The largest #GreenEnergy development in Washington was approved last week by state officials. It overlaps Yakama Nation ceremonial sites, the county's last habitat connectivity corridor, and the county's last intact sagebrush steppe.
The state has required project modifications to protect a threatened species of hawk, but has required no modifications to protect other tribal cultural resources.
The state has required the developer to avoid two mile buffer zones around hawk nests. The developer responded with 60 pages of complaints, saying this could make the project non viable.
Yakama Nation Chairman Gerald Lewis has urged the state to protect tribal cultural resources “with the same care and consideration that it is giving to other resources such as wildlife and recreational values.”
“Yakama Nation appreciates and supports the Project modifications made to address wildlife impacts but remains discouraged by [state permitting agency] EFSEC’s failure to apply those same principles to cultural resources,” said Chairman Lewis. “Yakama Nation was not involved in the Project’s siting and design decisions and was instead forced to respond through a permitting process that prejudiced our ability to engage in meaningful dialogue.”
Add comment