Camp Bonneville: Read FOCC’s Questions and Comments for Clark County Ahead of Critical Council Decision
Hello Councilors,
Friends of Clark County respectfully submits these questions and comments for the record ahead of the Camp Bonneville Work Session scheduled for February 12th.
1) Will the County answer the question of how each of the known law enforcement uses (firing range, deployment of chemical agents, storage of explosives, and detonation of explosives) are compatible with the restrictions outlined in the US code for conservation conveyance for uses to be limited to “incidental, revenue-producing activities that are compatible with the conservation of natural resources”? Specifically, how are they incidental? How are they revenue-producing? How are they compatible with the conservation of natural resources?
- As a reference, the US Code for the Conservation Conveyance (https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/2694a) limits uses to “incidental, revenue-producing activities compatible with the conservation of natural resources”. The Quitclaim Deed (https://clark.wa.gov/sites/default/files/media/document/2024-06/2006_deed_to_county.pdf) and MOU repeats this language, and the MOU only identifies the Forest Stewardship Plan as an allowed use under this type of conveyance. The MOU can be found on page 20 here: https://clark.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2024-03/documents-for-minutes-from-ann-and-email-from-kathleen-combined.pdf
- Our understanding is that none of the entities currently engaged in activities at Camp Bonneville have ever paid rent to the people of Clark County or have current valid contracts/agreements.
2) How can the County allow various law enforcement agencies access to the property when it has not been deemed safe and the Deed does not appear to exempt law enforcement from access restrictions?
- The Exhibit C, Part 4: Public Access Restriction Section of the Quitclaim Deed for Camp Bonneville says that access is not to be granted to anyone other than those conducting environmental remediation while the remediation process is still underway, which is the case currently with Camp Bonneville.
3) How will the County address going forward the years of residents’ reports that the FBI uses the property even when the state has closed all state forests due to heightened wildfire risks, as well as the newly discovered use and storage of explosives outside of the firing range?
- Community concern has heightened with the recently disclosed storage of explosives and detonation of explosives, a residential fire nearby, and the climate future we must prepare for. (Use of firearms in forests is a wildfire risk. US Forest Service: https://www.fs.usda.gov/rm/pubs_journals/2022/rmrs_2022_short_k001.pdf). Hot undercarriages of vehicles parked during times of heightened wildfire risks can also start a fire. US Forest Service, https://www.fs.usda.gov/visit/know-before-you-go/fire)
4) How will the County enforce any agreement as to how the property is used, how often, what locations, by whom, and what the cost to local taxpayers for such enforcement will be?
- Evidence suggests the County has not been able to enforce compliance with these law enforcement agencies in the past, and in some cases didn’t even know about some of these uses.
- We’d like to know if the County is aware of how many access codes and swipe cards the FBI has issued to other agencies over the years.
4) What plans does the County have to fulfill its obligations in the Public Participation Plan for Camp Bonneville?
- Ms. Otto referred last week to public participation being Ecology’s responsibility, but the PPP included in the FAQs on the County website discusses all kinds of public participation activities that require County involvement, including distribution lists, newsletters, fact sheets, and a Camp Bonneville Community Advisory Group.
- Core concerns of community members are lack of community engagement with ongoing developments.
- As a reference, here is the copy of the Public Participation Plan: https://clark.wa.gov/sites/default/files/media/document/2024-06/2012ecology_campbonneville_ppp_revised.pdf
6) Regarding ongoing groundwater contamination at Landfill 4, exactly how many wells have tested positive for increases in contaminants, and out of how many total?
7) How can Camp Bonneville be included in the PROS Plan if the County plans to move forward with continuing its use as a multi-agency law enforcement training facility rather than a Regional Natural Area as it is currently defined?
- FOCC is concerned that Camp Bonneville is being wrongly counted toward the County’s level of service acreage deficit in the PROS Plan, as these law enforcement uses continue to contaminate and delay the management of Camp Bonneville as a Regional Natural Area.
Finally, we’d like to reiterate our position on this matter. FOCC believes the evidence suggests that these various law enforcement agencies have not been good tenants, we are concerned about the apparent conflict with use restrictions, we are worried that these activities will continue to contaminate the property, and we believe that the community has legitimate concerns regarding wildfire (especially in light of climate change) and groundwater contamination, as well as lack of public engagement.
The County needs to move forward with its plans for conservation and public access by focusing on the cleanup, not managing a host of law enforcement activities for many more years. Camp Bonneville is a beautiful, wild place that has experienced much abuse in its history, and it was provided to the County with the intent of remediation and the purpose of natural resource conservation.
We must not revert to the past. It is finally time for the County to take the decisive actions necessary to realize the future for Camp Bonneville. We ask that the Council decline moving forward with any new law enforcement agreements and that the County arrange for the Clark County Sheriff’s Office’s needs at a new, appropriate location, such as the indoor Ridgefield training center that is being considered.
Thank you for your consideration,
Friends of Clark County