Raging River Conservation Group End of Year 2018 Update

The Ups and Downs of 2018 First: the Quarry updates

In April 2017, King County announced at our Fall City Town Hall meeting that the Quarry properties were a ‘high target acquisition'. As we write up the 2018 wrap up, there is still no purchase in sight.

While the quarry has an active permit, it was put under a Periodic Review process in 2016. The purpose of this review is to hopefully bring many of the permit conditions up to current standards, within legal limits. This process is still continuing. The Department of Permitting and Environmental Review (DPER) continues to require more information and clarification from the ownership regarding quarry processes. The quarry continues to ask for extensions in providing the information. DPER has been granting extensions.

We continue to meet with DPER and KC officials to ask for the finalization to this Periodic Review process. Our concerns are:

• The quarry continues to operate under the outdated 1980's permit.
• The Periodic Review which should update some of the 1980's operating conditions is still being completed by DPER. The process began in 2016.
• The possible environmental issues posed by the quarry, possible health risks posed by unchecked dust due to blasting and other quarry operations, as well as many other possible risks continue to go on.
• The quarry has an open application for expanding its operations. The quarry has not completed the application in the two years it has kept it open. We have asked DPER to set a deadline for either completing the application or closing it but have had no deadline set.
• The quarry has not been forthcoming regarding DPER requests to estimate the amount of rock available in the currently permitted quarry area.

Without knowing how much rock is left to mine, without a completed Periodic Review and with an open application to request a permit to expand, it is very difficult to develop an accurate assessment as to the worth of the property. This makes it very difficult to seek funds from King County or private donors to actually purchase the property.

What you can do regarding the quarry properties:

If you would like to turn this property into public land, now is the time to let our King County officials know your opinion!

Please send your comments to the following people:

• Dow Constantine, King County Executive, Dow.Constantine@kingcounty.gov
• Christie True, Department Director, Department of Natural Resources and Parks, Christie.True@kingcounty.gov
• Bob Burns, Deputy Director, Department of Natural Resources and Parks, Bob.Burns@kingcounty.gov
• Kathy Lambert, King County Councilmember, Kathy.lambert@kingcounty.gov
• Please send us a copy:

Next: Its not all about the quarry

Lake Alice Trailhead for the Preston-Snoqualmie Trail now has a new poster outlining the history of the train depot at that spot as well as the rail line that is now the Preston-Snoqualmie Trail. Our group worked with the Fall City Historical Society and with King County Parks in the development and installation of the sign.

Walk the Trail and you will notice new road crossing signs and orange flags to aid in crossing Preston-Fall City Road as you continue your way up towards Preston, past the Quarry proposed expansion area. Our group worked with King County roads to improve signage and will continue to push for a safer crossing.

Thank you very much for your continued support!

More information is available here on our website: or you may contact us directly at:

Thank you!
Raging River Conservation Group

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