Washington State Department of Ecology

Department of Ecology News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Oct. 21, 1999

99-211

Contact: Dave Garland, Water Quality Program, (425) 649-7031
Ron Langley, Public Information, (425) 649-7009

Maury Island environmental studies under way

BELLEVUE - The state Department of Ecology (Ecology) has launched a group of studies that will independently review the environmental effects of expanding the Lone Star gravel mine on Maury Island.

Ecology, with advice from interests on all sides of the project, hired Pacific Groundwater Group of Seattle to study the effects of taking 85 million tons of sand and gravel from the mine over the next 11 years. The state Legislature set a June 30, 2000, deadline for completing the studies and provided $250,000 to pay for them.

A public workshop next week will cover initial work by the contractor and outline what will be done between now and June 30. The workshop is scheduled for 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26, at Chautauqua Elementary School Multi-Purpose Room, 9309 S.W. Cemetery Rd., on Vashon Island. A second workshop will be held next summer to discuss final data and conclusions.

"Normally, we expect project proponents to pay for these kinds of studies, but in this case the Legislature wanted a second opinion," said Ray Hellwig, Ecology's regional manager. "We are confident the consultant we've chosen will deliver independent, high-quality information based on solid science."

Hellwig said the studies will generate new information in addition to verifying some of the existing data and conclusions about the mine site. In particular, they will include:

New information on groundwater flow and recharge. A groundwater flow model will be developed to predict changes in groundwater levels, flow patterns, and flows from springs and seeps caused by the proposed mining project;
More information on the marine environment close to shore that potentially would be affected by the proposed mine. New data will be gathered on fisheries habitat for threatened or endangered species, habitat types for bottom-dwelling creatures, and nearshore sediment quality;
A review of the nature and extent of soil contamination believed to be linked to stack emissions from the ASARCO Ruston smelter. The consultant will also perform an engineering review of the contaminated-soil containment cell proposed at the Lone Star site.

Hellwig said Ecology will send a report on data and conclusions from the studies to state, federal and local agencies making environmental decisions about the proposed mine expansion, and make it available to the public. If data or conclusions from the studies conflict with existing information, Ecology will use the new information when it considers or, if necessary, reconsiders any of its own permit decisions related to the project.