EDITORIAL

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Stories about Aquatic Reserve

San Juan Aquatic Reserve Site Proposal Application by Marine Resources Committee

EDITORIAL: Lack of information is troubling

By Sharon Kivisto

posted 04/04/2008
Trying to get information about the San Juan Aquatics Reserves in order to post a story prior to tonight's and tomorrow's public meetings was ridiculous to say the least. I've asked the county Marine Resources Committee coordinator Mary Knackstedt for weeks for a copy of the proposal (draft or otherwise) sent to the DNR and was told it was not available and that nothing had been sent. Finally I filed a public records request and was officially told nothing was available. When I called DNR, there was a different answer.

Aquatic Reserves Program Manager Kyle C. Murphy said he had been sent a draft proposal and had been told by the MRC there had been media inquiries it. He agreed to send me a copy. Later he emailed and said the MRC told him they would send me a copy by the end of the day. The day passed - no copy.

The next day, I received a PDF which was unusable. Finally I received a word version which I immediately posted online.

Specific groups have been involved in the process of creating the draft which nominates portions of the San Juans for inclusion in the DNR's program. The general public has been excluded except for the meetings scheduled for this weekend which coincides with the school districts' spring breaks.

I believe if I hadn't contacted the state, the public wouldn't have the information which has now been released.

Here is one statement from page 53 of the 84-page document explaining why one of the groups backing the proposal favors it: DNR participation in the local land use permitting process involving tidelands or bed lands will be a key factor; currently, land use permitting in San Juan County is not well organized. The implementation of the reserve will be a helpful factor in reforming the local permit process, in addition to making it more comprehensive and holistic.

When you have nothing to hide, you don't act this way. When you are trying to make an end run around other more open public processes you do.

SAN JUAN ISLANDER © 2008

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