Chief
04-27-2008, 02:22 PM
Sent out today...
THIS E-MAIL IS BEING BLIND COPIED TO A DISTRIBUTION LIST. NO REPLY IS NEEDED.
My Friends;
On Friday May 2nd, the Columbia Crossing Project will publish their long-awaited Draft Environmental Impact Statement, or DEIS. That publication will mark the start of a mandatory 60 day Federal Public Comment period on the Project, and represents the last, best chance that Clark County Citizens will have to sound off on the project.
After spending over $65 Million of your tax dollars, they deserve to hear from you clearly. This is likely going to be as close to a public referrendum on the Columbia Crossing Project that we are going to get, so we need to make the most of this 60 day opportunity, and let them hear what we all think.
If you visit the Columbia Crossing Project's website at http://www.columbiarivercrossing.org/ you will find a link to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement Comment Guide. It gives clear instructions about how to clearly communicate your thoughts about the Project to the Task Force who will have to vote it up or down.
Here is a summary of how many ways there are to comment about the Columbia Crossing Project.
The CRC Draft EIS public comment period extends until
July 1, 2008. Comments are accepted at any time during the comment period. Public hearings focused on hearing public Feedback will be held:
• Wednesday, May 28, 2008, 5–8 P.M.
Red Lion Hotel Vancouver at the Quay
100 Columbia Street, Vancouver, WA
• Thursday, May 29, 2008 , 5–8 P.M.
Portland Metropolitan Exposition Center
2060 North Marine Drive, Portland, OR
How can I comment?
Written comments can be submitted by:
Online form: www.columbiarivercrossing.org
E-mail: DraftEISfeedback@columbiarivercrossing.org
Mail: 700 Washington Street, Suite 300
Vancouver, WA 98660
Fax: 360-737-0294
Questions can be directed to the above e-mail, mail
or fax contacts or by:
Phone: 360-737-2726 or 503-256-2726
TTY: 7-1-1
I cannot stress strongly enough how important it is for Clark County residents to get involved in this process now, and send their comments in before the July 1st deadline. Many people enjoy writing letters to the editor of the local paper, but out of necessity, you are limited to one letter per month, subject to editing, and only 150 words per letter, please. It is often difficult to make a complex point in that few words.
This time there is no limit to the number of times you can comment, or the number of words you can use to make your comments. There will be a public hearing in Clark County on May 28th, but I suspect they will limit speeches to three minutes, and that time limit is often more onerous than the 150 word limit.
In any case, it is my understanding that written comments will be included in the official record, and will be subject to review by all Federal agencies that are involved in this whole affair. This is your best chance to get your thoughts in front of the people who really count, and who will be the most likely to listen to what you have to say. This will also give you a benchmark with which to hold some of these elected people accountable if they are not acting within your wighes.
I recommend that folks review the DEIS once it comes out, and take their time writing individual letters that address one aspect of the project only. Limt yourself to a couple of paragraphs on a subject like "tolling", and send it in the the Columbia Crossing Project as directed. Then, start your next letter, about "bike and pedestrian access" for example, smooth it out, and send it along as well.
I also reccomend that you take one additional step, and forward a copy of each of your letters to the Washington and Clark County delegation to the Columbia Crossing Task Force. Here are the e-mail addresses of several people who need to have a copy of your remarks as well.
City of Vancouver Mayor Royce Pollard: mayor@ci.vancouver.wa.us
Clark County Commissioner Steve Stuart: Steve.stuart@clark.wa.gov
Port of Vancouver Executive Director Larry Paulson: LPaulson@Portvanusa.com
Chairman of C-Tran, Tim Leavitt: Tim.Leavitt@ci.vancouver.wa.us
The Board of Directors of the Regional Transportation Council (RTC): (too numerous to list in this e-mail) http://www.rtc.wa.gov/agency.htm#board
Thank you for your attention, and I hope you will forward this message on to your e-mail lists and other people you know, and urge them to forward it as well. This is one of the most important Public Issues you will ever be involved in, so please take this opportunity to sound off.
