myiW Current Conditions and Forecasts Community Forums Buy and Sell Services
 
Hi guest · myAccount · Log in
 SearchSearch   ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   RegisterRegister 
If you ever sail Doug's Beach . . .

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    iWindsurf Community Forum Index -> Northwest USA & Canada
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
isobars



Joined: 12 Dec 1999
Posts: 20935

PostPosted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 5:38 pm    Post subject: If you ever sail Doug's Beach . . . Reply with quote

To: CGWA Members From: Diane Barkhimer, Executive Director

REALLY NEED YOUR HELP!

Re: Dougıs Beach, Klickitat County, Washington

Burlington (BNSF) began this double siding project in 1998. We began our
fight at that time and continued for quite a few years to preserve good,
safe access to Dougıs Beach. In 2001, BNSF withdrew their application.
Their first proposal was to construct the double siding south of the current
track needing to place fill in the river; environmental issues surfaced.
Then they proposed moving highway 14 north which would also move the parking
north, but they ran into cultural issues. Their 3rd attempt was downsizing
the depth of the parking which we fought on safety issues. Permit app was
withdrawn.

BNSF has now re-submitted their application for the double siding - extra
set of tracks alongside and north of the current ones. RR says they need
this second track (about 1 mile long) to temporarily park one train while
another passes. This parking is supposed to be temporary, not an hour-long
or daylong wait, but just while another train passes. If this project goes
through, this will be the first double track outside of an urban area in the
Scenic Area. They are currently applying for a fill permit from the Corps
(see the web page) in the first stages of this project. Through the
grapevine Iıve heard they plan to start construction the end of October.

We need your help in asking the Corps for a public hearing. Please go to
this web site to see the proposed project and scan down Otil you see
Klickitat County and click on the project number (same as in the subject
line) provided. If you have trouble clicking on the web site address, try
to copy/paste. Please let me know if you have problems getting to the web
site. Page 3, bottom paragraph states what you need to do to ask for a
public hearing.

http://www.nws.usace.army.mil/PublicMenu/Menu.cfm?sitename=REG&pagename=Publ
ic_Notices

Double siding proposal if approved - Parking west of the entrance at
Dougıs (the at grade crossing) will be changed. The depth of that parking
area will be shortened in order to make room for the second set of tracks
north of the current tracks. The fence will be moved north as well toward
the highway. The Washington Highway Department will suspend ³back in²
parking and will require parallel parking thus eliminating a great many
parking spaces.

The RR has felt that theyıve conceded already by allowing access with the
at-grade crossing and then not requiring an electronic gate at the crossing
or an under/over pass. They also claim that ingress/egress shouldnıt take
more than a few minutes so the at grade crossing will not be blocked.

Please write what you know regarding Dougıs: safety, usage, reputation,
esthetics of the area, environmental/cultural issues, economic impact, etc.
This is a Lewis & Clark historical location and a Native American site.
There are sensitive areas at Dougıs that weıve all promoted to protect...and
helped to protect by constructing the east side fencing with WA Parks.

The Scenic Act is supposed to protect recreation here in the Scenic Area,
but the RR is apparently using an old Commerce Act to override everything
else (donıt quote this 2nd part)?

If you have any suggestions on better ways to fight this project, please
contact CGWA. Knowledge of RR-Commerce Act, etc?

Your letter to the Corps should contain the following ­ and please be
accurate in your response to the Corps
1. Email must originate from authors email account
2. Send email to: James.D.Green@usace.army.mil
3. Subject line must say: Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Company,
199800519
4. Reference in text: Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Company,
199800519
5. Request that a public hearing be held on this application
6. Explain why a public hearing should be held & list your reasons
7. Include your name, address & telephone number
8. Please cc the Gorge Commission, Bill Koss-WA Parks, Rich Davis-WA Parks &
CGWA: info@gorgecommission.org
bill.koss@parks.wa.gov rich.davis@parks.wa.gov & cgwa@gorge.net
9. Send before October 13th

If sending by snail mail: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regulatory Branch,
PO Box 3755, Seattle, WA 98124-3755

Thanks!

PS: 192 of you are not current CGWA members and should have been removed
from the email list in July. Wish youıd renew. We need you. Current
members now total 1,206. More members give CGWA more clout when it comes to
access issues such as this. 1,300 members certainly would get someoneıs
attention.

--
Columbia Gorge Windsurfing Association (CGWA)
A 501İ(3) Nonprofit Corporation
202 Oak St, Ste 150, PO Box 182, Hood River, OR 97031
Phone: 541-386-9225 Fax: 541-386-2783
Email: cgwa@gorge.net Web Site: http://www.cgwa.net
Office Hours: M-Th, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.


Mike \m/
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    iWindsurf Community Forum Index -> Northwest USA & Canada All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You can attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum

myiW | Weather | Community | Membership | Support | Log in
like us on facebook
© Copyright 1999-2007 WeatherFlow, Inc Contact Us Ad Marketplace

Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group