Assembly member Jim Sykes is introducing a Resolution (19-074) at the upcoming MSB Assembly meeting regarding developing a local regulatory scheme for Wetlands Mitigation.
As a reminder – the MSB has been trying to be a player in the Wetlands Mitigation game for many years without much success. We co-own a Wetlands Mitigation Bank (with a private partner – the terms of which are ridiculously unfair) but we haven’t sold any credits in many years.
Now – the MSB is trying a new approach. If we can’t sell Wetlands Mitigation Banking Credits, maybe instead we can become a regulator too – just like the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Note – recently, the U.S. Army Corps has not been requiring as much wetlands mitigation:
https://www.eenews.net/stories/1060086515
The MSB has hired a consultant to assist us. Gail Terzi is a former official with the Federal Gov’t who led the Seattle District’s Mitigation Program.
Here are highlights from her presentation in March:
According to the Meeting Minutes, the conservative members of the Assembly – Jesse Sumner & Ted Leonard – were not very interested in regulating wetlands on the local level:
