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Hearing Examiner
The Cowlitz County Hearings Examiner hears permits, reviews and appeals related to land-use, health, public works and other decision-making matters as set forth in Cowlitz County Code (CCC) Chapter 2.05. The hearings examiner will be an attorney with extensive backgrounds in administrative law and policy. His or her role is not to create policy or change rules, but rather to ensure that policy and rules have been applied correctly.
Hearings Examiner Process
Specific rules and procedures in hearings before the Cowlitz County Hearings Examiner can be found in the Rules of Procedure adopted by the Cowlitz County Hearing Examiner.
Hearings Examiner Rules of Procedure (PDF)
Current Scheduled Hearing:
Please click on the Permit # to follow to Hearing Materials.
HEARING DATE: Wednesday, October 28, 2020 Begins at 2:00 pm Virtual Access: https://www.gotomeet.me/CowlitzBLDG
Staff Contact: Bart Catching, Associate Planner CatchingB@co.cowlitz.wa.us
SL20-1020 CC Public Works / Storm Road Realignment Storm Rd. Mile marker 0.21-0.36
SL20-1022 JE McAmis / Access Channel Dredging - Cowlitz River
Recently Heard Cases:
**Once a project has received all approvals and the appeal period has passed (typically 20 days) - the project will be removed from this site. However, application materials are still available for pubic review in our office.
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PRIOR CASES HEARD - BUT STILL IN REVIEW
SL 17-0992 Millennium Bulk Terminals - Longview, LLC
Hearing Date: November 2, 2017 at the Cowlitz County Events Center
Hearing Examiner Decision: 11/13/2017
MBTL Shoreline Permit Decision Part 1 (PDF)
MBTL Shoreline Permit Decision Part 2 (PDF)
Notice of Application MBT-L (PDF)
CORRECTED - Notice Of Public Hearing - Legal Ad SL 17-0992 MBT-L (PDF)
Supplemental Public Hearing Rules MBTL SL 17-0992 (PDF)
Event Plan MBTL Shoreline Permit Hearings SL 17-0992 (PDF)
Hearing Materials:
Hearing Ground Rules Poster (PDF)
Index of Agency Record Revised 10-19-17 (PDF)
Exhibit C-1 Staff Report (PDF)
Exhibit C-2 JARPA (PDF)
Exhibit C-3 Critical Areas Permit (PDF)
Exhibit C-4 Shoreline Application Notice (PDF)
Exhibit C-5 Shoreline Hearing Notice (PDF)
Exhibit C-6 SEPA Determination (PDF)
Exhibit C-7 Final EIS (PDF) (links to project website)
Exhibit C-8 Response to Comments with Comment Log (PDF)
Exhibit C-9 Wetland Impact Report (PDF)
Exhibit C-10 Conceptual Mitigation Plan (PDF)
Exhibit C-11 Sediment Characterization Report (PDF)
Exhibit C-12 DMMP Dredge Suitability Determination (PDF)
Exhibit C-13 Oregon DEQ Dredge Acceptance at Ross Island (PDF)
Exhibit c-14 Economic & Fiscal Impacts of Millennium Bulk Terminal Longview (PDF)
Applicant Exhibits:
A26 MBTL Pre-Hearing Memo (PDF)
A27 Site Map (PDF)
A28 2012 JARPA (PDF)
A29 Applicant Proposed Mitigation Measures (PDF)
A30 BNSF Comment Letter in Response to Notice of Application, 10.8.2017 (PDF)
A31 Critical Areas Report, Glenn Grette - 2017 (PDF)
A32 Technical Response Analysis Population Level Impact of Tribal Resources in Zone 6 (2016) (PDF)
A33 Technical Memo - Clarifications of DEIS Comments, Technical Response Analysis of Population-level Impacts on Tribal Resources in Zone (PDF)
A34 Glenn Grette - Tribal Fish Impacts- Pre-filed Testimony (PDF)
A35 Expert Report of NERA and ERM (PDF)
A36 Expert Opinion of Robert Scofield - Assessment of Health Risks Associated with Diesel Exhaust (PDF)
A37 Expert Report - Air Quality Impacts - Landau (PDF)
