State still debating the future of Cherry Point

Submitted by The Washington State Department of Natural Resources

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources is taking the next step in response to a request to remove a 45-acre “cutout” reserved for a shipping terminal adjacent to the Cherry Point Aquatic Reserve and include the area in the Reserve boundary.

Prior to making a decision to incorporate the “cutout” area into the aquatic reserve, DNR will be issuing a Determination of Non-significance under the State Environmental Policy Act or SEPA. The agency’s threshold determination will be posted on DNR’s SEPA web, http://www.dnr.wa.gov/current-aquatic-resources, on page Friday, Nov. 4, and the public has 14 days to review and comment on the proposal and threshold determination.

A technical advisory committee of scientists recently evaluated if the terminal cutout met the criteria to be included within the reserve boundary and unanimously recommended DNR incorporate the area into the reserve.

Following the SEPA comment period, Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark will review the proposal and make a decision on whether or not to formalize the boundary change.

In its 2010 Cherry Point Aquatic Reserve management plan <http://file.dnr.wa.gov/publications/aqr_cp_mgmt_plan_2010.pdf>, DNR drew boundary lines excluding four existing and one proposed authorization for the use of state-owned aquatic lands from the reserve boundary. One of those areas was established for the application proposed by SSA Marine for the Gateway Pacific Terminal.