[Vision2020] Moscow's Growth Policies Don't Apply to Whitman (or do they?)

Sat Jan 13 16:56:28 PST 2007

In the way of government, that would be the $50k they set aside in 
the last budget to do a feasibility study with. I believe it is in 
the going to the RFP stage at this time.

Very fast for goverment work. From experience.

Mark

At 1:24 PM -0800 1/13/07, Matt Decker wrote:
>Maybe it is time that Moscow city council really puts some time and 
>effort into the idea of a resevoir or alternate means for water, 
>rather then trying to stop all growth except "high tech" idustries.
>
>Matt
>
>>From: Mark Solomon <msolomon at moscow.com>
>>To: "Matt Decker" <mattd2107 at hotmail.com>, thansen at moscow.com,       
>>vision2020 at moscow.com
>>Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Moscow's Growth Policies Don't Apply to 
>>Whitman (or do they?)
>>Date: Sat, 13 Jan 2007 10:46:55 -0800
>>
>>I'll refrain from commenting on issues other than water supply to the
>>Hawkins proposed development as they are not my focus of concern, but
>>as regards the Whitman County determination of non-significance re
>>environmental matters, Whitman County specifically did not make a
>>finding on water supply leaving that to the WA DOE if/when Hawkins
>>applies for a water right.
>>
>>There is a factual matter regarding additional water withdrawals from
>>the upper Wanapum aquifer at this site that is of concern to the
>>Idaho side of the line and not to the WA side: the Wanapum aquifer
>>that underlies this site currently provides 30% of the City of
>>Moscow's water supply. The same rocks are essentially dry further
>>west providing little water to Whitman county residents or
>>businesses. This is believed due to the thinning out of the sediments
>>of the Latah and Vantage formations in the vicinity of the state line
>>combined with a dipping to the east of the Wanapum that begins in the
>>same area. Contact with the sediments is believed to be the recharge
>>mechanism although the specific areas of recharge are still to be
>>determined. An additional large well at the Hawkins site will
>>directly effect Moscow, but not Whitman.
>>
>>This very significant issue will be heard fully at the DOE hearing
>>if/when Hawkins finds a suitable water right to purchase and applies
>>to transfer it to their site. They've been looking for one for over a
>>year now and have still not found one.
>>
>>There is no environmental green light for Hawkins. It's still solid red.
>>
>>Mark Solomon
>>
>>At 8:04 AM -0800 1/13/07, Matt Decker wrote:
>>>Tom,
>>>
>>>What a great post. I only hope more of these come out in the near future.
>>>
>>>And cheers to Whitman for not allowing Moscow to bully them with
>>>silly excuses and agendas.
>>>
>>>Matt
>>>
>>>>From: "Tom Hansen" <thansen at moscow.com>
>>>>To: "Vision 2020" <vision2020 at moscow.com>
>>>>Subject: [Vision2020] Moscow's Growth Policies Don't Apply to
>>>>Whitman (or dothey?)
>>>>Date: Sat, 13 Jan 2007 06:47:52 -0800
>>>>
>>>>>From today's (January 13, 2007) Moscow-Pullman Daily News -
>>>>
>>>>------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>
>>>>OUR VIEW: Moscow's growth policies don't apply to Whitman
>>>>
>>>>By Murf Raquet, for the editorial board
>>>>
>>>>Saturday, January 13, 2007 - Page Updated at 10:20:50 PM
>>>>
>>>>Political boundaries on the Palouse are clear.Moscow city limits extend to
>>>>the Washington state border as does the eastern edge of Whitman County.
>>>>
>>>>Both entities have their own regulations to follow when it comes to
>>>>development. Often those rules are similar in that they require development
>>>>plans to undergo sufficient public scrutiny to protect the environment.
>>>>
>>>>It's time for Moscow to recognize that Whitman County is perfectly capable
>>>>of determining how and what acreage is developed within it borders.
>>>>
>>>>Whitman County has all but cleared the way for the Hawkins Companies of
>>>>Boise to develop a 600,000-square-foot retail center along the
>>>>Pullman-Moscow corridor. The center would abut the state line and Moscow.
>>>>
>>>>Moscow registered concerns about the effects the development would have on
>>  >>the aquifers, wetlands and traffic.
>>>>
>>>>Those concerns and others were addressed through the Washington State
>>>>Environmental Policy Act, an environmental assessment procedure that is one
>>>>of the more stringent in the nation.
>>>>
>>>>Whitman County had no legal obligation to consider Moscow's 
>>>>concerns but did
>>>>so because of Moscow's proximity to the development.
>>>>
>>>>That was the right thing to do.
>>>>
>>>>"Moscow is our very close neighbor," said Whitman County Prosecutor Denis
>>>>Tracy. "We have taken extensive steps to take their concerns into
>>>>consideration. If they have any concerns that are not part of the SEPA
>>>>review the county hopes Moscow will pick up the phone and we can talk about
>>>>their concerns."
>>>>
>>>>Dialogue is a fine way to resolve problems.
>>>>
>>>>Now, Moscow must accept the SEPA conclusion and not drag the issue through
>>>>the court system.
>>>>
>>>>Moscow has every right to determine growth policy within its city limits.
>>>>
>>>>We hope the city can restrain itself in the future if the urge to 
>>>>impose its
>>>>standards elsewhere pops up again.
>>>>
>>>>------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>
>>>>My concern is not with what facilities are built on Washington's 
>>>>side of the
>>>>line, but what resources are used by those resources.  As has 
>>>>been discussed
>>>>here on Vision 2020, Moscow and Pullman share a common aquifer. 
>>>>The primary
>>>>concern, in relation to the aquifer and facilities built on either side of
>>>>the state line, is the "right to use" of that aquifer.
>>>>
>>>>As discussed by guests Rocky Barker, environmental reporter (Idaho
>>>>Statesman), State Senator Charles Coiner (R-Twin Falls), and Prof. Barbara
>>>>Cosens, University of Idaho Law School, when "Mary in Moscow" called in on
>>>>Thursday's Idaho Public Television's "Dialogue" program, this decision may
>>>>not be made locally, but by the US Supreme Court.
>>>>
>>>>http://www.tomandrodna.com/Stuff/Dialogue_011107_01.mp3
>>>>
>>>>Thoughts?
>>>>
>>>>Tom Hansen
>>>>Moscow, Idaho
>>>>
>>>>"The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to change
>>>>and the REALIST adjusts his sails."
>>>>
>>>>- Unknown
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>=======================================================
>>>>   List services made available by First Step Internet,
>>>>   serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
>>>>                 http://www.fsr.net
>>>>            mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
>>>>=======================================================
>>>
>>>_________________________________________________________________
>>>The MSN Entertainment Guide to Golden Globes is here.  Get all the
>>>scoop. http://tv.msn.com/tv/globes2007/?icid=nctagline2
>>
>>=======================================================
>>  List services made available by First Step Internet,
>>  serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
>>                http://www.fsr.net
>>           mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
>>=======================================================
>
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