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January 3, 2008 |
Contact: John Barnes |
Washington Policy Center Calls for Longer Public Comment Period for Climate Advisory Report
Seattle – As part of its effort to promote transparency of public decisions, Washington Policy Center today asked that the Climate Advisory Team to extend the public comment period for their “Draft Recommendations” report. The public review period for the more than 200 pages began four days before Christmas on December 21 and concludes next week on January 10. The 21-day review period is shorter than the standard comment period of 30-days outlined in the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA).
“The report calls climate change ‘one of the most critical, if not the defining, issues of the 21st century.’ Such a critical, costly and potentially transformational policy deserves more than 21 days of review during the Christmas and New Year holiday season,” said Todd Myers, Environmental Director for the Washington Policy Center . “The Governor, legislators and policymakers are likely to use the CAT’s recommendations and the public deserves to have input on this policy.”
The CAT draft report offers nearly four dozen different policies with an impact of hundreds of millions of dollars for the people of Washington . The report hinges on the accuracy of a number of detailed economic estimates. The Center also noted that like so many others, CAT staff have been on vacation during this period and unavailable to answer specific questions.
“It seems inappropriate that such a short period of time during this time of year has been allocated to a strategy they admit is ‘breathtaking in its scope,’” said Myers.
A copy of the letter sent to appropriate agency directors is below.
______________________
January 3, 2008
To: Juli Wilkerson, Director, Department of Community, Trade & Economic Development; Jay Manning, Director, Department of Ecology
Cc: Cindy Zehnder, Office of Governor Gregoire
From: Todd Myers, Environmental Director, Washington Policy Center
Subject: Climate Advisory Team – Requesting Extension of Public Comment Period
I write to ask that you reconsider the short timeline you have established for comments on the Draft Recommendations for the Climate Advisory Team. As you know, the draft report was released on the Friday prior to Christmas and the comment period ends about a week after New Year’s Day.
The introduction to the report says tackling climate change presents a “daunting challenge” that “will be both breathtaking in scope and exciting in the opportunities it presents for the citizens of Washington.” Given the significance of the policy and its impacts on the citizens, it seems only appropriate that they have more than three weeks in the heart of the holiday season to review the more than 200 pages contained in the three elements of the Draft Recommendations. While this is not a SEPA act, the policy is still significant enough to allow at least the minimum 30-day SEPA comment period.
Many of the analyses are detailed and hinge on accurate and appropriate economic analysis. As you can imagine, your staff have also been on vacation during this period and unavailable to answer specific questions. Given these limitations, it is difficult to provide thoughtful and accurate comment.