Commissioners act on tideland lease, spill plan

Wahkiakum County commissioners on Tuesday approved a new lease with the State of Washington for tidelands at the Puget Island Ferry Landing.

Public Works Director Pete Ringen recommended the board approve the lease, which is administered by the state Department of Natural Resources.

County officials are planning to rebuild and expand the ramp, and Ringen said the agency initially planned to base the lease fee on the area covered by both temporary and permanent ramps. After negotiation, however, the agency agreed to drop the area covered by the temporary ramp once it is removed. The agency also agreed to delay implementation of new fees until construction started.

The annual fee would be $1029.01 while the two ramps are in place and $624.34 for just the new permanent ramp.

Ringen had hoped the project would have been constructed last winter, but the county still doesn't have all its required environmental permits.

Ringen said NOAA Fisheries, the federal agency that reviews projects for impacts on endangered fish, is looking for means to allow light through the ramp so that juvenile fish can spot predators. The issue is being negotiated, he said.

In other business:

--The commissioners approved a Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure Plan for Road Shop 1 in the Elochoman Valley.

Ringen said the plan was necessary to meet mandates for precautionary measures for spills at areas where petroleum products and fuels are stored and distributed. Road department personnel will review the plan to know how to repond in case of a spill.

The county will have asimilar plan for its Rosburg road shop.

--The board approved an agreement with the state County Road Administration Board for a $112,725 appropriation to repair a washed out area of the Elochoman Valley Road at Milepost 8.5.

A culvert washed out last November, and the county has installed a temporary bridge over the site. Ringen said the funds, available only for emergency repairs, will combine with federal funds so that the county doesn't have any major expense in the project.