Fuse Washington

We call it the Katrina Syndrome - when a government agency's failure to do its job compounds the suffering and destruction generated by a natural disaster. We saw it in New Orleans and now we see it right here in Washington with the massive storm that hit Chehalis last December.

Sunday's Seattle Times featured a shocking investigative report on how widespread failures at the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), under Lands Commissioner Doug Sutherland, contributed to the landslides, flooding, and destruction during December's storm.1 According to the Times, the DNR reduced monitoring and allowed Weyerhaeuser to clear-cut dangerous, unstable slopes with "scant oversight," despite a history of landslides from previous logging, clear evidence of unstable slopes, and concerns from local officials.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Sutherland maintains that the Agency's current oversight is "enough." We also find it disturbing that the Timber Industry accounts for over half of the contributions to his re-election campaign.2

We believe that accountability matters, and that the government -- including the Department of Natural Resources -- has a duty to enforce laws that protect public health and safety. Because Commissioner Sutherland refuses to clean up the DNR's act, we are calling on the State Auditor to investigate the DNR's failure to perform its responsibilities.

Please sign our petition today and help us send the State Auditor a powerful message from thousands of Washington residents that this audit needs to happen.

Take Action At: http://www.fusewashington.org/page/s/investigateDNR

According to the Seattle Times, logging- induced landslides in the Chehalis basin "dumped mud and debris into swollen rivers, helping fuel the floods that slammed houses, barns, and farm fields downstream."

The December storm and flood that hit Lewis County caused over $57 million in property damage to homes, farms and businesses. The storm had devastating effects on the Chehalis area: nearly 20 miles of I-5 were completely closed, there were more than 730 landslides in the Upper Chehalis basin, and 3,000 valley residents couldn't drink their tap water for over three months.

Commissioner Sutherland cannot abandon his responsibilities to ensure that irresponsible clear-cuts do not endanger the health and safety of Washington residents. We deserve better.Please sign our petition right now and urge the State Auditor to investigate the DNR's performance.

Take Action At: http://www.fusewashington.org/page/s/investigateDNR

Thanks for all you do!

1 "Logging and landslides: What went wrong?" The Seattle Times, July 13, 2008. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008048848_logging13m.html

2 Washington Public Disclosure Commission as of June 10, 2008 http://www.pdc.wa.gov/servlet/ContServlet