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PUD commissioners to address future of Crescent Bar Island
Grant County Public Utility District commissioners will consider options for the future use of Crescent Bar Island on March 29.
The meeting is scheduled for 2 p.m. and will include a presentation of a technical compliance analysis and recommendations for meeting license obligations for the utility-owned island. The Grant PUD-owned island is currently leased to the Port of Quincy which, in turn, holds subleases allowing occupancy of approximately 400 recreational vehicle sites and condominium units. The Port of Quincy lease expires in June 2012.
Grant PUD commissioners approved a shoreline management plan for the Priest Rapids Project and submitted it to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission earlier this month. While FERC will post the plan for public comment, the federal agency’s initial response to the plan centered on Crescent Bar Island.
On March 10, the district received a letter from FERC stipulating the need for “a better understanding of … intended proposals with respect to improving public recreation access and use, and protecting and enhancing wildlife habitat and scenic quality of Crescent Bar Island upon expiration of the existing leases.”
The letter cites concerns about residential development and occupancy of project lands, because such uses violate FERC’s policy of maximizing public recreation development. FERC staff asked Grant PUD to file a plan and schedule for Crescent Bar Island that meets the license requirements by April 30.
The March 29 meeting will open a 14-day comment period during which members of the public can submit written comments on the recommendation for future use of the island, allowing commissioners to consider comments and file the plan and schedule with FERC by late April.
“While this letter from FERC accelerates our timeline to some degree, we have known for some time that difficult decisions regarding Crescent Bar Island were coming,” said Bob Bernd, Grant PUD commission president. “After considering broad public input, amending our recreation plan and filing the shore plan, we can now provide a path forward beyond 2012. We know it is impossible to fully please every interest, but are unanimous in our commitment to reach a solution that benefits future generations of Grant County residents and the recreating public.”
The shoreline plan, the FERC-issued letter and background information on Crescent Bar Island can be seen at gcpud.org/resources/resLandWater/shoreline.html.
Written comment on the recommendation will be accepted via the Web site, by e-mail and by postal mail beginning March 29.
