09/16/2009: "Ruckelshaus, The No-Go-Zone & MRC"

(L to R: Chairman Kit Rawson confers with MRC member Johannes Krieger)

8:30 AM until 10:30 AM - Islanders Bank Annex basement conference room: Bill Ruckelshaus will address the San Juan Marine Resources Committee (MRC) today, Wednesday (9-16-09) on how the Puget Sound Partnership plans to work with local communities to carry out the management plan for Puget Sound.

The MRC will also review a draft today of a subcommittee report for the County Council on NOAA’s proposed rule to protect orcas from boats.

The MRC put together a subcommittee to develop the report with background information and recommendations for the County Council on the rule proposed by NOAA Fisheries regarding behavior of vessels near endangered southern resident killer whales. NOAA fisheries is the federal agency charged with administering Endangered Species Act protections for listed marine mammals and fish.

The MRC’s report to the Council is expected to include a description of the proposed rule and the science that supports it, areas of agreement and a summary of the diverse viewpoints and solutions put forth by members of the MRC and from the public comments the MRC heard at their meeting on September 2.

The subcommittee working on the report includes people from commercial kayaking and whale watching businesses, sports fishers, environmental groups, scientists and citizens.

The subcommittee will present the draft report to the MRC on September 16 and the final report will be provided to the County Council on September 22.

The County Council will take the MRC report, recommendations from several county departments, and public testimony into account in developing its comments to NOAA regarding the proposed rule.

There will be a public hearing on the rule October 5, 7-9 PM, at the Grange in Friday Harbor. NOAA will receive comments on the proposed rule through October 27. They are to consider all comments received and subsequently either adopt the rule as proposed, adopt a modified version of the rule, or adopt no new rules on this matter.

The Marine Resources Committee, representing diverse stakeholders in the community, advises the County Council on issues related to protecting the marine environment and the activities that depend on it.