicks’ request for a $15 million appropriation for the work of the Puget Sound Partnership.
|
