Quiet Communities Coalition Update: OHV EIS Scoping Notice and Action Alert Virginia Sweetland, author of the OHV EIS scoping notice, put this question to the Commissioners on March 9, 2009: "Considering that modification to State law this year is highly unlikely do the County Commissioners wish to proceed with environmental impacts analysis?" Read original document Despite the Stipulated Agreement signed by Judge Price prohibiting the Ferry County OHV ordinances of 2007 and 2008, and the 18 months of public input with the majority opposing the OHV ordinance/s, County Commissioners Joe Bond and Brad Miller wish to proceed with the EIS. (Bob Heath was not present at the meeting) To clarify, QCC did cite in its legal challenge the requirements for an EIS if an ordinance was to be considered.  However, an EIS and the subsequent costs are not necessary if an ordinance cannot comply with the existing law. [Per RCW 46.09 options 2- 5 would still not be legal.] Last Monday (4/13), Virginia Sweetland proposed modifying the scoping notice to Commissioners Miller and Bond to include: 1. A personal response to each of the five parties who submitted comments. 2.  Suggested changes to the scope of the EIS, subject to approval:  - Change references from OHV to ORV to be   consistent with existing law  - Remove the Kinross haul road  (portion of Fish Hatchery Road) from Alternative 5  - Correct Forest Service Road numbers  - Add Alternative 6 - allowing ORV use on a portion (Lundimo Meadows Road to Danville) of the Rail-banked trail corridor County Commissioners Joe Bond and Brad Miller, Attorney Steve Graham and Virginia Sweetland acknowledged there are no known legislative efforts to amend the ORV laws at this time. However, they agreed to push on with a general analysis of impacts caused by OHV's as that is what the County agreed to in their Agreement with QCC. The results of the EIS analysis might influence which alternative, if any, that they might consider in a future ordinance.  Attorney Graham did say he was prepared to defend in court a road crossing a state highway. Regarding the ORV routes that might cross Hwy 21 - If the Commissioners and planning department amend the EIS to include alternative 6: [on the rail corridor, through a wetland and adjacent to Curlew school property], they will need to issue another scoping notice. It is clear that Commissioners Bond and Miller are still interested in pursuing ORV recreational use on County Roads that, by current Washington law are not eligible for such ORV recreation designation. In particular it appears that there is specific consideration being given to creating some route between Lundimo Meadows Road and Curlew as indicated in new Alternative 6. Still, it is not clear what group or persons, if anyone, is working on proposing new ORV legislation for the 2010 session (or beyond) that would relax the existing ORV RCW. Call, write and visit your Commissioners, and let them know the time, funds and energy spent on this issue are draining Ferry County. Ask them to support Alternative 1   - No Action. Ferry County Commissioners 290 E. Tessie Ave. Republic, WA 99166 Email: commissioners@co.ferry.wa.us Phone (509) 775-5229 Fax (509) 775-5230 Quiet Communities Coalition will keep you posted for the next Commissioner's meeting on the OHV EIS analysis. Please attend.