Jefferson: Now it's up to county commissioners to decide whether they'll consider mineral overlay zone for Shine pit

2004-06-11
by JIM MANDERS

Jefferson County commissioners on Monday will decide when they will deliberate on a mineral overlay zone for Fred Hill Materials' Shine gravel pit in the wake of Wednesday night's lengthy, emotional hearing on the issue.

Although 49 speakers testified during the hearing in the auditorium at Chimacum High School, proponents and opponents of the project say the commissioners have more than public testimony to consider as they make their decision.

``There are some issues and they need to do their homework,'' said John Fabian, president of the Hood Canal Coalition, which opposes the mineral overlay zone as well as the ``pit-to-pier'' project.

Fabian and other opponents said the mineral overlay zone and pit-to-pier project are one, but proponents say the two issues are divided by a comprehensive environmental review that will be needed before the plan is approved to build a four-mile conveyor from the Shine gravel pit to an 1,100-foot pier on Hood Canal.

From the pier, barges would be loaded for shipping the gravel.

``A lot of people expressed concerns that will have to be addressed in the environmental-impact statement for the pit-to-pier,'' said Dan Baskins, project manager for Poulsbo-based Fred Hill Materials Inc.

``The environmental process will allow a formal and thorough vetting of the merits and potential risks of the pit-to-pier project.''