Hastings defunds shoreline amendment

by Herald Staff Writer & Ryan Lancaster
| July 19, 2011 6:00 AM

MOSES LAKE - Congressman Doc Hastings successfully stopped funding for a shoreline management plan he said leaves unanswered questions.

The House of Representatives passed Hastings' amendment Thursday, preventing the Army Corps of Engineers from spending federal funds next year to implement the plan, which affects communities along the Columbia and Snake rivers. The amendment seeks to ensure that fundamental science questions from National Marine Fisheries Service are answered before any final management plan moves forward, Hastings stated.

The Walla Walla District of the Army Corps of Engineers manages several miles of public shoreline along the Columbia and Snake rivers in the Tri-Cities area.

In 2006 the Corps sought to update its McNary Shoreline Management Plan. The update proposed several restrictive measures, including a moratorium on dock building by private property owners, and required some existing owners to tear out their docks at personal expense to keep their permits.

This year the Corps proposed a similar proposal with new mandates, including specific requirements for the length, width, color and transparency of each dock, which the National Marine Fisheries Service says would help save salmon.

Hastings noted with the current docks in place salmon runs are near record levels in the McNary area.

"I'm not suggesting that the Corps shouldn't' be allowed to implement a revised Shoreline Plan, but it should not do so based on shaky science or without ensuring the local publics' concerns are adequately addressed," stated Hastings.

Hastings, who is chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, noted while speaking on the House floor that his amendment will ensure that "the Corps will not charge ahead with a shoreline management plan until it answers questions about the questionable mandates and addresses concerns raised by a large number of local residents."

The amendment was approved as part of the Fiscal Year 2012 Energy and Water Appropriations bill, which passed the House Friday.