This bill will help ensure protection of the Puget Sound. Further, it will not allow the exploitation of OUR natural resources by a large international Japanese company. True the establishment of the largest strip mine in North America may provide some gravel to the region but the environmental impacts and costs will be staggering. Further, the true economic benefits will only show up as profits in a foreign company’s P/L. We cannot continue to be short sited and continue to destroy the environment for what may be perceived by some, particularly Taiheiyo Cement Glacier’s parent company, as a short term gain. At some point we must take a stand and realize that once we allow these shorelines to be destroyed they will never come back again. This is why we have established laws to protect the greater good.