Surface Mining and Reclamation

Lorena Butte Mine
Lorena Butte mine, near Goldendale, extracting cinder and basalt. Photo credit: Carrie Gillum, WGS.

If you would like to review a Surface Mine Reclamation Permit file, please contact Public Disclosure at publicdisclosure@dnr.wa.gov. For more information about public disclosure, please visit: www.dnr.wa.gov/about/submit-public-disclosure-request. For agency-wide consistency with the Public Records Act, RCW 42.56, we will no longer be accommodating walk-in requests to the WGS office.

Surface mining reclamation restores vegetation, soil stability, and proper water conditions after mining. Each site will be completed differently depending on the future use and reclamation law. However, the work completed prevents future environmental degradation and prepares the site for its future use.

2005 mining and subsequent wetland reclamation in 2013 of the Fjetland sand and gravel pit, near the port of Tacoma. Imagery courtesy of Google Earth.

Good reclamation allows for proper future use and it limits environmental impacts. It is expected that surface miners do what's called 'segmental reclamation', where they restore portions of the mine while other areas continue to be worked. This helps reduce the cost of reclamation at the end of mining. It also restores the site to its ultimate condition much more quickly.

A lush and verdant wetland surrounded by green, grassy slopes.
Wetland creation at the former Fjetland sand and gravel pit, near Tacoma.
View of the Chambers Bay Golf Course, a rolling, grassy landscape.
Home of the 2015 U.S. Open, Chambers Bay was once the Steilacoom sand and gravel pit, one of the nation's largest.

Poor reclamation leads to unusable and unattractive sites. They can create issues well beyond their location, such as muddy water flowing into streams or unstable land.

A gravel pit with steep walls that are shedding sediment onto the floor of the pit.
This unreclaimed site (that shall remain nameless) has vertical walls and no vegetation.
A gravel road winds through thick vegetation in a gravel pit. Bright yellow invasive Scotch Broom is visible.
This site, also nameless, is home to many invasive species, with many areas lacking vegetation and eroding slopes.
What is reclamation?

The supply of limited geologic resources (such as aggregate) inevitably run out in a mine. What happens to the land and area of the mine after that? This is an important question that is addressed prior to the mine opening. Mine operators work with local governments to identify what the mine site will become once it is closed, known as 'subsequent use.' Once the mine operators and the local governments come to an agreement, WGS works with the mine operator to make sure that the reclamation plan meet the standards of the Surface Mining Act, RCW 78.44. Retired mine sites are commonly converted into forest that provides habitat for birds and other animals. Near urban areas, former mines may become city parks with grassy areas and trails for people to enjoy. Some former mine sites are developed, providing additional land for urban growth.

Chambers Bay
The Chambers Bay Golf Course located in University Place, WA, host of the 2015 U.S. Open, was constructed on a reclaimed gravel mine. The "Ruins" shown above were once used for keeping different sizes of aggregate separate. Photo by Michael D. Martin (Flickr Creative Commons).

Reclamation does not have to wait until the end of a project (RCW 78.44). Sometimes reclamation starts while a mine is in operation. Known as 'segmental reclamation', DNR encourages mine owners to reclaim parts of the mine as they are finished working them. This helps to control erosion, the spread of noxious weeds, and prevent blowing dust. Also, it spreads the cost of reclamation for the mine owner out over time.

Rules, Regulations and Forms Page

What is the Surface Mine Reclamation Program?

The Surface Mine Reclamation Program (SMRP) is part of the Washington Geological Survey within the Washington Department of Natural Resources. The program was created in 1971 after the legislature created the Surface Mining Act.

The SMRP makes sure that all lands and waters within the state are protected and reclaimed after mining is complete. It also provides consistent regulation of both permitted and unpermitted surface mines statewide.

The SMRP monitors surface mines and issue reclamation permits. Monitoring for compliance is usually performed by on-site inspection. Aerial photography is frequently used as well to document mining activity.

