History of "Pit To Pier"

1959	The Shine Pit opened as a temporary source of materials for construction of the Hood Canal Bridge.
1979	Fred Hill Material leased the Shine Pit and began mining operations
1994	DNR granted FHM their first expansion of the Shine Pit
1999 –2000	FHM began design and development of the Pit to Pier proposal
1999	FHM requested expansion of the Shine Pit Mining Permit to the 156 acre Wahl Lake site plus 9 acres for a mile long conveyor belt. This is the first concrete step by FHM to piece meal the Pit to Pier project. (In July of 2002 DNR and Jefferson County ruled the request was not an expansion but rather a new mine requiring a new permit.)
10-9-00	Ace Paving Asphalt Batch Plant permit was issued
10-23-00	DNR granted an expansion of approximately 23 acres at the Shine Pit increasing the size of the mine to 144acres
4-24-01	FHM attorney Jim Tracy made an offer through a real estate agent on the Groves Way property that ultimately was designated as the site for the 1000 foot industrial pier.
5-2-01	Betsy Peabody, President of the Puget Sound Restoration Fund, Tom Hujar, FHM political consultant and Dan Baskins, FHM Pit to Pier project manager, briefed Governor Locke’s staff, WDFW,DOE, and DNR on the Pit to Pier Project. They presented it as a beach restoration project.
8-6-01	FHM attorney Jim Tracy purchased the Groves Way property, intended as the site of the industrial pier, in his name for $270,000.
10-24-01	The first formal meeting is held between FHM and Jefferson County DCD regarding the Pit to Pier Project. (It should be noted this was prior to a pre-application filing or payment of appropriate fees in violation of DCD policy.)
1-16-02	A pre-application meeting was held between FHM, the Corps of Engineers Seattle Division, state and federal agencies.
2-8-02	FHM attorney Jim Tracy sold the Groves Way “pier” property to Hood Canal Sand and Gravel, LLC (Actually FHM) for $209,840. (A $60,160 loss??)
2-20-02	An “official” pre-application meeting regarding the Pit to Pier Project was held between FHM, DCD, and other county departments. Based on meeting notes a Mineral Lands Resource Overlay (MRLO) of 24,000 acres was discussed.
3-1-02	Another meeting occurred between FHM and Jefferson County regarding the Pit to Pier Project. This time a MRLO of 20,000 to 40,000 acres was discussed.
3-20-02	A meeting was held with Al Scalf, Director of DCD and Pit to Pier Project Manager Dan Baskins. Meeting notes reflect a discussion about a series of future Shine Pit expansions based upon the capacity of the Pit to Pier Project. Baskins requested a significant current expansion with a series of future expansions as well as additional MRLO’s in 2003, 2004 and 2005. (this appears to be an attempt to piece meal the Pit to Pier Project through a series of expansions of the existing Shine Pit operation and future consecutive MRLO’s)
4-9-02	Reporter Christopher Dunagan of the Bremerton Sun broke the news story of the proposed Pit to Pier Project and made it public for the first time. The article stated that FHM has been working on the project for two years.
4-17-02	FHM hosted a quickly pieced together community meeting to inform residents of the benefits of the Pit to Pier Project. Project Manager Dan Baskins falsely advises the audience that the Governor’s Office, and others support the project.
4-30-02	FHM applied for a Comprehensive Plan Amendment to designate an additional 6,240 acres of Pope commercial forest as a Mineral Resource Land Overlay (MRLO). DCD meeting notes indicated plans for future MRLO requests ultimately totaling 20,000 to 40,000 acres.
7-02	Project Manager Dan Baskins and Betsy Peabody (PSRF) once again traveled to Olympia to lobby legislators including House Speaker Frank Chopp on behalf of the Pit to Pier Project.
10-22-02	After significant public and environmental opposition to the 6,240 MRLO, FHM submitted a new request for a 765 acre MRLO.
11-13-02	The Jefferson County Planning Commission ultimately recommended a 690 acre MRLO with Pit to Pier conditions while at the same time denying any relationship between the MRLO and the Pit to Pier Project.
12-9-02	The Jefferson County BOCC approved the 690 acre MRLO with Pit to Pier conditions attached while maintaining there was no relationship between the MRLO and the Pit to Pier Project.
2-21-03	The 690 MRLO granted by the BOCC was appealed by the Hood Canal Coalition and six other equally concerned organizations.
3-27-03	FHM submitted applications for both an expanded mine and the Pit to Pier Project. (Ultimate approval will require a “Conditional Use Permit” by Jefferson County to allow FHM to use rural residential designated property as the platform for a massive 1000 foot long industrial pier.)
