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Description:The permitting action is the approval of a Stormwater Management Permit for a hard rock mining operation. The Applicant, Iron Mountain Quarry, proposes to conduct mining activities on the subject property in three (3) phases over approximately 40 years. The total project area is 142 acres; however, the first phase (Phase 1B) is approximately 69 acres and will include establishing the primary and secondary processing and stockpile areas, stormwater control ponds, a maintenance building and yard, and mining the southwest portion of the site. Mining for Phase 1B is expected to last approximately five to ten years. The second phase (Phase 1A) will mine the southeastern portion of the site, to the north of the stormwater control ponds. The third phase (Phase 2) will be to expand the Phase 1A area to the north, advancing generally from south to north. This permit approval is for Phase 1B only.
The mine will generally operate during the hours of 6:30 AM - 4:30 PM Monday through Friday, with occasional Saturday operations. Approximately eight to ten employees will work at the site. According to the application, the mine will initially produce about 290,000 tons annually. As the economy and demand improve, the total could reach 400,000 tons. Volume in the winter months would be between 8,000 and 16,000 tons per month and during the summer between 26,000 and 52,000 tons per month.
In addition to mining equipment, the new processing facility will contain rock conveyors and crushers, a scale house and a maintenance building. The scale house and the maintenance building will each have toilet facilities with an associated septic system; water will be provided via well. A well will also be used for water used in dust control.
The proposed action requires approval of a Stormwater Management Permit and issuance of a building permit by Jefferson County. It also requires the following permits from other agencies:
" Sand and Gravel General National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit by the Washington Department of Ecology,
" Surface Mining Permit by the Washington Department of Natural Resources,
" Air Permit from Olympic Region Clean Air Agency,
" Reclamation Permit by the Washington Department of Natural Resources,
" Forest Practices Permit by the Washington Department of Natural Resources,
" Jurisdictional Determination by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The following additional permits/approvals may be needed:
" Hydraulic Project Approval from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife,
" Section 404 Permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
" Section 401 Water Quality from the Washington Department of Ecology,
" Developer Agreement from Washington State Department of Transportation
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Date Issued:9/28/2012 |