ON MITIGATION

AS TO SIMPSON/SOLOMON

Submitted to Shelton Blog by Jake Rufer Mason County Progressive

What is the factual basis for a Mitigated Determination of Non-Significance? In order to answer this question the City of Shelton must:

• State factually what the adverse impacts would be without any "mitigation".
• State factually and clearly what actions are to be undertaken to "mitigate" the above mentioned factual impacts.

By definition, "mitigation" is an action to diminish a factually based adverse impact. Definition of mitigation, however, does not include any element which defines the degree of diminishment of adverse impact. it can be nearly nothing or nearly all of the harm.

The City of Shelton must reveal the exact percentage of diminishment of adverse impact that the CIty approved with respect to the Simpson/Solomon incinerator. If the City of Shelton cannot or refuses to quantify the degree of diminishment, then any claim to mitigation is a hoax and those who perpetrate that hoax should be removed from office or position. In addition, any approval given under a pretext of mitigation, should be null and void as in a contract induced by fraud.

If any project poses a threat to health, mere diminishment does not remove the threat. A THREAT REMAINS and yet must be considered on its merits, diminishment (mitigation) notwithstanding.

I repeat, the term "mitigation" is a LEGAL HOAX--HOAX--HOAX. Mitigated Determination of Non-significance, within itself, is a CONTRADICTION.

St. Augustine said, "An unjust law is not law at all." A hoax offered as law, is not law--it takes away a freedom or causes harm. This is the exact opposite of the purpose of law. That is the inherent contradiction in the term, Mitigated Determination of Non-significance. It is an excuse for the powerful and their running dogs to override the rights and welfare of the people.

The term, "mitigated determination of non-significance", is the QUINTESSENCE of bureaucratic creativity. It is designed to have the appearance of ecologically based regulation; but instead, it serves as a cover for the costs of industrial rapine to be borne by the people.

SHELTON BLOG NOTE:

This statement was read by Christine Armond at the 4/4/11 City of Shelton Commission Meeting on behalf of Jake Rufer who was not able to attend that evening. It elicited a round of applause from the attendees at the meeting & a request for a copy from one of the Commission members! Thank you Jake for your most erudite statement!

Jake Rufer (80 years old) is one of the FIRST local residents to alert our area about ADAGE sneaking in under the radar. He is a retired attorney, a retired teacher, & grew up in a logging family.