When do I need a Surface Mine Reclamation Permit?

The Surface Mining Act requires surface miners to get a permit when (1) the intent is to be a surface mine or (2) removal of minerals results in:

  • more than three acres of disturbed area
  • mined slopes greater than thirty feet high and steeper than 1.0 foot horizontal to 1.0 foot vertical
  • more than one acre of disturbed area within an eight acre area, from mineral prospecting or exploration activities

Some exemptions to the law include the use of materials or equipment for:

  • on-site construction, road maintenance, landfill construction
  • public safety or restoring the land following a natural disaster
  • removing stockpiles
  • forest or farm road construction or maintenance at the site or on contiguous lands
Who do I contact with questions about mine inspections?

 Surface mine reclamation specialists are assigned set geographic areas based on county boundaries. To see the specialist responsible for your county refer to the map below. Please direct any questions about your mining permit and inspections to the reclamation specialist assigned to the county in which the mine is located.

Surface Mine
Specialist Counties
Specialist Kate Tackett
(360) 490-7667
kate.tackett@dnr.wa.gov		 Counties Clallam, Jefferson, Grays Harbor, Mason, Kitsap, Pierce, King
Specialist John Bromley
(360) 280-7518
john.bromley@dnr.wa.gov		 Counties Pacific, Wahkiakum, Lewis, Thurston, Cowlitz, Clark, Skamania, Klickitat, Yakima
Specialist Ben Stanton
(564) 200-3286
ben.stanton@dnr.wa.gov		 Counties Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Lincoln, Spokane, Whitman, Garfield, Asotin
Specialist Joe Lydon
(564) 200-3284
joe.lydon@dnr.wa.gov		 Counties San Juan, Island, Whatcom, Skagit, Okanogan
Specialist Rian Skov
(360) 704-0963
rian.skov@dnr.wa.gov		 Counties Kittitas, Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Benton, Franklin, Adams, Walla Walla, Columbia

 

How is compliance with the Surface Mining Act maintained?

Surface Mine Reclamation staff work closely with stakeholders to ensure they are compliant with the Surface Mining Act. Inspections of known mines are performed every one to two years. Inspectors document the progress of mining and reclamation making sure it is consistent with their permit.

If the mine is found to be out of compliance with the law, a notice of correction is issued. Program staff work with the miners to fix the problem. If the miners do not correct the issues, further formal notice is given and enforcement may occur. Penalty for not fixing problems with a site may lead to stop work orders, civil penalties, and (or) fines.

Organizations which can provide technical assistance

All regulatory agencies are required to provide upon request a list of organizations, including private companies, which can provide technical assistance (RCW 43.05.020). This list shall be compiled by the agencies from information submitted by the organizations and shall not constitute an endorsement by an agency of any organization.

If you would like your company or organization to be included or deleted or you need to make corrections to this list, please send information to:

Nikolas Midttun
Washington Geological Survey
MS 47007; Olympia, WA 98504-7007
nikolas.midttun@dnr.wa.gov

The following is a partial list of organizations and does not constitute an endorsement by any agency or organization.

