An important update from Friends of Burley Lagoon
Friends of Burley Lagoon, managed by a dedicated Board of your neighbors, is a 50lc(3) non profit corporation deductions to FOBL are tax deductible!
When a group of neighbors formed and registered FOBL with IRS and Washington State Dept. of Corporations, we decided to not charge a "membership" fee. All who care about the beauty and natural resources of Burley Lagoon, and want to participate in protecting those attributes, should not feel constrained by whether they live around Lagoon, or not, or whether they paid their dues, or not. The volunteer Board decided, instead, to put out the word for donations if it became necessary to counter future challenges to the health of the Lagoon and wildlife. That time has come!
On January 6, 2023, Pierce County will release the long awaited Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) on Taylor's proposed 25 acre geoduck farm. You should have received the announcement from the FOBL board and/or Pierce County Planning and Public Works. It is important to note that whatever the content of that FEIS, it is NOT a final approval or disapproval of the basic permit to install the 25 acres of geoducks. It is the next and important step in a complex process. What we do know in advance is that Appeals can get expensive and the window to file is short - 14 days!
Going forward: Your FOBL Board will compare the County's Final EIS against the original Draft. Depending upon what issues arise during that comparison, we must be ready to file an Appeal. We must be ready with scientific, legal, or other experts to verify our concerns. All this absolutely essential assistance will require serious fundraising. So if you can use a tax deduction, now or later, please consider donating via the FOBL website. Or, if you prefer, checks can be sent to FOBL, PO Box 363, Burley WA 98322.
Your dedicated FOBL Board and neighbors have spent countless hours reviewing over `120 public responses to the initial draft EIS and will be ready to respond to the Final. We must also prepare a plan for submissions and presentations before the Gig Harbor and Key Peninsula Planning Commissions, and later, the Hearing Examiner. Many of you commented on the Draft EIS so let us know if you would feel comfortable in stating your views before the Planning Commissions who are, after all, private citizens who volunteer their time for community service. It wont be enough for us to just say "we don't like it (the proposal)." We must prepare talking points on the major issues before the Commissions.
Finally, since this is my personal note, I want to thank our neighbors, Lorrie, Janey, Marti, Lisette, Bob, DeWayne, and Claudia for hundreds of hours of dedication to our wonderful Lagoon and all its salmon and avian species! I can't name others too modest for public gratitude, but I can thank Brent and Carl, intrepid kayakers, who routinely report issues and questionable practices that impact our important estuary.
Thank you for hanging in with us over the years! And let us work together to make 2023 the best ever for Burley Lagoon!!
Heather McFarlane
253-857-4376
Notice of Availability - Burley Lagoon Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS).pdf
