Editor,

Regarding the industrial cannabis growing and processing operation proposed on Bayview Road south of Lone Lake:

According to the Island County Critical Areas Map, the project is in a wetlands/flood zone that extends from the south end of Lone Lake to Useless Bay. But in the critical areas report commissioned by the project proponents, the authors say the site is “outside of all Critical Areas and associated buffers.” It looks like the county intends to revise its wetlands determination in line with their report.

The report concludes that “…this project … will maintain the low level of ecological functions that currently exist on the subject site.” Think about that statement. How can changing from seasonal mixed grass to a marijuana mono-crop possibly not change the low-level ecological functions at the site?

Even if the county determination removes the site from the surrounding wetlands, serious issues remain. Growing marijuana commercially is a chemically intense activity. The state Department of Agriculture has recently identified 17 products containing undeclared pesticides in widespread use in marijuana growing, and suspects there are more. King County’s guidelines state “Dangerous waste management in marijuana operations is new… As experience builds and processes become better understood, this guidance will expand.” We are deeply concerned about potential contamination from waste water, stormwater, pesticides, fungicides, fertilizers and THC-containing plant waste. The project’s Waste Management Plan was not yet available on Tuesday, Aug. 9.

An 8-foot-high security fence and 24-hour surveillance are required because growing marijuana on this scale attracts crime and criminals. These security concerns show that this operation does not fit in to the surrounding neighborhood, which includes families and children.

Besides a prison-like fence, pollution and a potential for criminal violence, there will be light and noise pollution from grow lights, fans, etc. At times there will be a powerful odor often compared to skunk spray.

This operation is a degrade to the Bayview Road scenic corridor, which is part of the “Langley Loop.” Is this what Langley businesses had in mind to greet people as they come through Bayview?

If this project is approved it will forever change the direction of rural land use in our county, attracting more industrial marijuana growing, along with the negative social, environmental and aesthetic impacts that accompany it.

JIM HYDE

Langley