DISCOVERY BAY – The state Department of Ecology denied Jefferson County a $250,000 grant to help fund an archaeological study and other work related to a Beckett Point septic system project where Native American remains were found in late May.
The three county commissioners had agreed to fund up to $250,000 of the archaeological study and costs related to the delay in construction on the $2.8 million Jefferson County Public Utility District community septic system.
The grant would have reimbursed that amount.
“It’s disappointing, and frankly, I’m surprised,” said Rep. Lynn Kessler, the state House majority leader from Hoquiam.
Kessler and the other representatives of the 24th District, which includes Jefferson and Clallam counties, Rep. Kevin Van De Wege of Sequim and Sen. Jim Hargrove of Hoquiam, had each signed a letter of support for the grant that went to Ecology.
Attempts to reach Van De Wege and Hargrove on Wednesday were unsuccessful.
An Ecology spokeswoman said the project didn’t meet the department’s criteria of being a pilot project.
