Before they head off into closed session (emphasis mine):

On behalf of IRP Chair Tom Warne, please find the following information about the upcoming Columbia River Crossing Independent Review Panel Meetings:

CRC Independent Review Panel meets June 17-18

Public comments to be heard June 17

OLYMPIA — An independent panel of transportation experts will meet June 17-18 to discuss planning and environmental aspects of the I-5 Columbia River Crossing project. The meetings on June 17 are open to the public.

The Independent Review Panel for the Columbia River Crossing project was convened by the governors of Oregon and Washington. The governors have directed this work to ensure that key project study assumptions and methods are reasonable. The eight-member panel has been asked to assess the implementation plan for the CRC project; review the financial plan for the project; and review and evaluate post-construction performance measures.

The June 17 meeting is scheduled for 8 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. in the Multnomah Room at the Jantzen Beach Red Lion, 909 N. Hayden Island Drive, Portland. The agenda includes a discussion of the CRC finance plan and project management. A community comment opportunity will begin at 7 p.m. at the same location.

The June 18 meeting will be a panel work session, closed to the public.

More information on the IRP purpose, the panelists and the schedule of meetings is available on the panel’s website: http://www.crcreview.org . The website also includes materials from previous meetings of the panel and a link to provide written public comment.

The panel’s final report will be provided to the governors of Oregon and Washington this summer.

Information on the Columbia River Crossing project may be found on the CRC website at www.columbiarivercrossing.org.