A trio of trucks travel to and from the Zimmerly gravel pit near Washougal. (Amanda Cowan/The Columbian files)
Clark County took the unusual step Wednesday of reversing its findings on two proposed mining projects. The county reversed its findings that rezoning requests for the Chelatchie Bluff Mineral Lands and Cardai Hill mining operations would have no significant environmental impacts.
The reversal came after the state Growth Management Hearings Board ruled March 22 the county had “failed to conduct an adequate State Environmental Policy Act analysis and improperly chose to defer a more in-depth review of impacts of the surface mining overlay until the project stage, despite the higher level of detail provided by the applicant.”
Typically, the county’s position has been that zoning changes in themselves don’t have environmental impacts and deferred State Environmental Policy Act analysis until a conditional use permit, building permit or something similar is requested.
“We’re not approving a mine. We’re not approving a project. We are approving an amended map update to the comprehensive growth management plan and zoning maps to add a surfacing mining overlay. Any future project, any future mining activities, has to go through a complete process,” former Councilor Julie Olson said at the July 19 council meeting that saw the Chelatchie surface mining overlay approved.
The Friends of Clark County appealed the council’s ruling on the Chelatchie Bluff rezoning request from Granite Construction Company.
“The board ruled that the county had sufficient information prior to going forward with the comprehensive plan amendment process; that they were required to do a comprehensive SEPA analysis to determine the potential significant adverse environmental impacts that would be caused by mining on these 330 acres,” attorney David McDonald said.
McDonald said the Friends of Clark County appeal argued there was sufficient knowledge of “what was coming down the pike” to do a more comprehensive environmental review. The hearings board agreed.
In its ruling, the board said the county’s “failure to complete adequate and comprehensive environmental review substantially interferes with the Growth Management Act’s goal to protect the environment.”
Since withdrawing its findings, the county has issued new findings for both proposals and is moving forward with full environmental reviews. The county will be accepting public comments through April 26 on what the scope of those reviews should include.
McDonald said the Friends of Clark County also appealed the Cardai Hill mining overlay but may withdraw its appeal now that the county is moving forward with a State Environmental Policy Act review.
