This Whatcom County Council Climate Action and Natural Resources Committee meeting focused on two major environmental and economic concerns affecting the county. **Plantation Rifle Range Lead Contamination Crisis**: The centerpiece issue involved a mandatory $13.8 million cleanup of lead contamination at the outdoor rifle range, operated since 1971. The Department of Ecology has designated the site as a hazardous waste facility requiring complete remediation under a legally binding agreed order. The county faces severe penalties for non-compliance, including up to $25,000 per day in fines and potential triple damages. **Agricultural Land Preservation Challenges**: The Agricultural Advisory Committee presented alarming data showing Whatcom County has lost 97,000 acres of farmland since 1949, with projections of another 7,000 acres at risk by 2040. The committee requested dedicated county staffing and enhanced conservation funding to address this ongoing crisis.