Next week, from Monday through Thursday, the Snohomish County Council will hold hearings on the 10-year update of the Growth Management Act Comprehensive Plan, which includes a Mineral Resources Overlay (MRO).
If adopted, the MRO would designate 131,363 acres of Snohomish County’s forestlands as mineral resource lands, meaning these lands can be used for gravel pits. These lands contain an estimated 500-year supply of rock.
Initially a 1,320-foot setback from existing residential uses was proposed, but the final MRO eliminated the setbacks. Gravel mines often operate for decades, up to six days a week, eight or more hours a day. Noise, traffic and environmental impacts are industrial in nature. High walls, dust and blasting create hazards to adjacent residents. Although Snohomish County Planner Mary Lynne Evans acknowledges that gravel mines poke holes in aquifers, the MRO provides no protection to adjacent aquifers. The county will not even consider an aquifer protection code until next year.
The MRO allows conversion of 52 percent of the county’s classified or designated forestlands to gravel mining because the county deems the two uses to be compatible. Forestlands have historically been multiple use lands, supplying forest products, protecting watersheds and providing wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities. Lands converted to mineral extraction can be used for mining only. Gravel mines will likely be placed in locations convenient to roads, cutting off the public from the areas most often used for recreation.
Gravel mining must be closely regulated. The MRO removes an important layer of regulation from the approval process. It is a flawed concept that should certainly not be approved unless a significant setback from residential uses is added. Attend the hearings during the first week of October and make your views known to the County Council.
Carol C. Schorpp
Monroe
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