Bob Koski
www.clarkblog.org
THIS E-MAIL IS BEING BLIND COPIED TO A DISTRIBUTION LIST. NO REPLY IS NEEDED.
My Friends;
On Friday May 2nd, the Columbia Crossing Project will publish their long-awaited Draft Environmental Impact Statement, or DEIS. That publication will mark the start of a mandatory 60 day Federal Public Comment period on the Project, and represents the last, best chance that Clark County Citizens will have to sound off on the project.
After spending over $65 Million of your tax dollars, they deserve to hear from you clearly. This is likely going to be as close to a public referrendum on the Columbia Crossing Project that we are going to get, so we need to make the most of this 60 day opportunity, and let them hear what we all think.
If you visit the Columbia Crossing Project's website at http://www.columbiarivercrossing.org/ you will find a link to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement Comment Guide. It gives clear instructions about how to clearly communicate your thoughts about the Project to the Task Force who will have to vote it up or down.
Here is a summary of how many ways there are to comment about the Columbia Crossing Project.
The CRC Draft EIS public comment period extends until
July 1, 2008. Comments are accepted at any time during the comment period. Public hearings focused on hearing public Feedback will be held:
• Wednesday, May 28, 2008, 5–8 P.M.
Red Lion Hotel Vancouver at the Quay
100 Columbia Street, Vancouver, WA
• Thursday, May 29, 2008 , 5–8 P.M.
Portland Metropolitan Exposition Center
2060 North Marine Drive, Portland, OR
How can I comment?
Written comments can be submitted by:
Online form: www.columbiarivercrossing.org
E-mail: DraftEISfeedback@columbiarivercrossing.org
Mail: 700 Washington Street, Suite 300
Vancouver, WA 98660
Fax: 360-737-0294
Questions can be directed to the above e-mail, mail
or fax contacts or by:
Phone: 360-737-2726 or 503-256-2726
TTY: 7-1-1
I cannot stress strongly enough how important it is for Clark County residents to get involved in this process now, and send their comments in before the July 1st deadline. Many people enjoy writing letters to the editor of the local paper, but out of necessity, you are limited to one letter per month, subject to editing, and only 150 words per letter, please. It is often difficult to make a complex point in that few words.
This time there is no limit to the number of times you can comment, or the number of words you can use to make your comments. There will be a public hearing in Clark County on May 28th, but I suspect they will limit speeches to three minutes, and that time limit is often more onerous than the 150 word limit.
In any case, it is my understanding that written comments will be included in the official record, and will be subject to review by all Federal agencies that are involved in this whole affair. This is your best chance to get your thoughts in front of the people who really count, and who will be the most likely to listen to what you have to say. This will also give you a benchmark with which to hold some of these elected people accountable if they are not acting within your wighes.
I recommend that folks review the DEIS once it comes out, and take their time writing individual letters that address one aspect of the project only. Limt yourself to a couple of paragraphs on a subject like "tolling", and send it in the the Columbia Crossing Project as directed. Then, start your next letter, about "bike and pedestrian access" for example, smooth it out, and send it along as well.
I also reccomend that you take one additional step, and forward a copy of each of your letters to the Washington and Clark County delegation to the Columbia Crossing Task Force. Here are the e-mail addresses of several people who need to have a copy of your remarks as well.
City of Vancouver Mayor Royce Pollard: mayor@ci.vancouver.wa.us
Clark County Commissioner Steve Stuart: Steve.stuart@clark.wa.gov
Port of Vancouver Executive Director Larry Paulson: LPaulson@Portvanusa.com
Chairman of C-Tran, Tim Leavitt: Tim.Leavitt@ci.vancouver.wa.us
The Board of Directors of the Regional Transportation Council (RTC): (too numerous to list in this e-mail) http://www.rtc.wa.gov/agency.htm#board
Thank you for your attention, and I hope you will forward this message on to your e-mail lists and other people you know, and urge them to forward it as well. This is one of the most important Public Issues you will ever be involved in, so please take this opportunity to sound off.
Bob Koski
www.clarkblog.org