Proposed Pope/DNR Land Swap
Gets Thumbs Down from Goldmark

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

For the past year, OFCO has been following closely the introduction of a proposal between the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Pope Resources for a land exchange in Jefferson County (see http://olympicforest.org/193.pdf). During all of the public meetings held, DNR has received comments from citizens concerned about the increased risk of development of eastern Jefferson County’s timber lands posed by such an exchange.

The Jefferson County Commissioners, at the urging of thousands of constituents, sent a letter to Lands Commissioner Peter Goldmark rejecting such a proposal, unless several conditions were met.

During a public meeting on May 4, 2009, Peter Goldmark stated that he will not be supporting the land exchange as currently proposed because Pope Resources had failed to convince the Jefferson County Commissioners that this is a "good deal" for the county. Whether this means that the doors are left open to initiate another version of the proposal remains to be seen. OFCO will keep its eye on it.

OFCO applauds the tireless and effective work of our vice president, Connie Gallant, in helping to bring about this interim victory.