The Department of Natural Resources stated in its response to logger Kurt Erickson’s most recent application to log only on the top of Squak Mountain, that it “believes the landowner/applicant is an alter ego of other persons or entities that do own 500 acres within 50 miles of saltwater. The landowner/applicant claims it owns less than 500 acres within 50 miles of saltwater and thus is not subject to the critical habitat trigger for marbled murrelets. Therefore, more information is needed to assess the potential marbled murrelets habitat at the site.”

This latest permit application was for approximately 100 acres. Erickson filed it on behalf of a LLC he formed, which enabled him to file as a small forest landowner, one who owns less than 500 acres. He does have land in other areas. By filing under the new LLC, he hoped to log otherwise protected old forest.

King County executive Dow Constantine and the Trust for Public Land signed a conditional agreement to purchase the property from Erickson to preserve it for public use. The purchase price will be based on an appraisal, which was to be completed by June 21 but is behind schedule.