6-24-03	The MRLO appeal was heard before the Western Washington Growth Management Hearing Board.
8-15-03	The Hearing Board issued a ruling that Jefferson County was not in compliance with the State Environmental Protection Act (SEPA) in that they failed to perform adequate environmental assessments
8-22-03	Jefferson County filed a motion with the WWGMHB asking for reconsideration of their original findings.
8-25-03	FHM joined with Jefferson County in a similar motion
9-2-03	Hood Canal Coalition attorneys filed an objection to these motions.
9-11-03	The WWGMHB unanimously denied the FHM and Jeff Co motions for reconsideration.
1-22-04	Congressman Norm Dicks publicly stated his opposition to the FHM Pit to Pier Project
2-19-04	The Hearing Board moved the Compliance Hearing from April to August providing Jefferson County additional time to prepare their case in the matter of HCC et al versus Jefferson County and FHM relating to the successful HCC appeal of the County’s decision to grant a 690 acre mining district to FHM.
5-25-04	An overflow crowd appeared at a BOCC public hearing held at the Jeff Co Courthouse. The BOCC informed those present that the public would not be allowed to speak (FHM’s position). The meeting was cancelled because of the large crowd and rescheduled for 6-7-04.
6-7-04	The rescheduled public hearing conducted in order to comply with previous WWGMHB direction was held at Chimicum H.S. The BOCC reversed their previous position and allowed public testimony.
6-30-04	The Jefferson County Commissioners despite overwhelming opposition and testimony approved the 690 acre MRLO for the second time.
9-2-04	The WWGMHB Compliance Hearing was held to determine whether or not Jefferson County had rectified issues identified in the board’s previous ruling against the county.
9-15-04	FHM applied to Jefferson County DCD for a 10 acre expansion at the Shine Pit
10-14-04	The WWGMHB ruled that Jefferson County was now in compliance with SEPA and other requirements regarding their granting of the 690 acre MRLO to FHM.
11-15-04	The WWGMHB denied HCC’s request for reconsideration of their 10-14-04 ruling in favor of Jefferson County.
11-19-04	Jefferson County DCD granted the 10 acre expansion at the Shine Pit issuing a determination of non-significance (no environmental impact).
11-04	Two of the Jefferson County Commissioners (Titterness and Huntingford) who had on two occasions approved the 690 acre MRLO were not re-elected to office.
12-15-04	HCC and 6 other organizations filed a Petition for Judicial Review in Jefferson County Superior Court of the WWGMHB’s denial of reconsideration of their 10-14-04 ruling. (This court appeal is still pending)
12-04	FHM requested that DCD proceed with processing their 7-3-03 application for a 156 acre mine in the Wahl Lake area of the 690 acre MRLO. DCD allowed public input and extended the comment period several times.
1-26-05	Jefferson County DCD released an RFQ for the EIS on the FHM Pit to Pier proposal.
3-30-05	Jefferson County DCD issued a Mitigated Determination of Non Significance (MDNS) for the 156 acre Wahl Lake strip mining request finding that it posed no environmental threat and did not require an EIS or public comment.
4-4-05	FHM attorney Jim Tracy appeared at a Jefferson County BOCC meeting and incorrectly admonished the newly elected commissioners that they were prohibited from hearing or receiving public comment on the Wahl Lake permit or the Pit to Pier proposal.
4-13-05	Based upon the volume of protests from environmental groups, the tribes, WDFW, independent consultants, HCC and the public DCD extended the comment period regarding their MDNS finding on the Wahl Lake 156 acre strip mine until 4-20-05.
5-12-05	Based upon overwhelming public comment and scientific data DCD withdrew their MDNS finding on the 156 acre Wahl Lake extraction area. They changed their finding to a Determination of Significance (DS) and required a full EIS.
6-22-05	After pressure from FHM and submission of a revised application by the company, DCD flip flopped once again and re-issued a MDNS for the 156 acre Wahl Lake strip mine.
7-18-05	Jefferson County DCD again reversed themselves. Although proceeding with a MDNS finding DCD restricted the SEPA determination to only 39 acres of the 156 acres originally requested. This permit is critical as it is a major step forward in FHM’s attempt to piecemeal the Pit to Pier project.
10-05	Formal evaluation and a full EIS are still pending on the Pit to Pier application filed by FHM in March, 2003. There has been little activity on the Pit to Pier specific applications since DCD issued the RFQ for the EIS in January, 2005. However FHM continues to pursue the Wahl Lake mine and has constructed a 1 ¼ mile cement road bed for the conveyor belt from the Wahl Lake site to the Shine Pit. Jefferson County DCD did not require any permits for this considerable construction project.