Preserve Our Islands The Story of Maury Video

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Preserve Our Islands THE STORY OF MAURY

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The Maury Nearshore is widely recognized as being one of Puget Sounds “last best places.” It is an area so ecologically unique that it has been designated as both a State Aquatic Reserve, and a National Marine Protected Area. (all photos taken from Maury site)

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In the uplands, one of the West coast’s largest madrone stands protects the Island’s only source of clean drinking water. And, a wide range of creatures - including tiger beetles, fence lizards and unique butterfly and moth species, all call the Maury site home.

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In 1998 Glacier (then Lone star) came to a community council meeting to announce plans to establish what per extraction rates, would be the largest sand and gravel mine in the Unites States – along the shoreline of Maury Island.

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Glacier reported that full operations would begin in as little as 90 days. John and Sharon Nelson were at this meeting, and upon hearing the horrifying proposal, John turned to Sharon and said “ What are you doing to do about this ?”

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For over a decade, with the community at our side, the various incarnations of POI have been tenaciously fighting for Maury – and while we have had some bumps along the way, we count ourselves fortunate that through this shared experience, we have become a family of sorts . And With That… Preserve Our Islands Was Born

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Poi PRESIDENTS PHOTO

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As a community, we fought by using our voices during the regulatory process and as a result, our comments filled 5 volumes of the King County EIS and we established a 20,000 page public record for the Army Corps.

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We also took our fight for Maury to the streets. (and sometimes the water)

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And, we took our fight for Maury Island fearlessly into the courtroom. Over the course of this battle, we took legal action against every single regulatory agency with permitting jurisdiction when they failed to uphold the law .

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WDFW cover

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Department of Ecology cover

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Along the way, we inspired the support from a wide range of political allies. In fact, our founder actually joined the ranks of the elected officials and we now call her Senator Nelson.

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At times, a higher power seemed in order, and we knew could always could count on Father Tryphon for his wise Spiritual guidance. (as well as the promise of chains should the proposal ever move forward)

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Still, there have been times when the path ahead seemed dark and unsure.

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But, with unwavering conviction, and the faith that we would prevail –we moved forward as a community and slowly, but surely turned the tide.

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Arsenic Cleanup The Department of Ecology has determined that we will oversee the cleanup of contaminated soil at the Glacier Northwest sand and gravel mine on Maury Island under the formal Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) process .  The property lies within the Tacoma Smelter Plume, where surface soils contain lead and arsenic that settled out of historic air emissions.  There is high local interest in how best to protect public safety, health and the environment when the mine expands to areas where this soil must be removed.  Ecology will study remedies for the contamination – including the company’s proposal to build a facility on its property to contain the contaminated soil – under the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA).

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X DOUG SUTHERLAND $50,000 QUID PRO QUO LOSER PETER GOLDMARK NOT FOR SALE!

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And, just as we had always know we would, Together…WE DID IT! WE WON. And the site is now a King County park that will be protected forever.