The Washington Department of Ecology is seeking public comment on amendments to the city of Bainbridge Island’s Shoreline Master Program.

The Shoreline Master Program guides the public and private development of shorelines, while also preserving habitat and public access.

The comment period closes at 5 p.m. Friday, June 9.

The city council approved revisions to the program’s aquaculture policies and regulations in October.

The proposed changes were received by Ecology for state review in late February, and the city’s amendment submittal package was verified complete on April 13, 2017, which formally started the state review and decision-making process.

Ecology will compare the city’s proposed program to the requirements of the Shoreline Management Act and the Shoreline Master Program guidelines.

Based on the comparison, the agency will decide whether to:

• Approve the program as is or with recommended changes; or

• Send the proposed program back to the city of Bainbridge Island with required changes to meet statutory and rule requirements. Recommended changes may also be included with the required changes; or

• Disapprove the program amendments in those instances where no alternation of the proposal appears likely to be consistent with state law and the applicable guidelines.

Send comments to Misty Blair, Washington Department of Ecology, 3190 160th Ave. SE Bellevue, WA 98008-5452, or email to misty.blair@ecy.wa.gov.

Documents available for review online at www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/shorelines/smp/mycomments/bainbridgeLimitedAmendment.html, or in person at Bainbridge Island City Hall.