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02/17/2010: "CC Passes BAS Work Plan For CAO Update & May Hire Professor Adamus To Help"

“A Resolution regarding next steps in considering best available science in protecting critical areas” was unanimously passed by the County Council on Tuesday.

The resolution spells out how the County will officially adopt the best available science (BAS) that is to be used by the County to review and update the Critical Areas Ordinance -something that should have been done at the beginning of the update process, but was not.



The current draft update was produced after more than three years of work by County staff, consultants and a citizens advisory group, but from the start of the process there were concerns the science being used was not based on scientific research proven applicable to the County’s unique geography and geology.

As it turned out, the County Council recently was informed the Council was required to adopt the BAS, and to this date has not done so. This set off a flurry of activity to set in motion the steps required to identify and adopt a set of BAS by the County Council to be used while reviewing and updating the current CAO ordinance.

At the Tuesday council meeting, County Administrator reminded the council members that Professor Paul R. Adamus of Oregon State University is still available, but that "his dance card is filling up quickly.

Adamus spoke to the San Juan County Council and answered questions via teleconference on January 26. And the council seemed to be moving toward retaining him to serve as the main consultant on the science concerning protection of wetlands; which is one of the most contentious areas of regulation.

Adamus oversaw new research and provided the scientific rationale for the wetlands portion of Island County’s Critical Areas Ordinance, which used variable buffers to protect wetlands, and was accepted by DOE.