Publication Summary

The primary objective of this report is to identify "data gaps" - areas that need additional investigation - for the Maury Island Gravel Mining Impact Studies. The report emphasizes reasons why additional data are required and recommends approaches for collecting and analyzing them. A secondary objective is to identify existing documents that describe either site conditions and/or probable impacts of the mine and to briefly summarize their contributions.

The primary objective of this report is to identify "data gaps" - areas that need additional investigation - for the Maury Island Gravel Mining Impact Studies. The report emphasizes reasons why additional data are required and recommends approaches for collecting and analyzing them. A secondary objective is to identify existing documents that describe either site conditions and/or probable impacts of the mine and to briefly summarize their contributions.

Although off-site studies were reviewed, only documents that pertain to site-related mining studies or impact assessments are addressed herein. We reviewed regional studies to assess conditions in areas surrounding the mine and to identify the types of data collected for these studies (e.g., Ritzi (1981), Booth (1991), Carr/Associates (1983), Vashon-Maury Groundwater Management Com-mittee (1998)). These regional studies will be used to develop the site conceptual model under Task 3 and will provide background information for off-site characterization under Tasks 4, 5, and 8 of our scope. However, because these studies were not intended to evaluate the potential impacts of the mine or conditions at the mine site directly, their content is not discussed herein.

This report is divided in two main sections. Section 1 lists and briefly summarizes pertinent site documents. The second section discusses areas that require further investigation to assess mining impacts and addresses supporting information that would benefit documents summarized in Section 1. Section 2 is divided into Ecology′s four areas of concern for mining impacts: groundwater, surface water, nearshore environment, and contaminated soils. Each topic is evaluated using specific Questions Guiding the Study Effort as presented in Ecology′s initial request for proposal (ECY RFP 9913). Our comments focus on what additional information is needed to complete the impact studies and reference proposed project tasks where appropriate.