FORREST R. MORPHEW

400 GREENWOOD BEACH ROAD

TIBURON, CALIFORNIA 94920

April 24, 2001

Marshall Jones, Acting Director

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Department of the Interior

18th & C Street NW

Washington, DC 20240

                   RD:  PROPOSED MARIN BAYLANDS NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

Dear Mr. Marshall:

      Planning Update 2, April 200l, proposes that the U.S. Wildlife Services make a study for subject Refuge in Marin County, California.  Judging by the secrecy with which local F&W officials held their first meeting in which only certain parties---not including elected officials or involved property owners---this indicates that F&W intended to implement this program stealthly without the input of the parties involved.

There is also evidence that F&W has completely ignored all local plans for the development of the properties targeted in that they have not researched any records showing the state of development of existing properties proposed for inclusion in the study, yet many pf the sites, such as St Vincent's and Canalways' have undergone many years of study and planning for development.   These plans---which have been signed off by environmentalists as well as local authorities---proposes plans for affordable housing, transportation, including rail and ferries, retail stores in neighborhoods near residential developments to relieve gridlock on freeway corridors and many other improvements. 

Also not considered is the fact that the mere concept of being included in such a survey will drastically and immediately devalue the property included in the survey but also the adjoining properties as well.  In fact, this has already occurred in the City of Novato where F&W asked that a certain property be withdrawn from development in view of the fact that it is to be included in the Refuge.  Many of these properties are currently valued at $l,000,000.00 per acre and it is unlikely that F&W can be sufficiently funded to purchase such valuable real estate.

It is also my understanding that F&W proposes to bypass local very stringent EIS/EIR laws under CEQA and proposes to rule arbitrarily that the Refuge will not impact negatively or unfavorably on the community.  Nothing could be farther from the truth and this is simply not acceptable to us.  There are many crucial issues that must be addressed before the community could give its approval to such a Refuge.  Issues such as flood control, sanitary districts, housing, transportation dikes (who will build and maintain the dikes), the social and economic issues such as who will replace lost tax revenues to the cities and counties etc. Other issues are navigation, dredging, recreational facilities etc.

In view of the fact that 84% of Marin County is already protected by strong environmental policies, such as the County's Bayfront Conservation Zone, and only about 2% of the land is left for development to address Marin's pressing needs, there does not appear to be a demonstrated need for another refuge in Marin.  I, therefore, strongly request that you abandon your current proposal to conduct a study by the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service in Marin County California.

                                                             Respectfully,

FRM/S                                                Forrest R. Morphew

                                                             Forrest R. Morphew.

CC:

Gale Norton, Department of Interior

Mel Martinez, U.S. Department of HUD

Julie Bornstein, California Dept. of Housing

Bill Pavao, California Department of Housing

Mike Spear, Regional Director USF&WS

Dan Ashe, USF&WS , Refuge Director

Marge Kolar, USFWS BayRegion

San Rafael Chamber

San Rafael Dredge Committee

Senator Boxer

Senator Feinstein

Marin & Sonoma Supervisors

Bay Planning Coalition

Mayor Al Boro & Council Members

San Rafael Planning Department

Assemblyman Joe Nation

North Bay Agricultural Coalition

Kerner Partners

Novato Council