Federal fishery agency clears path for Salmon Creek Interchange

Vancouver, WA – Clark County and the Washington State Department of Transportation have received clearance from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to move ahead with environmental permitting for the Salmon Creek Interchange Project.

The document known as a Biological Opinion is a key regulatory step under the Federal Endangered Species Act that sets salmon protection requirements for the project design. Now the state and county can proceed with remaining environmental permitting requirements, complete engineering work and potentially have the project ready for construction by fall 2010.

After nearly 18 months of negotiation with the federal agency, the Board of Clark County Commissioners welcomes the NMFS action. “This final version of the Biological Opinion offers an effective and realistic approach to protect endangered fish while also improving our transportation system and supporting local jobs,” said Board Chair Marc Boldt.

“Reaching agreement with NMFS took more time than we would have liked, but in the end I think environmental and economic interests are well served. We all appreciate the hard work that made this possible, including Mike Grady’s effort on the federal team and Commissioner Steve Stuart’s persistence in solving problems from the county perspective.”

The Salmon Creek Interchange Project will include a new I-5 overpass for Northeast 139th Street, and make major freeway improvements where I-5 and I-205 intersect. The Biological Opinion identifies requirements to manage stormwater runoff from new road surfaces and to protect wetlands.

The project will use a combination of County Road Fund dollars, Washington State Gas Tax allocations, and state and federal transportation grants. “Our commitment is very strong,” Boldt said. “The county is fully prepared to begin work as soon as possible.”