PORT ANGELES — The county hearing examiner will hear an appeal today from the owners of the Little River Quarry on Olympic Hot Springs Road who want county approval of the operation.
The appeal will be heard at 1 p.m. in room 160 of the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles.
The owners are challenging Clallam County’s categorization of portions of the 40-acre property as an “erosion hazard” and the county’s decision not to sign a form approving the operation earlier this year.
The property owners also say that the county’s regulations are not consistent with state law.
The quarry operated without needing county approval under the Forest Practices Act for about a year until March 2008.
That month, the state Department of Natural Resources withdrew the quarry’s permit after an appeal from nearby residents.
The state found that the operation did not meet the requirements of the act because its primary purpose was to mine and sell rock rather than forestry.
The owners, who could not be reached for comment Tuesday, have since sought county approval for the quarry.
Erosion hazard
Clallam County Planning Manager Steve Gray said portions of the property are considered an erosion hazard because there are slopes that exceed a 40-percent grade.
Gray said this requires the owners to develop a storm water management plan that would show how the quarry’s operation would protect streams from loose sediment.
It does not prohibit mining, he said.
Gray said the county did not sign the form that would give approval for the operation because a critical areas certificate of compliance has not been approved.
That certificate would show that the operation is in compliance with regulations regarding wetlands, aquatic habitats, streams, rivers, landslide hazard areas and other issues.
The quarry is in compliance with county zoning.
Nearby residents of the quarry have opposed the surface mining operation since it was proposed in 1998.
They have voiced concerns about noise, pollution, disruption of wildlife and additional traffic.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
