Keith Hansen, President of Beckett Point Fishermen's Club, read the following statement at the June 11th Board of County Commissioners meeting at the Jefferson County Courthouse.

Beckett Point Fishermen's Club was established in 1939. It is a group of approximately 160 members owning 85 acres of land on Discovery Bay. The Club is organized as a non-profit Corporation. Each lease holding member has an equal voice in the operation of the Community.

For the last 7 years the Club has worked in cooperation with Jefferson County Department of Community Development to develop a Large On Site Septic System.

In 2003 the Washington State Department of Health conducted a routine survey of the shoreline around the Discovery Bay shellfish growing area. The survey monitors the effects of septic systems on the bay. It was recommended that Beckett Point be placed in concerned status because of the high density development and potential lack of treatment arising through the gravity fed drainfields.

The Beckett Point Large On Site Septic System (LOSS) is an example of a community that got together to solve the problem of concentrated homes in close proximity to the water by creating a community septic system that moves the effluent away from the water.

Beckett Point started a relationship with the PUD #1 of Jefferson County to engineer, install and operate such a system. This was to be funded by State and private loans. At the time the project started, the total cost was estimated to be $2.8 million with 1/3 being funded by public trust loans and 2/3 private loans. The private loan requires that the project have reasonable fixed costs and completion time. The system provides 102 connections; each one costing approximately $28k. This represents a significant financial commitment from each leasehohlder connecting to the system.

This process has now failed. There is no ability to determine the total cost or time frame of the LOSS System.

In 1953 Beckett Point Quit-Claimed to Jefferson County a road of 40 feet wide to access the entire spit. Recently, while digging a trench to install a main on this road, the remains were found.

Beckett Point Fishermen's Club respectfully requests that any use of its property for any archaeological digging or investigation by any government or tribal interest needs to be first approved by the Board of Directors representing the ownership of this land. Beckett Point Fishermen's Club is dedicated to completing the LOSS system. We attempted to do this with out the help from the State or the Federal Government through grants or other hand outs. Under the current conditions Beckett Point, the PUD and probably the County cannot achieve this goal. Only the State is able to help resolve the problems while respecting tribal interests and help with the necessary financial and organizational resources. I believe our project will help the state to improve water quality. We look forward to working with the PUD, the County, the State and the Tribes.

I'm sure other communities throughout the region are looking at this situation and the outcome will affect their willingness to attempt similar projects.

UPDATED 6/12 - news coverage:

• Beckett construction site home to former Klallam village, tribal representative says