PORT LUDLOW— The Jefferson County Department of Community Development has decided that a proposed quarry will have no significant environmental influence and will not require an environmental impact statement.
“We had a lot of eyes and ears on this and reviewed and vetted every aspect of the application,” said acting Community Development Director Stacie Hoskins, who issued the decision Friday. “We went a step further and submitted it to a peer review, so all the questions and concerns have been answered.”
The determination of nonsignificance issued by the county includes 35 mitigation measures to address effects on surface water, air quality, environmental impacts, critical areas, plants and animals and noise, according to the county.
Hoskins determined that with these mitigations the proposal would not have a significant adverse impact on the environment and an environmental impact statement would not be required.
Iron Mountain LLC of Bothell seeks to develop a 142-acre quarry on Pope Resources land near Port Ludlow, and has been involved in a permit process dating back to 2007.
Iron Mountain owner Jim Burnett had no comment Monday about the county’s action, saying “the decision speaks for itself.”
The project has drawn opposition from citizens, several of whom wrote letters urging the county to deny use permits or require an environmental impact statement.
“I’m frustrated and disgusted,” said Reinhold Pflugfelder of Port Ludlow.
“As usual, the people who have the money win.”
“I’m disappointed,” said Robert Bertoia.
“We moved here to be in a quiet retirement community and it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen.
“Even if they don’t run their trucks through town, you will still be able to hear the blasting from the golf course.”
Opposition isn’t universal.
“I think they’ve done a fine job,” said former Port Ludlow Village Council member Larry Nobles.
“They’ve answered all our questions and have given us the control we need.”
The company’s proposal includes mining in some of the 12 wetland and wetland buffers areas on the property, and landowner Pope has proposed compensation by deeding more than 55 acres of property it owns along Shine Creek.
Hoskins said the county still needs to get information from Iron Mountain about its stormwater management.
Once that is acquired, it stormwater permit will be issued.
That will open a public comment process and at that time the decision can be appealed, she said.
David Armitage, a member of the Port Ludlow South Bay Community Association, said he had not decided about the next steps.
“We are looking at all of our options and deciding what kind of appeal we might make,” Armitage said.
“It’s clear that the county really hasn’t listened to the will of the people.”
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
