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Runway Gravel Pits Remain Controversial Controversies still surround potential sites for third-runway fill in King County and In Jefferson County. Two incumbent County Commissioners who had voted in favor of massive expansion of the “Shine” or “Fred Hill” gravel pit there (with huge pier extending into Hood Canal) were turned out of office at the general election, by candidates opposed to the expansion. David Sullivan defeated incumbent Glen Huntingford by a 55 -45 percentage spread, and Phil Johnson defeated Dan Titterness by a 60-40 spread. Sullivan and Johnson both oppose the pit-to-pier project and have stated that the decision on the 690-acre mining district was flawed. During massive public hearings attended by hundreds, scores of Jefferson County citizens urged the county commissioners to consider the long range impact of their pending action. Their failure to do so was probably the cause of their defeat at the polls, according to John Fabian, a resident active in the Hood Canal Coalition. In King County, Maury Island has gained some protection from mining as the result of designation of on-shore areas as an aquatic reserve by Doug Sutherland, Commission of Public Lands. However, the State's Shorelines Hearings Board has reversed King County's earlier denial of a shorelines permit and conditional-use permit for expansion of a gravel mine on Vashon Island. The Board's action has been appealed to Superior Court by Preserve Our Islands, Washington Environmental Council, People for Puget Sound, and King County. The appeal is to be heard in King County Superior Court on July 11, 2005. |
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