Organization Contact Street City Phone Email Website
Organization 4 Seasons Engineering, Inc. Contact Jay Peterson Street 619 Chase St S City Port Angeles WA 98362 Phone 360-452-3023 Email email Website n/a
Organization Advisian a Worley Parsons Group Contact Mihail Dan Miziumschi Street 201 NE Park Plaza Dr Suite 100 City Vancouver WA 98684 Phone n/a Email email Website website
Organization Agua Tierra Land & Water Services, Inc. Contact Christian Fromuth Street 506 SE Edison St Ste 100 City Olympia WA 98501 Phone 360-754-3755 Email email Website website
Organization All-American Geotechnical Inc. Contact Curtis Cushman L.E.G. L.G. Street 8947 Buttonwood Lane NE City Olympia Washington 98516 Phone 360-491-5155 Email n/a Website website
Organization AMEC Foster Wheeler Contact ALLEN L. HART Street 1720 N Oakes City Tacoma WA 98406-7524 Phone 253-752-8963 Email email Website website
Organization AMEC Foster Wheeler Contact Stephen Siebert Street 11810 North Creek Parkway N City Bothell WA 98011 Phone 425-368-1000 Email email Website website
Organization AMEC Foster Wheeler Contact Steve Ellis Street 3500 188th St SW Ste 601 City Lynnwood WA 98037-4763 Phone 425-921-4000 Email email Website website
Organization AMEC Earth & Environmental, Inc. Contact Scott Kranz Street 7376 SW Durham Rd City Portland OR 97224 Phone 503-639-3400 Email email Website website
Organization AMEC Earth & Environmental, Inc. Contact Terry Grotbo Street 639 Helena Ave Suite 1A City Helena MT 59601 Phone 406-442-0860 Email email Website website
Organization American Engineering Corp. Contact Einar Gunderson Street 4032 148th Ave NE City Redmond WA 98052 Phone 425-881-7430; 425-881-7731 Email n/a Website website
Organization Anderson Perry & Associates, Inc. Contact Ed Hibbard Street 214 E Birch St; PO Box 1687 City Walla Walla WA 99362 Phone 509-529-9260 Email n/a Website website
Organization Apex Engineering, Inc. Contact Kim Savage Street 2601 S. 35th St, Suite #200 City Tacoma, WA 98406 Phone 253-473-4494 Email email Website website
Organization Aspect Consulting, LLC Contact n/a Street 350 Madison Ave N City Bainbridge Island WA 98110 Phone 206-780-9438 Email email Website website
Organization Aspect Consulting, LLC Contact n/a Street 401 2nd Ave S Ste 201 City Seattle WA 98104 Phone 206-838-5853 Email email Website website
Organization Associated Earth Sciences, Inc. Contact Edwardo Garcia Street 2911 ½ Hewitt Ave Ste 2 City Everett WA 98201 Phone 425-259-0522 Email email Website website
Organization Associated Earth Sciences, Inc. Contact Curtis Koger Street 911 5th Ave Ste 100 City Kirkland WA 98033 Phone 425-827-7701 Email n/a Website website
Organization Beyler Consulting LLC Contact Landon C. Beyler P.E. Street 7602 Bridgeport Way W. Suite 3D City Lakewood WA 98499 Phone 253-301-4157 Email email Website website
Organization Bennett Consulting, PLLC Contact George Bennett Street 46129 SE 130th St City North Bend WA 98045 Phone 425-785-8390 Email email Website website
Organization Bell Design Company Contact Austin Bell Street 900 W Steuben; PO Box 308 City Bingen WA 98605 Phone 509-493-3886 Email email Website website
Organization Berglund Schmidt & Associates, Inc. Contact n/a Street 2323 Bay Ave City Hoquiam WA 98550 Phone 360-532-7630 Email email Website website
Organization Budinger & Associates, Inc. Contact n/a Street 1101 N. Fancher Road City Spokane Valley, WA 99212 Phone 509-535-8841 Email email Website website
Organization Cane Engineering Contact n/a Street 231 SE Pioneer Dr #203 City Oak Harbor WA 98277-3200 Phone 360-279-0615 Email email Website website