A38 Expert Report - Evaluation of Potential Coal and Coal Dust Impacts on Aquatic Resources - Anchor QEA (PDF)
A39 CV Trevor Simmons (PDF)
A40 CV Glenn Grette (PDF)
A41 CV Ted Sprague (PDF)
A42 CV Charles "E" Halbert (PDF)
A43 CV Robert Scofield (PDF)
A44 CV David Haury (PDF)
A45 CV Julie Carey (PDF)
A46 CV Mary Hess (PDF)
A47 CV Dan Mills (PDF)
A48 CV Kurt Reichelt (PDF)
A49 CV Peter Rawlings (PDF)
A50 CV Dustin Pittman (PDF)
A51 MBTL List of Witnesses (PDF)
A52 MBTL List of Exhibits (PDF)
A53 Certificate of Service of Rhonda S. Vogelzang (PDF)
A54 K. Gaines PowerPoint (PDF)
A55 T. Simmons PowerPoint (PDF)
A56 Conceptual Mitigation Plan (PDF)
A57 Testimony of Dava Kaitala (PDF)
A58 T. Sprague PowerPoint (PDF)
(PDF)A59 Mike (PDF) Bridges Testimony
A60 MBTL Addendum to BA (PDF)
A61 ESA Section 7.1.2 Biological Opinion (PDF)
A62 Updated Wake Stranding Monitoring Plan Appendix 1, KMMEF (PDF)
A63 Scopes of Emissions (PDF)
A64 Applicant’s Proposed Mitigation Measures Table - Update to Exhibit A29 (PDF)
A65 Table of Responses - Applicant (PDF)
A66 Supplemental Declaration of Dava Kaitala (PDF)
A67 Applicant Exhibit List - Update to Exhibit A52 (PDF)
Intervening Party Exhibits
Intervener Exhibit List (PDF)
I101 Pre Hearing Brief (PDF)
I102 DOE 401 Denial (PDF)
I103 DNR Sub Lease Denial (PDF)
I104 DNR Construction Denial (PDF)
I105 DNR SSDP Comment Letter (PDF)
I106 Testimony of J. Zimmer-Stucky (PDF)
Public Exhibits - Public exhibits are compiled into groups based on order of submission and size of file.
Public Exhibit List as of 11.6.17 (PDF)
P139 (PDF)
P140 to P169 (PDF)
P170 to P199 (PDF)
P200 to P228 (PDF)
Cowlitz County’s MBTL project page (PDF)with information on the Critical Areas Permit (issued July 2017)
Project Website (PDF)
with information on the NEPA and SEPA Environmental Reviews
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1/23/2017
Kalama Methanol Manufacturing and Export Facility
Northwest Innovation Works - Hearing date: January 23rd, 2017
Supplemental Public Hearing Rules (PDF)
Open Record Public Hearing Ground Rules - KMMEF (PDF)
Cowlitz Index of Agency Record (PDF)
Exhibit C-1 Staff Report (PDF)
Exhibit C-2 FEIS (PDF) (Large file in multiple chapters, link to the SEPA website for access to all SEPA documents) Exhibit C-3 Letter from Department of Ecology Regarding SEPA Lead Agency (PDF)
Exhibit C-4 JARPA (with Biological Assessment) (PDF)
Exhibit C-5 Vicinity Map and Site Plans (PDF)
Exhibit C-6 Critical Areas Assessment (PDF)
Exhibit C-7 Applicant Shoreline Compliance Narrative (PDF)
Exhibit C-8 Notice of Application and Request for Public Comment (PDF)
Exhibit C-9 Response to Comments with Attachments (PDF)
Exhibit C-10 Shoreline Comments Received (PDF)
Exhibit C-11 Pages 50-52 Erroneously Excluded from Exhibit C-6 (PDF)
Exhibit C-12 Supporting Information for Exhibit C-7 (PDF)
Exhibit C-13 List of Parties Notified - Supporting Information for Exhibit C-8 (PDF)
Exhibit C-14 Supplement to Exhibit C-6 Mitigation Plan Figures (PDF)
KMMEF Post Hearing Exhibits:
1. Post Hearing Exhibits (PDF)
2. K-68 Commissioner’s Motion (PDF)
3. K-69 KMMEF Supplemental Preservation Memorandum (PDF)
4. K-70 KMMEF Dec Document (PDF)
5. Post Hearing Site Plan Submittal (PDF)
HEARINGS EXAMINER DECISION - 2.27.2017
The decision is contained in a series of four documents.
Hearings Examiner Decision - 1 (PDF)
Hearings Examiner Decision - 2 (PDF)
Hearings Examiner Decision - 3 (PDF)
Hearings Examiner Decision - 4 (PDF)