(Editor's Note: As a former employee of the state Department of Ecology, Mr. Hellwig is making his comments as a private citizen and not as a representative of Ecology.)

It's interesting to me that a community that wanted to stop the 3rd runway to protect the environment (or real estate values?) would allow a minority of folks to have negative impact on plans meant to protect shoreline habitat and aquatic resources.

City of Burien elected officials and department heads would benefit greatly from a little research into the policy intent behind the Washington State Shoreline Management Act (SMA) and rulings made by the Washington State Pollution Control Hearings Board (PCHB) with respect to the authorities behind this state law and its proper application.

First of all, it is a state law to be administered by local governments with "oversight" by the state Department of Ecology. City leaders would quickly learn that time and again the PCHB has upheld Ecology's refusal to approve all or portions of locally adopted Shoreline Master Programs (SMPs) that do not adequately consider the requirements of the SMA.

Ecology's policy and scientific experts rarely overstep their authority when trying to balance local property interests with requirements in the law related to public access and, protection of aquatic habitat and the shoreline environments.

Local officials should not be bullied by a minority of individuals living in the shoreline areas who are not interested in upholding requirements of this "state" law which is intended to address the interests and rights of all state citizens. Local officials need to do a little research and then gain the courage to do the right thing, before embarrassing themselves further.

Ray Hellwig
Former regional director
Washington State Department of Ecology