WASHINGTON STATE PARKS

AND RECREATION

COMMISSION

E-1: Naval Special Operations Training in

Washington State ParksPublic Testimony

Staff Overview By:

JESSICA LOGAN & STEVE BRAND

NAVAL SPECIAL OPERATIONS TRAINING

• https://parks.state.wa.us/1168/Navy-training-proposal

• SEPA: Where We Are At/Clarification

• Mitigating Conditions and Site Criteria

• Public Testimony

A BRIEF OVERVIEW – Jessica Logan, SEPA RO

SEPA Is Not A Decision

• Identify Impacts (checklist)

• Identify Mitigation (if any)

• Analyze Impacts (if mitigation is not sufficient)

• Inform the Decision

SEPA Considers What Not Who

Agenda Item Appendix 2

Mapped Exclusion Areas

Advance notification

Park Staff

Tribal LE

Local Jurisdiction LE

CONDITIONS AND LIMITATIONS

Plants & Animals

• BMPs incorporated

• Avoid protected species

• Avoid steep slopes and feeder

bluffs.

• Excluded from active restoration

sites.

• Seasonal exclusions

• Trail use only in certain habitats

• NAPs excluded

Mi t i ga t i on Measu res

Culturally Significant Resources

• Monitoring plan

• Inadvertent Discovery Plan

Implementation

• Exclusion of certain cultural

areas

• No digging permitted

• Avoid Tribal activities

• Surveillance of the public prohibited

• Overnight facility exclusion areas

• Limited exceptions (roads, boat

launches, topography)

• No Firearms (replica weapons)

• Prevent trainee interaction with the

public

• Public not to be displaced

• Coast Guard rules apply in the

water

Mi t i ga t i on Measu res

Recreation

Other Conditions

• Staff Workload

• Planned events

• Other identified by the area manager

Other ConditionsMonitoring

• Post event notification required

• After activity site review

• Periodic report to the Commission

Draft MAP

and CONDITIONSBlake Island

• 1000’ Overnight Area buffer

• Biotic Area Application

• Field verification required

Manchester State Park

Draft Map

and CONDITIONS

• Modified buffer area concept

• Topographic break

South Whidbey State Park

Draft Map

and CONDITIONS

• Steep unstable slopes

• “Orphaned” uplands

STAFF RECOMMENDATION

Staff recommends the Commission find that, with proposed

mitigations, the Navy’s request will not have adverse impacts to:

• park natural environments

• cultural resources

• the public’s ability to recreate

• public safety

• Authorize the Director to issue permits to the Navy for the

proposed training

REQUESTED ACTION

That the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission:

• Delegate to the Director authority to issue permits to the U.S.

Navy to allow proposed training activities consistent with the

site criteria and conditions detailed in Appendix 2.

• Direct staff to periodically report to the Commission on training

activities and any issues that arise.

Next Steps

• Consider publ ic test imony

• Commission Decis ion - January 28

• I f Permits are author ized

• Final ize s i te rev iew

• Confirm Condit ions

• Issue Permits

Jessica Logan

Steve Brand