Organization Cascade Earth Sciences, Ltd. Contact n/a Street 3511 Pacific Blvd SW City Albany OR 97321-3780 Phone 541-926-7737 Email email Website website
Organization Cascade Earth Sciences, Ltd. Contact n/a Street E 12720 Nora Ave Ste A City Spokane WA 99216 Phone 509-921-0290 Email email Website website
Organization Cavassa & Associates, Inc. Contact Jim Gardner Street 321 N Lewis St City Monroe WA 98272 Phone 360-794-7266 Email email Website website
Organization CH2M Hill Contact Mark Bricker Street 1100 112th Ave NE Ste 500 City Bellevue WA 98004 Phone 425-233-3294 Email email Website website
Organization CH2M Hill Contact Jim Stefanoff Street 717 W Sprague Ave Ste 800 City Spokane WA 99201-3709 Phone 509-747-2000 Email email Website website
Organization Chinook Geoservices, Inc. Contact R. Warren Krager Street 1508 Broadway St City Vancouver WA 98663 Phone 360-695-8500 Email email Website n/a
Organization Coldwater Resources, LLC Contact Bryan Allison Street PO Box 164 City Castle Rock WA 98611 Phone 971-338-9297 Email email Website website
Organization CPH Consultants Contact Matt Hough Street 733 7th Ave Ste 100 City Kirkland WA 98033 Phone 425-285-2390 Email email Website website
Organization Crux Subsurface, Inc. Contact n/a Street 4308 N Barker Rd City Spokane Valley WA 99216 Phone 509-892-9409 Email email Website website
Organization David Evans & Associates (DEA) Contact n/a Street 908 N Howard Ste 300 City Spokane WA 99201 Phone 509-327-8697 Email n/a Website website
Organization Dragovich Geo-Consulting Contact Joe Dragovich, L.G., L.E.G. Street 3050 Carpenter Hills Lp SE City Lacey WA 98503 Phone 360-316-8190 Email email Website n/a
Organization Ecological Land Services, Inc. Contact Tim Haderly Street 1157 3rd Ave Ste 220 City Longview WA 98632 Phone 360-578-1371 Email email Website website
Organization Element Solutions Contact Paul Pittman Street 1812 Cornwall Ave. City Bellingham WA 98225 Phone 360-671-9172 Email email Website website
Organization EMR Contact Michelle Smith Street 2211 Rimland Dr Ste 210 City Bellingham WA 98226 Phone 360-647-3922 Email email Website website
Organization ESM Consulting Engineers, LLC Contact Eric Labrie Street 33400 8th Ave S Ste 205 City Federal Way WA 98003 Phone 253-838-6113 Email email Website website
Organization Environmental West Exploration, Inc. Contact n/a Street 1015 N Yardley St City Spokane WA 99211 Phone 509-534-2740 Email email Website website
Organization Farallon Consulting, LLC Contact Cliff Schmitt Street 975 5th Ave NW City Issaquah WA 98027 Phone 425-295-0800 Email email Website website
Organization Foundation Engineering, Inc. Contact Brooke Running Street 820 NW Cornell Ave City Corvallis OR 97330-4517 Phone 541-757-7645 Email email Website website
Organization Frosty Hollow Ecological Restoration Contact n/a Street PO Box 53 City Langley WA 98260 Phone 360-579-2332 Email email Website n/a
Organization Fulcrum GeoResources LLC Contact Erick J. Staley Street 17600 Pacific Hwy, Unit 357 City Marylhurst, OR 97036 Phone 503-250-2247 Email email Website n/a
Organization Geodesign (now NV5) Contact n/a Street 1157 3rd Avenue, Suite 220B City Longview, WA 98632 Phone 503-968-8787 Email email Website website
Organization Geoengineers, Inc. Contact Bruce Stirling Street 1101 Fawcett Ave Ste 200 City Tacoma WA 98402 Phone 253-383-4940 Email email Website website
Organization Geoengineers, Inc. Contact n/a Street 8410 154th Ave NE City Redmond WA 98052-3886 Phone 425-861-6000 800-533-2158 Email n/a Website website
