As I read the “Group plans lawsuit over track” article in the Nov. 12 Herald, it reminded me of how people can make fact out of fiction in the press without consequences.
Jeff Eustus, a Seattle attorney hired by SCAR, stated “a consultant hired by Marysville in 2001 found that 599 acres in north Marysville – all within the 850 acre track site – are wetlands.” Whether this is outright dishonesty or just another attorney failing to verify his statements, the end result is the same – the use of misleading information to sway the public.
The truth is that the City of Marysville hired Adolphson and Associates to complete a “windshield survey” of potential wetland areas. Two years ago, when this survey (not delineation) was used to oppose a project I consulted on we found that the windshield survey had very little to do with reality. The site was 40 acres just north of the track site and the windshield survey showed a majority of the property as wetland. Three wetland experts (including the Department of Ecology) found about three acres of wetland on the site. Adolphson and Associates did what they were asked and that was to identify potential areas of wetland for the sub-area planning.
I am an advocate of a fair hearing for NASCAR and will take opposition to anybody on either side who feels like they can use faulty information with impunity to make their case. Read the rest of the article. I congratulate Daryl Williams of the Tulalip Tribes for his voice of reason. We have opportunities to create truly valuable wetland and stream corridors as part of the solution.
John W. Burkholder
Higa Burkholder Associates, LLC
Everett
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