10/05/1989 CONSERVATION COMMISSION Minutes

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IASNPEE CONSERVATION COMMISSION MEETING OF OCTOBER 5. 1989 Commissioners present: Gertrude Simmons, Joseph Burns, Patrick Coffey, Harry Oesros iers, V. Louise Behrman, Robert Sherman,, Conservation Agent and Robert Gray of Sabana were present also. The meeting was called to order at 7:25 p.m. 30 New Seabury Corp. , Buff l ehead Bay, ROA, Continued from September 7, Jeffrey Benoit, Coastal Geologist Director of CZM had sent a letter dated September 19, 1989 which was read into the record. Mr. Benoit agreed with f the section entitled Regulatory framework. He took exception with the con- et that a coastal bank should be delineated based on function. Function should relate to the significance of the resource area rather than through it' s identification, ie. , one should first identify the resource area, then determine how it functions and, lastly, determine the significance of the resource area. Mr. Benoit also offered his opinion of the definition of a coastal bank. His-.comment: 1 . A coastal bark is the face or distinct slope of an elevated land- fora. 2. The tap of the coastal bank should be identified independent of the 100 year storm elevation. 3. A general rule to follow for the identification of a distinct slope may be in it's geologic origin, such as erosion or ice-contact deposit. It is his belief a major break in slope does occur at the Buff l head Bay site generally above the 100 year storm elevation. The profile supplied by IEP indicates such a break. (Copy of letter appended). A letter from Stan Humphries of IEP was read into the record by Nor. Humphries. This addressed the letter from Mr. Benoit. They feel a Type 4 bank exists in areas and the remainder is land subject to coastal storm flowage. A contin- uation oatin-ruation was requested to clarify their final position. fir. Humphries suggested a meeting with CZM to resolve the. ratter at the local level . Ms Behrmn asked what was meant by "clarify their final position" Mr, Humphries advised before IEP was involved with the project, Hayes Engineer- ing had determined a certain position with respect to the coastal bank. It became clear to the applicant that some other expertise was needed. IEP got involved and made the determination, based on their assessment of the geology processes in the area, and submitted to the commission the approach that would look at the significance or the function of the coastal baric in an effort to look at the processes f the 100 year flood l an on the land form. At on-sites, the possibility of the Type 4 bank existing was discussed in ars attempt to find a more consistent way of describing the coastal bank throughout the site. They came up with the proposal they did. When they received the letter from CZM, they had some questions about terminology used and are trying to gain more of an understanding of what was said.