HomeMy WebLinkAbout3-25-09 Letter to DEQ and ResponseMarch 12, 2009
Mr. Dick Pederson, director
Ms. Joni Hammond, deputy director
Department of Environmental Quality
811 SW Sixth Ave.
Portland, OR 97204-1390
Dear Mr. Pederson and Ms. Hammond:
Department of Administrative Services
Dave Kanner, County Administrator
1300 NW Wall St, Suite 200, Bend, OR 97701-1960
(541) 388-6570 - Fax (541) 385-3202
www.co.deschutes.onus
As you no doubt know by now, Deschutes County voters repealed the "local rule"
ordinance in the March 10 election by a margin of 57%-43%. Ordinance No. 2008-019,
which requires nitrate reduction measures for new construction and major septic system
repairs in south Deschutes County remains in effect.
I have been asked by the Board of Commissioners to request your personal attendance, as
well as that of other appropriate DEQ staff, at a work session as soon as possible to
discuss next steps in the ongoing effort to protect groundwater resources in south
Deschutes County. During the course of developing the local rule, we were repeatedly
told by the department that "doing nothing is not an option." Given that our local voters
have rejected the County's adopted solution to the problem, and given our commitment to
continue working in partnership with the DEQ and the local community, we need to
know what the department sees as its next steps going forward to address the public
health hazard DEQ and the USGS study have identified in Deschutes County.
The Board meets in work session on Wednesday afternoons at 1:30. We would welcome
your participation in a work session on March 25, April 1, April 8, April 15 or April 22.
However, given the importance of this issue, a special meeting can be arranged that
accommodates your schedules. We do request that it be scheduled to occur before the
end of April. Additionally, individual Board members have expressed to me a
willingness to travel to Portland or Salem for a meeting. However, I consider this a less -
than -ideal option, since the Board cannot deliberate toward a decision or take action
when it meets outside of Deschutes County. It also would mean that the many, many
citizens who would probably like to attend this meeting would be unable to do so.
The Board looks forward to hearing from you at your earliest opportunity. Many of the
citizens who spoke out in opposition to the local rule during the recent election campaign
Enhancing the Lives of Citizens by Delivering Quality Services in a Cost -Effective Manner
Mr. Dick Pederson
Ms. Joni Hammond
March 12, 2009
Page 2
agreed that something must be done and expressed confidence that DEQ would not only
step in and do something, but would be a more beneficent partner in the effort.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
Dave Kanner
County Administrator
cc. Board of Commissioners
Tom Anderson, community development director
regon
Theodore R. Kulongoski, Governor
March 25, 2009
Mr. Dave Kanner, County Administrator
Department of Administrative Services
1300 NW Wall Street, Suite 200
Bend, OR 97701-1960
Dear Mr. Kanner:
Department of Environmental Quality
811 SW Sixth Avenue
Portland, OR 97204-1390
503-229-5696
TTY: 503-229-6993
Thank you for your letter dated March 12, 2009, requesting that we both attend a Board
of Commissioners work session for the purpose of discussing the Department of
Environmental Quality's next steps to address groundwater protection in Deschutes
County.
We appreciate your invitation to meet and would like to offer a slight change to your
proposal. We would like to meet with the Board of Commissioners and have us jointly
provide an evening meeting where we would sit down with the citizens of Deschutes
County and hear additional ideas about protecting groundwater. This will allow us to do
a better job of planning and communication on this important matter.
Given that legislature is in session, we propose the meeting occur in July.
Thank you again for your letter. We look forward to hearing from you.
Dick Pedersen
Director
Joru Hammond
Deputy Director
Cc: Chair Tammy Baney, Board of Commissioners
Vice Chair Dennis Luke, Board of Commissioners
Member Alan Unger, Board of Commissioners
Tom Anderson, Community Development Director
prE_
AR 3n 2009 ;'
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ADMINISTRATION