The News Tribune (Lite) - Geoduck ruling set for February

TheNewsTribune.com
Section: Environment

Geoduck ruling set for February

THE NEWS TRIBUNE
The state Shorelines Hearing Board will meet in February to decide whether Taylor Shellfish Farms can keep harvesting geoducks in Case Inlet.

The board ruled last week that it has the jurisdiction to decide if the company can continue to operate its farm northwest of Joemma Beach State Park.

Taylor appealed a Pierce County hearing examiner’s decision from August 2007 that its permit had expired. Pierce County and the Coalition to Protect Puget Sound Habitat sought to have the appeal dismissed, arguing that the Shorelines Hearings Board didn’t have jurisdiction.

In its decision from last week, the board ruled it did have jurisdiction and hinted at which way it might rule in February.

The board wrote that the permit that Taylor used wasn’t issued for just five years, as the coalition alleges. Taylor said it is an open-ended permit.

Taylor spokesman Bill Dewey said the company will request this week that the board announce its judgment before the February hearing.

Brian Everstine, The News Tribune