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Skagit County commissioners report opioid-settlement progress, send letters on FERC relicensing and forest-buffer rulemaking
Summary
Commissioners said Aug. 19 the county will sign an opioid settlement agreement with Purdue Pharmaceuticals and noted additional settlements forthcoming; they also said the county submitted comments on FERC relicensing concerns and to the Forest Practices Board opposing a proposed nonperennial buffer rule.
Skagit County commissioners used part of their Aug. 19 meeting for announcements including the county’s involvement in national opioid settlements and written comments on federal and state rulemaking.
A commissioner said the board authorized the county to sign a settlement agreement with Purdue Pharmaceuticals and related parties; the commissioner said settlement distributions and exact county shares remain to be determined but noted most opioid settlements are structured over multiple years and county funds are expected to support treatment and recovery programs. The same commissioner referenced the county’s Star Center (a proposed treatment and recovery facility) and said the center is expected to open in 2026; settlements and other revenues will help fund ongoing treatment capacity in the county.
The board also said staff sent a letter to the National Park Service (and parties involved in a FERC relicensing process) seeking written assurances that restoration work under a Chinook-focused plan will remain subject to local government authority and not be delegated in a manner that would allow eminent-domain actions by another jurisdiction in Skagit County. The commissioners requested explicit, written confirmation that Seattle or other entities will not seek eminent domain in Skagit County as part of mitigation or restoration agreements.
Finally, the board said it submitted comments to the Washington State Forest Practices Board regarding an early-stage rulemaking on nonperennial buffers; the county said it opposes aspects of the proposal and characterized the change as an effective taking in some circumstances. Commissioners said letters and comments are posted on the county website and that staff will follow up as rulemaking proceeds.
No formal votes were taken on these announcements at the Aug. 19 session; the items were presented as informational updates and written correspondence from the county.
