PORT TOWNSEND – A hearing on the scope of an environmental impact statement for Fred Hill Materials’ proposed pit-to-pier project at its Shine gravel pit drew about 250 people to the Fort Worden State Park Commons to discuss their concerns on Thursday.

Mentioned over and over again was the fear – relayed in many cases as certainty – that a gravel-carrying Fred Hill Materials Inc. barge headed for Puget Sound would eventually wipe out the Hood Canal Bridge.

“If this project is passed, it’s a disaster waiting to happen,” said Barbara Fisk of Quilcene.

Many people, referring to the bridge as the “economic lifeline” of the North Olympic Peninsula, said that the environmental impact statement should include the economic impacts if the bridge is damaged.

Dan Baskins, Fred Hill spokesman, said after the hearing that all the barges used would be U.S.-flagged ships and would strictly follow Coast Guard guidelines in maneuvering past the 1.5 mile floating bridge.

He said he was pleased that testimony referred to the questions that the environmental impact statement should answer.

“I was pleasantly surprised that people stayed on point at what this process is,” Baskins said.

Said Al Scalf, Jefferson County Department of Community Development director: “What we’re really looking for are, are there probable, significant, adverse impacts” from the project.