Organization Geoengineers, Inc. Contact John Monehan Street 600 Dupont City Bellingham WA 98225 Phone 360-647-1510 Email email Website website
Organization Geoengineers, Inc. Contact n/a Street 523 E 2nd Ave City Spokane WA 99202 Phone 509-363-3125 Email email Website website
Organization Geological Services Contact Walter Bicket Street 613 222nd St SW City Bothell WA 98021 Phone 425-481-5183 Email email Website n/a
Organization Geographic Solutions, LLC Contact Logan Davidson Street n/a City Bonney Lake, WA 98391 Phone 253-350-9574 Email email Website website
Organization Geo Resources, LLC Contact Brad Biggerstaff Street 5007 Pacific Hwy E Ste 20 City Fife WA 98424 Phone 253-896-1011 Email email Website n/a
Organization Golder Associates, Inc. Contact n/a Street 18300 NE Union Hill Rd City Redmond WA 98052 Phone 425-883-0777 Email email Website website
Organization Granite Creek Survey & Mapping, LLC Contact n/a Street PO Box 743 City Republic WA 99166 Phone 509-775-0265 Email email Website website
Organization Haley & Aldrich, Inc. Contact John Haney, P.E. Street 505 W. Riverside Ave, Ste 205 City Spokane WA 99201 Phone 509-960-7447 Email n/a Website website
Organization Haley & Aldrich, Inc. Contact Mark Dagel, L.H.G. Street 3131 Elliott Ave, Ste 600 City Seattle WA 98121 Phone 206-324-9530 Email n/a Website website
Organization HDR Engineering, Inc. Contact Randy Norberg Street 500 108th Ave NE Ste 1200 City Bellevue WA 98004 Phone 425-450-6337 Email email Website website
Organization Holocene Drilling, Inc. Contact n/a Street 11412 52nd Ave City Puyallup WA 98373 Phone 253-848-6500 Email email Website website
Organization Icicle Creek Engineers, Inc. Contact Brian Beaman Street 29335 NE 20th St City Carnation WA 98014 Phone 425-333-0093 Email email Website website
Organization Insight Geologic, Inc. Contact n/a Street 1015 E 4th Ave City Olympia WA 98506 Phone 360-754-2128 Email email Website website
Organization Johnson Surveying NW, Inc Contact Chad Johnson, PLS/Connie Krueger, AICP Street 1859 N Lakewood Drive Suite #104 City Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814 Phone 208-786-2814 Email email Website website
Organization J-U-B Engineers, Inc. Contact Ben Volk Street 2810 W Clearwater Ave Ste 201 City Kennewick WA 99336 Phone 509-783-2144 Email email Website website
Organization Knight Inspection Assessments, LLC Contact n/a Street 126 Mine St City Wallace ID 83873 Phone 208-659-1578 Email email Website website
Organization KPFF Consulting Engineers Contact Steve Kingsley Street 2407 N 31st Ste 100 City Tacoma WA 98407 Phone 253-396-0150 Email email Website n/a
Organization KPFF Consulting Contact Larry Dominguez Senior Ecologist Street 215 W Austin Rd City Spokane WA 99208 Phone 509-993-7758 Email email Website n/a
Organization Kulshan Services Contact n/a Street 1015 Girard Street City Bellingham WA 98225 Phone 360-393-4706 Email n/a Website website
Organization Lady Raven Services LLC Contact Ray Hancock Street n/a City Lacey WA Phone 360-292-4695 Email email Website website
Organization Leslie Geological Services Contact Bill Lingley Street 7815 Kerbaugh Rd NE City Olympia WA 98506 Phone 360-456-1335 Email email Website n/a
Organization Loving Engineering & Consulting, P.S. Inc. Contact Ahmis Loving Street P.O. Box 13 City Port Gamble, WA 98364 Phone 360-471-6975 Email email Website website
Organization M2 Technical Services, Inc. Contact Todd Vick Street 4207 E Rowan City Spokane WA 99217 Phone 509-483-3035 Email email Website website
Organization Mackay & Sposito, Inc. Contact n/a Street 1325 SE Tech Center Dr City Vancouver WA 98683 Phone 360-695-3411; 888-695-3411 Email email Website n/a
