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KIM SCHRIER <br />8TH DISTRICT, WASHINGTON <br />QCongreo of the Nniteb btateg <br />i)ouse of r%epresenWtlbes <br />Mightngton, DC 20313 <br />December 2, 2020 <br />Andrew Rasmussen, PE <br />Washington FLAP Program Manager <br />Federal Highway Administration <br />610 East Fifth Street <br />Vancouver, Washington 98661. <br />WFL.CallForProjects(@dot.gov <br />andrew.rasmussen@dot.gov <br />Hardcopy to follow <br />Dear Mr. Rasmussen: <br />1123 L:�M � "]I H'O-s i. L aJ�Lll'.h. <br />Wns�i'NiaaioN D DG 2 40515 <br />(202)225 1161 <br />I am writing to ask for your consideration of Kittitas County's application for funds through the Washington <br />Federal Lands Access Program to replace the Swauk Creek Bridge on Liberty Road. Replacing this load limiting <br />bridge is critical to the completion of long -planned forest health projects aimed at protecting a rural <br />community in my District from catastrophic wildfire. <br />The Swauk Pine Project is a collaborative forest restoration project located on National Forest System Land in <br />Swauk Creek Watershed near the town of Liberty in Kittitas County. Prescribed fire across thousands of acres is <br />planned. Commercial and non-commercial thinning will help restore overcrowded forests. Aquatic restoration <br />projects will improve critical fish habitat. But the project cannot be fully implemented until the County's <br />deficient Swauk Creek Bridge is replaced. <br />A new bridge will also allow emergency response vehicles to access a popular recreation area. The Swauk Pine <br />area supports year-round dispersed recreation including camping, mining, hiking, hunting, four-wheel driving, <br />horseback riding and snowmobiling. <br />Replacing the Swauk Creek Bridge will unlock countless recreation, safety, forest health and wildfire mitigation <br />opportunities, and this seems like an ideal fit for Federal Lands Access Program. I urge your full and fair <br />consideration of this application. <br />Sincerely, <br />Kim Schrier, M.D. <br />Member of Congress — WA08 <br />