tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83834271343476154982011-09-20T23:59:39.896-07:00R.Westmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11337188597924947484noreply@blogger.comBlogger11100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383427134347615498.post-25804501608319923722009-12-11T17:01:00.000-08:002011-09-13T12:55:38.035-07:00<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QyEPGeWbw1k/SyL1ryopoeI/AAAAAAAAACo/K8Bq2supSLY/s1600-h/announcement.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 117px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 121px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414159834728210914" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_QyEPGeWbw1k/SyL1ryopoeI/AAAAAAAAACo/K8Bq2supSLY/s200/announcement.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><strong>September 13, 2011</strong><br /><br /><strong><em>EXPANDING OPEN-PIT GRAVEL MINING IN DuPONT</em></strong><br /><br /><br /><br />On September 13th I emailed to my DuPont email addressees a Community Survey designed to assess citizen opinion about the some issues associated with a proposed expansion of mining within DuPont. If you are a DuPont resident and wish to participate in the survey, you can access it at <a href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/6Z7HD32">www.surveymonkey.com/s/6Z7HD32</a>.<br /><br />The City Council will be voting to accept or reject this agreement presently scheduled for October 11th.<br /><br />CalPortland operates an open-pit gravel mine within the city limits of DuPont which is limited by present mining permits and a contract known as "The 1994 Agreement." This mining company is seeking to expand the width and depth of their operations by a mitigation process detailed in a document entitled "The 2011 Settlement Agreement." Numerous public meetings have been held and emails sent to explain the advantages/disadvantages of the overall concepts<br />contained in the proposal. The city's website (<a href="http://www.ci.dupont.wa.us/">http://www.ci.dupont.wa.us/</a>) has the basic information together with some privately sponsored websites.<br /><br />In my opinion the most controversial issues for our citizens are (1) the dewatering of the Vashon Aquifer, (2) waterflow and alterations within the surrounding marshes and Sequalitchew Creek, (3) changes to our ecological environment, (4) reclamation results and (5) oversight responsibility/accountability.<br /><br />SUMMARY: Your elected councilmembers have to make serious decisions involving a great variety of issues. Differences do exist among the members. Your input is extremely important because this is your community and it is your money being spent. Should you desire to communicate with your decision makers, please do so by voicing your concerns at various meetings, by phone contact, email messages, personal conversation, regular mail ---whatever. We do live in a representative democracy and your elected body will make their personal choices based upon their perceptions, convictions and citizen influences.<br /><br />Roger Westman<br />DuPont City Council, Position No. 1<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8383427134347615498-2580450160831992372?l=dupontvoices.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>R.Westmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11337188597924947484noreply@blogger.com0