May 2002

Contact: Deborah Cornett, (425) 775-1311, ext. 114; or
Doug Williams, (360) 902-2256

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has issued a Hydraulic Project Approval (HPA) to Glacier Northwest to reconstruct a gravel barge dock on Maury Island.

The HPA, issued May 13, covers dock reconstruction and potential impacts associated with gravel barging activities at the proposed Maury Island Glacier Northwest Gravel Mine site. It is the first of several government-issued permits and documents Glacier Northwest must have in order to operate the gravel-mining facility, which calls for transporting mined material to various locations in Puget Sound via barge.

The permit was issued with a series of environmental protection and mitigation conditions, ensuring that there will be no net loss of nearshore habitat function as a result of this project.

Key to the agreement was the mitigation plan submitted by Glacier Northwest, which included a commitment to create 5,000 square feet of eelgrass beds adjacent existing beds at the project site. Eelgrass is considered one of the most important components to the nearshore marine environment for a number of fish and wildlife species, including salmon. The company agreed to do annual baseline monitoring until the project begins, and will continue monitoring the site for the life of the project. Glacier Northwest will begin transplanting eelgrass in the summer of 2002, pending permits and approvals from other agencies. This would give the eelgrass time to establish itself prior to any barging operation.

The HPA requires Glacier Northwest to use "best management practices" for reconstructing the dock. These include:

• Removing all of the dock's creosote-treated pilings and replacing them with steel pilings. The existing pilings can leach creosote – a known carcinogen – into the marine habitat. Steel pilings are stronger than wooden pilings, meaning fewer are required to support the dock. This will allow more light to penetrate beneath the pier, which is important for light-dependent marine vegetative growth. In addition, the pier's solid walkways will be replaced with grated ones, which will also improve lighting conditions underneath the pier.

• Enclosing the gravel conveyor belt. This reduces the chance that gravel can spill off the dock and into Puget Sound. In addition, a real-time video monitoring system will be installed to quickly alert operators of any problems that might occur.

• Installing a haul-back system. Glacier Northwest will use a state-of-the-art pulley system to position and secure barges to the dock during gravel loading. This reduces tug propeller turbulence that can affect adjacent eelgrass beds, and eliminate the need for several existing creosote-treated bumpers at the end of the dock. The company has also voluntarily established a "barging approach and departure protocol" for the project that outlines procedures for how barges and tugs operate to minimize habitat impacts.

More information on the HPA process is available on the WDFW website.

Return to WDFW Home Page