Organization Maul Fost & Alongi, Inc. Contact Neil R. Alongi Alistaire Clary Street 400 E Mill Plain Blvd Ste 400 City Vancouver WA 98665 Phone 360-694-2691 Email n/a Website website
Organization Mapworks Contact Len Sali Street 112 Fuller Street City Wenatchee Washington 98801 Phone n/a Email email Website n/a
Organization McCanna Engineering Contact Bowie D. McCanna, P. E. Street 9401 E Appleway Blvd City Spokane Valley, Washington, 99206 Phone 509-954-6604 Email email Website n/a
Organization McLucas & Associates, Inc. Contact Stephen Taylor Street PO Box 5352 City Lacey WA 98509 Phone 360-456-8248 Email email Website n/a
Organization Merrit Engineers, Inc. Contact Austin Huang Street 2715 Meridian St City Bellingham WA 98225 Phone 360-738-6083 Email email Website website
Organization Moss & Associates Contact David Spencer Street 717 NE 61st St City Vancouver WA 98665-8753 Phone 360-260-9400 Email email Website website
Organization Nelson Geotechnical Associates, Inc. Contact David Nelson Street 5526 Industry Ln City East Wenatchee 98802 Phone 509-665-7696 Email email Website email
Organization Nelson Geotechnical Associates, Inc. Contact n/a Street 17311 135th Ave NE Ste A 500 City Woodinville WA 98072 Phone 425-486-1669 Email email Website website
Organization Northwest Mining Solutions, LLC Contact Lisa Mahr Street P.O. Box 561 City Black Diamond WA 98010 Phone 619-328-7917 Email email Website website
Organization Olson Engineering, Inc. Contact Kurt Stonex Street 222 E Evergreen Blvd City Vancouver WA 98660 Phone 360-695-1385 Email email Website website
Organization Parametrix, Inc. Contact Phil Struck Street 4660 Kitsap Way Ste 202 City Bremerton WA 98312 Phone 360-850-5340 Email email Website website
Organization PLSA Engineering & Surveying Contact Brad Card Street 1120 W Lincoln Ave City Yakima WA 98902 Phone 509-575-6990 Email email Website website
Organization Reid Middleton, Inc. Contact n/a Street 728 134th St SW City Everett WA 98203 Phone 425-741-3800 ext 165 Email email Website website
Organization R. W. Thorpe & Associates Contact n/a Street 3800 W Mercer Way City Mercer Island WA 98040 Phone 206-624-6239 Email email Website website
Organization Ridolfi Engineers, Inc. Contact n/a Street 1011 Western Ave Ste 1006 City Seattle WA 98104 Phone 206-682-7294 Email email Website website
Organization Team 4 Engineering Contact Berni Johnston Street 5819 NE Minder Rd City Poulsbo WA 98370 Phone 360-297-5560 Email email Website n/a
Organization Rogers Surveying, Inc. Contact John Baalman Street 1455 Columbia Park Trail Ste 201 City Richland WA 99352 Phone 509-783-4141 Email email Website website
Organization Sitts & Hill Engineers, Inc. Contact n/a Street 4815 Center St City Tacoma WA 98409 Phone 253-474-9449 Email email Website website
Organization Strata Design Contact n/a Street 620 NW 110th Way City Vancouver WA 98685 Phone 971-268-6789 Email email Website n/a
Organization Terra Associates, Inc. Contact Ted Schepper or Charles Lie Street 12525 Willows Rd Ste 101 City Kirkland WA 98034 Phone 425-821-7777 Email email Website website
Organization Vector Engineering, Inc. Contact n/a Street 2724 Black Lake Blvd SW City Tumwater WA 98512 Phone 360-352-2477 Email email Website website
Organization Watershed Garden Works Contact n/a Street 2039 44th Ave City Longview WA 98632 Phone 360-423-6456 Email email Website website
Organization Wheeler Consulting Group Contact Letitia Wheeler Street PO Box 1452 City Bellingham, WA 98227 Phone 360-815-3014 Email email Website n/a