[Vision2020] Water Conservancy Board approves Hawkins Companies' water-rights transfer requests

[Dan Carscallen]

>From the Daily News

Developing Story
Water Conservancy Board approves Hawkins Companies' water-rights
transfer requests
Updated at: 07:07 am

Hawkins Companies moved one step closer to beginning work on its
proposed 700,000-square-foot retail center just across the state line
from Moscow when the Whitman County Water Conservancy Board recommended
approval of the company's water-rights transfer requests Wednesday.

The board unanimously approved four water-rights transfer applications
from the Boise-based firm, but the Washington State Department of
Ecology must still give final approval on the applications.

Water Conservancy Board Chairman Edward Schultz said the Department of
Ecology will have up to 45 days to either accept, reject or ask for
clarification on the board's recommendation. The board's recommendation
becomes a firm decision if Ecology does not take action within the
45-day period.

Hawkins Project Manager Jeffrey DeVoe said the company hopes to begin
construction as early as the fall, and all that is holding up the
process is approval from Ecology.