MAY 2, 1992 PUBLIC WORKSHOP SUMMARY AND ATTACHMENTS
- Summary of the May 2, 1992 Public Workshop
- Endangered and Threatened Species: The What, Where and Why
Section 4
- Endangered and Threatened Species: The What, Where and Why (Continued)
Section 5
- U. S. Dept. of Agriculture Fact Sheet: FSA Wetland Determinations and Agriculture
- USDA FACTA: What the Wetland "Trigger" Means to You
- USDA FACTA: What Swampbuster Means to You
Section 6
- Before You Drain Any Farmland...
- BLM Brochure: Questions and Answers
Section 7
- BLM Brochure: The Acquisition Process
- What is a Wetland?
- Why are Wetlands Important?
Section 8
- How does the Plan Affect Properties in the Secondary Area?
- What is the Draft Plan?
- Proposed Amendments to the Draft Plan
- West Eugene Wetlands Special Area Study Comment Forms
- Alan Gillespie
- Jeanne Santree
- Kathleen L. Jones
- Barbara Fetherston
West Eugene Wetlands Special Area Study
RESULTS OF WORKSHOP NO. 7
PETERSEN BARN COMMUNITY CENTER
May 2, 1992
On Saturday, May 2, 1992, the seventh in a series of public workshops was conducted for the West Eugene Wetlands Special Area Study. The workshop was held in response to public testimony received at the joint public hearing before the Eugene City Council and the Lane County Board of Commissioners on April 8, 1992. The workshop was held at the Petersen Barn Community Center between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Approximately 100 people attended the workshop, consisting mostly of property owners in the affected study areas, but also concerned citizens and representatives from environmental groups.
The workshop was advertised through the direct mailing of a newsletter to approximately 1000 people including property owners in the primary and secondary study areas and other interested parties. About 40 posters announcing the event were hung at various locations throughout the community. The media was contacted prior to the event and one television station covered the workshop.
The primary purpose of the workshop was to provide information and additional opportunity for the public to comment on the western portion of the draft Plan. Comments and questions received at the workshop were to be used as part of the public record regarding the Plan. The workshop was organized in an informal format to allow attendees to circulate at their leisure, review presented information, and have the opportunity to ask questions of staff. Thirteen staff members from federal, state, and local agencies were on hand to answer questions, including the Bureau of Land Management, Army Corps of Engineers, Division of State Lands, Lane Council of Governments, Lane County, and City of Eugene. Commissioner Ellie Dumdi also attended and assisted in responding to questions and concerns.
The public was given the opportunity to ask questions and provide comments in writing about the Plan. Fourteen written comment forms were returned at the workshop or by the May 7 deadline. Questions included: the effect of the plan on the present use of property (2), the economic effect of the plan on private property, whether the plan will work, how the plan addresses the displacement of people, how acquired land will affect adjacent property, and how the plan proposes to control pests caused by increased wetlands. Comments about the plan generally included: the plan is a land grab, don't adopt the plan until after federal regulations are resolved (2), people weren't given proper notification about the plan (3), limit land acquisition to within 75 yards of Amazon Channel, pay fair market value for acquired property, postpone adoption of the plan until people are better informed (3), drop secondary study area, information about the plan is not complete, and "just go away". Other comments received included: support for the development of a comprehensive wetlands plan and, the workshop was educational and represents a start of open communication. Most of the questions and comments consisted of verbal, one-to-one interactions between staff and the public. These comments and questions were noted by staff and will be responded to in the staff response to the entire public record of the April 8, 1992 public hearing. Copies of all handouts available to the public are attached. (see list in Table of Contents)
