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North Bend Gravel Operation Addendum to FEIS Published and Revision to Existing Permit Approved |
Update - August 12, 2005
New Addendum to FEIS Published: An updated Visual Analysis of the modified Conveyor Route for the North Bend Gravel Operation (NBGO) has been completed and published by King County DDES.
This new information adds analysis in the form of an Addendum (156K .pdf) environmental document and it has been prepared pursuant to the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) and the Rules contained therein (WAC 197-11-600 and 706) for use by the public agencies and groups in the review of the proposal and alternatives. The Addendum was issued on August 12, 2005.
A wide variety of environmental impacts were previously evaluated in the Draft and Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Additional information as to the view impacts of the revised conveyor alignment was provided by the applicant with submission of the revision (L04RE043, 193K .pdf) to the existing grading permit (L98G0231).
Overall, the visual impacts of the revised alignment are substantially similar to the visual impacts identified for the alignment analyzed in the FEIS. Individual viewpoints may experience slightly altered perspectives that in some cases reduce the visual impacts and in others may increase the visual impacts.
The addendum provides additional information and analysis and does not substantially change the analysis of significant impacts and alternative in the environmental documents referenced in this addendum. No additional mitigation measures were identified.
Grading Permit Revision Issued: A grading permit revision (L04RE043, 193K .pdf) to the master grading permit (L98G0231) was issued for the construction of a conveyor and mining phases 5 through 10 at the North Bend Gravel Operation site. The action allows implementation of the remainder of the proposal described and analyzed in King County's FEIS prepared for the North Bend Gravel operations and issued December 19, 2001.
Phases 5 through 10 are consecutive mining phases located on top of Grouse Ridge, each under 50 acres in sizes. Together these phases will extract sand and gravel from 260 acres. Material excavated from mining phases 5 through 10 would be moved to the processing facility via conveyor. After a segment is mined, it will be reclaimed in accordance with Washington State law.
The conveyor route was revised from that evaluated in the FEIS by moving the route to the south by an average of 750 feet. An addendum to the FEIS analyzed the visual impacts related to the new route and found that the route does not substantially change the analysis of significant impacts and alternative in FEIS.
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North Bend Gravel Operation Permit Issued |
March 10, 2003: The grading permit (L98G0231) for the Cadman, Inc. North Bend Gravel Operation, also commonly known as the Grouse Ridge Gravel Pit, was issued by DDES on March 10, 2003. A Notice of Action and copies of the permit conditions (170KB .pdf) of approval were mailed to over 650 parties of record. There is no administrative appeal of the grading permit. The deadline for filing a judicial appeal of this permit decision is April 3, 2003.
The approved project will excavate up to 2.1 million tons of gravel per year from a 317 acre site located off of Exit 34 east of North Bend. Gravel will be transported from the site via Exit 34. Work on this project is expected to commence on March 10, 2003 and has an expected life of 25 years depending on market conditions. Reclamation will occur as mining reserves in given areas are depleted, and will include slope stabilization and erosion control, final contouring and topsoil placement, and revegetation. A copy of the permit conditions of approval is available online (170KB .pdf).
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Addendum to FEIS: Updated Noise Analysis |
| March 4, 2003: An updated noise analysis has been completed for Cadman Inc.'s proposal to operate a gravel mine east of the city of North Bend. This new information adds analysis in the form of an Addendum (924K .pdf) environmental document and it has been prepared pursuant to the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) and Rules contained therein (WAC 197-11-600 & 706) for use by the public, agencies, and groups in review of the proposal and alternatives. The Addendum was issued on March 4, 2003.
A wide variety of environmental impacts were previously evaluated in the Draft and Final Environmental Impact Statements (EIS). Additional noise analysis has been provided in response to public comments received on the Final EIS, which alleged deficiencies or inaccuracies regarding the analysis of project noise impacts. The alternatives identified in the EIS have not changed and no new significant adverse environmental impacts were identified in the updated noise analysis.
DDES has also approved a Noise Monitoring and Compliance Program (132K .pdf) submitted by Cadman that is included as an attachment to the Addendum. The Noise Monitoring and Compliance Program will be implemented to ensure that operation of the Cadman facility is in compliance with environmental noise limits established by King County. The program includes provisions for noise monitoring at defined periodic intervals, and in response to concerns or specific noise-generating sources; reporting; and, required corrective action.
Copies of the Addendum document are online and available for public review at the North Bend, downtown Seattle, and downtown King County Library System public libraries. Copies also are available at the first floor permit center at the King County Department of Development and Environmental Services (DDES), 900 Oakesdale Avenue SW, Renton, Washington during the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday (10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday). Cadman, Inc.'s Project Office at Ken's Truck Town in North Bend has copies as well.
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SEPA Process & Citizen Involvement |
The King County Department of Development and Environmental Services (DDES) has completed the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the applicant's mining proposal as required under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). See below for additional information on the Final EIS.
The following is a summary of the EIS and SEPA process.
On December 9, 1998, DDES issued a Scoping Notice and Determination of Significance (DS) indicating that an EIS was required before the permit application could be processed further. In January 1999, URS (formerly Dames and Moore) was selected as the EIS consultant. DDES was assisted in the consultant interviews by the applicant (Cadman, Inc.), Cascade Gateway Foundation, and the Wood River Homeowner's Association.
The Draft EIS was issued on June 15, 2000. Copies of the DEIS and appendices are available for public review at the North Bend Public Library, and downtown Seattle and downtown King County public libraries. Copies of the Draft EIS and appendices may also be purchased at a cost of $39.93 (DEIS - volume I) and $95.10 (Technical appendices-volume II). Make checks payable to King County Department of Finance, and obtain the copies from the cashier in the first floor permit center at the King County Department of Development and Environmental Services (DDES), 900 Oakesdale Avenue SW, Renton, Washington, during the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday (10:30 am to 4:30pm on Wednesday); or at the King County Animal / Business / Marriage Licensing office, Room 403, King County Administration Building, 500 4th Avenue, Seattle (Monday though Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).
The Draft EIS and technical appendices (Table of Contents, 71K .pdf) are also available online via this Web site. Please note the Draft EIS should be viewed using Adobe Acrobat 4.0 or higher as earlier versions may not display properly. You may download a free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader via this link. If you are experiencing difficulty viewing the Draft EIS from this site please refer to our troubleshooting page.
The Final EIS was issued on December 19, 2001. Copies of the Final EIS and appendices are available for public review online and at the North Bend Public Library, and the downtown Seattle and downtown King County Library public libraries. Copies of the Final EIS and appendices may also be purchased for a cost of $75.00 for volume I (FEIS), $75.00 (each) for volumes II & III (technical appendices), $50.00 Volume IV (Comments & Responses), $50.00 (each) Volumes V & VI (Comment Documents, parts 1 and 2) from the cashier in the first floor permit center at DDES, 900 Oakesdale Avenue SW, Renton, Washington; or, at the King County Licensing office, Room 411, King County Administration Building, 500 4th Avenue, Seattle.
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How to Contact Us |
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Please direct EIS questions to:
Barbara Heavey
Project Program Manager III
King County Land Use Services Division
900 Oakesdale Avenue SW
Renton, WA 98055-1219
Phone: 206-296-7222
Direct all questions on the permit review to:
Paul Meyer
Site Development Specialist II
King County Land Use Services Division
900 Oakesdale Avenue SW
Renton, Washington 98055-1219
Phone: 206-296-7287
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