The Department of Permitting and Environmental Review (DPER) has issued an "Early Notice of Likely Determination of Significance in its review of the Raging River Quarry's expansion application. Read the letter here.
DPER has notified quarry ownership that the prior Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is inadequate and a considerable amount of additional information would be requested to properly review the expansion application. The letter states: "Based on the information submitted to date and the scale of the project it is likely that the proposal will have direct and cumulative significant adverse environmental impacts on noise levels, air quality, habitat for fish and wildlife, and traffic safety".
It is NOT a final determination but a statement to the quarry ownership that more investigation into several key issues is warranted unless the application is withdrawn or significantly modified.
Many thanks for your generous donations which have allowed us to hire scientific consultants to help point out omissions in the quarry's application documents. These consultants have addressed traffic issues, geological concerns, and watershed significance. Your ongoing letters of concern and detailed complaints have further underscored the issues.
Our combined input to DPER/King County has made a real difference!
While this is good news, there is more work to be done as it is not a final determination. Please continue to send in your letters.
And we hope to see you at our Special Benefit Tour of TreeHouse Point on April 16! We will continue to need your support to seek ongoing legal and other consultant advice and reports.
Click here for details and ticket purchase
Please contact us if you have any questions. Raging River Conservation Group will keep you informed of further developments.
Thank you for your support
Raging River Conservation Group
Please note the ANSWER from DPER regarding property issues:
24._The quarry operator shall be responsible for any damage to nearby properties, including domestic water supply wells, attributable to blasting on the subject property. Claims for any such damage shall be the responsibility of the affected property owner and the quarry operator to handle directly between themselves, but a failure of the quarry operator to respond in good faith to any such claim may be cause for denial of future grading permits, or prohibition or restriction upon future blasting.