DEADLINE today at 4pm:
Please see the linked post and email rproebsting@kingcounty.gov at King County Permitting- there are several sample emails in the comments in the linked post below that you can copy and paste and modify to make it your own:
Please see the post below about the massive 14.1-acre industrial Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) that is proposed next to Mattson Middle School - it will incredibly loud and dangerous- and every other proposed and future BESS in King County. King County is attempting the designate this BESS and all others in King County as having non-significant impacts ("Determination of Non-Significance" aka DNS) to the environment, people living/working near it, and everything surrounding any proposed BESS- which would allow all developers to skip most (if not all) impact studies going forward.
If you aren't aware of how loud and dangerous lithium BESS are please take a look at the FB group created to document the dangers and educate people about BESS: Stop the proposed Covington Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Here's all the data: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3162400907401094/posts/3291361167838400/?comment_id=3291441394497044&mibextid=zDhOQc
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We need more than 50 people to write in to rproebsting@kingcounty.gov
and say/ask for the following:
- Request a Public hearing be held in Covington for Battery Energy Storage Systems' (BESS) Determination of Non-significance (DNS) by King County Permitting.
- Ask for an extension for the public comment period on the Determination of Non-significance (DNS) by King County Permitting on all Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) beyond the current deadline of 4pm on October 18th.
- The Determination of Non-significance (DNS) should be withdrawn due to the severe impact BESS have on the environment through the extreme risks of fires/explosions and the accompanying release of deadly/toxic gases, chemicals, smoke, contaminants, and contaminated run-off from defensive water spray requiring shutting down roads for the evacuations for everyone nearby (within a minimum of 1/2 a mile) and shelter-in-place orders for people within several miles of the multi-day burning lithium BESS fire and the required Hazardous waste cleanup; and, the Determination of Non-Significance (DNS) should be replaced by a Determination of Significance (DS)
Please post here or send me a private message once you've sent the three requests listed above to rproebsting@kingcounty.gov before OCT 18th at 4pm.
We need to hold them accountable, and by knowing how many emails were sent, we can audit/ensure they are following the public hearing request law.
And, if you don't mind sharing the email you sent to help others put together their email, many people would appreciate ideas on what to write.
And, please CC:
zzcncmembers@kingcounty.gov
kcexec@kingcounty.gov
citycouncil@covingtonwa.gov
Chris.Stearns@leg.wa.gov
claudia.kauffman@leg.wa.gov
Debra.Entenman@leg.wa.gov
efsec@efsec.wa.gov
kentboard@kent.k12.wa.us
laura.watson@ecy.wa.gov
governor.JayInslee@gov.wa.gov
Tracy.Cui@kingcounty.gov
zvierlingcoulter@kingcounty.gov
Ty.Peterson@kingcounty.gov
cellenberger@kingcounty.gov
mrowe@kingcounty.gov
Jim.Chan@kingcounty.gov
dperwebinquiries@kingcounty.gov
hearingexaminer@kingcounty.gov
Chris.esh@gov.wa.gov
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Here's the original request: PLEASE EMAIL rproebsting@kingcounty.gov
before OCT 18th at 4pm to let Robin know that due to the high chance evacuations and shelter-in-place orders from frequent fires and explosions from lithium BESS, all BESS need to have minimum setbacks from schools and hospitals as the current proposed Ordinance does not address these. We want them to include a condition for a minimum distance of 1/2 a mile from schools and hospitals for BESS larger than 2mW in all "R" zones (R-1 through R-48) and all "RA" zones (RA-2.5 through RA-10). And, include a request for the withdrawal of the "Determination of Non-Significance" (DNS) and an issuance of a Determination of Significance (DS) and the launching of a full Environmental Impact Statement for all BESS. The call for a withdrawal should reference the potential for significant adverse impacts to the environment as the need to a DS.
PLEASE also ask for an extension of the public comment period and a public hearing in Covington. Under state law, if 50 or more people ask for a public hearing the lead agency is required to hold one.
FYI- most BESS incident evacuation requirements are for everyone within a 1/4 mile or 1/2 mile of the BESS location and shelter-in-place orders are given for everyone within 1/2 mile to 4 miles of the burning BESS. Schools, hospitals, elderly care facilities, day care facilities and other hard to evacuate locations should not be within atleast 1/2 a mile of any BESS facility.
King County Council going back on their word in the proposed Ordinance on SEPA review section which stated: "SEPA. The proposed ordinance would not affect the state requirements for SEPA review of BESS or Consumer-scale BESS. All projects would be subject to SEPA review unless found to be exempt under state law or K.C.C. Title 20." For some unknown reason, King County Council and King County Permitting are trying to say BESS's environmental impacts are "NON-SIGNIFICANT" and all BESS should not require State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Environmental impact reviews for permitting!?!?!?
Comments must be received no later than 4:00 pm on October 18, 2023. The King County Council will not act until after the comment period.
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NOTICE OF: STATE ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT (SEPA) "DETERMINATION OF NON SIGNIFICANCE (DNS) - Non-Project Action "
Please take the time to read and comment no later than 4:00 pm on October 18, 2023.
KING COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF LOCAL SERVICES,
PERMITTING DIVISION
919 SW Grady Way, Suite 300,
Renton, WA 98057
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