Statement: 34th Legislative District delegation praises Goldmark

Feb. 9, 2009

Sen. Joe McDermott (D-West Seattle, Rep. Eileen Cody (D-West Seattle) and Rep. Sharon Nelson (D-Maury Island) released the following statement praising Public Lands Commissioner Peter Goldmark’s decision to review the Maury Island Lease.
“We commend Commissioner Goldmark’s decision to undertake a review of the Hail Mary lease that gave permission to Glacier Northwest to start constructing their dock in the publicly-owned tidelands of the Maury Island Aquatic Reserve.
“Since the issuance of this lease, we have been concerned that proper due diligence was not done. The timetable for granting the lease was accelerated which took the decision out of the hands of scientists concerned with the health of Puget Sound and placed it into the hands of a defeated politician.
“This is a good day for Puget Sound. The construction of the dock threatens already endangered orcas and Chinook salmon.
“The vast majority of public comment has opposed Glacier’s mine. We praise Commissioner Goldmark for listening to the citizens’ concerns about whether all data was considered and whether this lease meets the intent of the aquatic reserve program.
“While we don’t yet know the outcome of this review, we appreciate Commissioner Goldmark’s willingness to evaluate the questionable circumstances surrounding the issuance of this lease.”