Last week nearly 70 local citizens, realtors, contractors and excavators attended the permitting and compliance workshop at the Winthrop Barn. Staff from Okanogan County Planning, the WA State Department of Ecology and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife were there to present and then answer questions from the audience. It was an informative discussion! If you didn’t make it, here are a few takeaways that we think everyone should know:

Pull the Fire Alarm, Use ERTS

Enforcement in Okanogan County depends on a complaint-based system for managing land use violations. This means that, in order to get the attention of the county or agencies, someone has to make a report. For example, if you see someone cutting trees along the river, you need to report it in order to get county or agency attention and action. The statewide Environmental Reports Tracking System (ERTS) is a clearinghouse for complaints that connects all relevant state, county, city and even federal agencies to respond to violations affecting land, air, water and wildlife. A question was posed at the forum about whether someone needs to do their homework to understand whether an activity is truly illegal before “pulling the fire alarm” and using ERTS. Agency and County staff agreed anyone witnessing a potential environmental violation should not hesitate to use ERTS – pull that fire alarm! Agencies and the county will take on verifying whether a questionable activity is in fact a violation.

To use ERTS, Go to https://ecology.wa.gov, and then “Report environmental issues.” Use the link for “Report other environmental issues online”

You can be anonymous but it’s helpful not to be

Agency and county staff stressed that complaints can be anonymous, but it is most helpful if you can provide some contact information to help them verify your report. Photographs are also very helpful in documenting real-time violations, for example an excavator in a stream. MVCC can help if you need assistance submitting a complaint! For more information, email Program Director Lorah Super:  lorah@mvcitizens.org

Better enforcement mechanisms are on the way.

Currently, those who don’t follow the rules can be charged with a misdemeanor, a criminal offense that is cumbersome to prosecute. Okanogan County is working on adding a civil code which would make violations a civil infraction, making it easier for the county to gain compliance through citations and fines.

Want to learn more? Check out the full presentations here:

Okanogan County Permitting and Compliance Presentation

Department of Ecology Permitting and Compliance Presentation

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Presentation